Elizabeth’s attention, drawn by instinct rather than sound, shifted toward them—and there she discovered the cause.
Duke, the large wolfhound, stretched comfortably beneath the table, had become the object of their careful attentions. One by one, peas disappeared from their plates, only to reappear—after a brief and circuitous journey—before the patient muzzle of the dog, who accepted each offering with dignified restraint.
Elizabeth leaned slightly toward them. “You will have nothing left at this rate.”
Thomas looked up, his expression earnest. “He is very hungry.”
“He has already eaten,” Elizabeth said.
Toby shook his head. “Far from enough. Besides, he likes peas better than we do.”
The dog, as though in agreement, thumped his tail once against the floor.
Mary glanced down, her brow knitting. “Dogs ought not to be fed during dinner.”
“He is nowhere near the table,” Thomas said. “He is under it.”
Kitty stifled a laugh. Lydia did not make the attempt.
Mrs. Bennet’s voice, when it came, was calm. “Thomas. Toby.”
The boys froze.
“You will attend to your own plates.”
“Yes, Mama,” they said together, though the dog received one final pea before the practice was abandoned.
Elizabeth hid her smile once more.
The meal continued in greater order, though the earlier interruption left behind an undercurrent of amusement that lingered for the rest of the evening.
Mr. Bennet, having finished his dinner, leaned back slightly in his chair. “And what have the rest of you been about today?”
Mary spoke first, recounting her lessons with Miss Porter in careful detail. Kitty followed, her account less structured but no less enthusiastic. Lydia contributed where she could, though her narrative tended toward embellishment.
At last, the attention returned to the boys.
Thomas did not hesitate. “We were pirates.”
“Pirates,” Mr. Bennet repeated.
“With George Lucas,” Toby added.
“Ah. A formidable alliance.”
Thomas nodded gravely. “We had a ship.”
“In the orchard,” Toby clarified.
“And we were attacked.”
“By whom?” Mary asked.
“Other pirates,” Thomas said.
“Who were not real,” Toby added, as though this improved the situation.
Elizabeth tried to keep from laughing.
