“Nothing?”
Whether in surprise, disappointment, or both; everyone gasped at the answer.
“Butwhy?” Lydia asked.
“Let me tell you something I read. The oldest piece of advice was from a Chinese philosopher namedConfucius[xiii]from nearly 2,000 years ago. He is, for China, rather what Aristotle and Plato are for us. He said,‘Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.’”
Everyone thought about that for a moment while Jane waited.
Finally, Elizabeth said, “Very wise, I think. I can see at least two meanings. Which do you take, Jane?”
“I only see one,” Lydia said.
Jane asked, “Which do you see?”
“Suppose I steal a ribbon from Kitty, so she gets angry and takes abetterribbon in revenge, so I take revenge by taking evenbetterlace, and it goes round and round until one of us steals an entire dress.”
Everyone laughed, and was even more impressed that Lydia had used an analogy.
“That is an excellent expression of one of my thoughts. Revenge often leadsliterallyto death. One man kills another, so someone kills him in revenge, and the cycle continues. That has happened many times in history, as in Hamlet, but as you showed, it happens all the time on a smaller scale with lesser consequences.”
Everyone nodded in understanding, especially since Lydia’s example was not necessarily abstract.
Kitty said, “So, the two graves mean that if you take revenge by killing someone, their friends or family are likely to kill you.”
Mary said, “That is theliteralinterpretation. The other is more figurative—Jane?”
“Some would say the second grave is for your soul or principles. Once you embark on a journey of revenge, youbecome someone who seeks revenge—a different and usually worse person—so the second grave is for your conscience.”
Kitty asked, “What if theydeservewhat they get?”
“All actions have consequences. If someone were trying to kill you, and you killed them defending yourself, it would not make you a murderer, but itwouldmake you someone who has killed and is capable of doing so again. Sometimes you must seek vengeance to deter someone from future aggression, and that is all right so long as the motivation is right. If I revenged myself on those people, I would not be the person I want to be. I do not care to dig the grave for myself. Therefore, I will follow another old aphorism from George Herbert among others:‘Living well is the best revenge.’”
“So, you are going to be… happy?”
“Yes! That is why my cannonball crashed into the mine and left me happy. I can no longer concern myself with those that were here before—because they are not important. Mybest revenge will be to show their insignificance by moving on with my life, and that is what I intend to do. London has over a million inhabitants. I will go there with Aunt and Uncle Gardiner and see if I can meet gentlemen who I havenotknown since their greatest pleasure was pulling our hair. I am 22, so it is time I acted like a grown woman.”
Everyone was slightly surprised when Mr Collins stood and clapped. “Brava!”
Lydia and Kitty looked thoughtful for once, and it was time to let them think. Jane suggested a walk to Meryton. Everyone was dressed and on the road within a quarter of an hour. They arrived in fine spirits, full of life and lively conversation, and fortunately mud-free.
Generational Economics
“Ah, Lizzy, Mary, William—you are exactly the three I was looking for.”
The three smiled indulgently at their youngest sister.
Lydia had taken Jane’s chastisement 2 days earlier to heart and was trying to comport herself better. Of course, she was still Lydia, and still but 15, sobetterwas a relative term; but for the first time in a while, Mary and Elizabeth were confident that their youngest sisters had turned over a new leaf in their most selfish and childish behaviours. It remained to be seen whether the changes were temporary or permanent, but they were noticeable.
“What can we do for you?” Mary asked.
“I have something I want to show you,” Lydia said, then added, with surprising shyness, “but first I have a question, if you do not mind.”
Elizabeth said gently, “Of course. How may we help?”
“Tell me about dowries. What do they have to do with? I mean… I—”
Words failed her, which concerned both sisters. Lydianeverstopped in the middle of a sentence. As a rule, she repeated anything that came into her head a dozen times or more.
