Posted on Tuesday, 27 March 2001
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a woman whose main business of her life, until quite recently had been the seeing that her five daughters married and married well, and her favorite amusements were the daily calls she made upon her friends to visit and gossip, then six months of forced bed-rest in consequence of being in an interesting condition and at a somewhat advanced age. The local surgeon had predicted an extremely difficult confinement, hence the forced bed-rest. So spending that long in bed was sure to be a trial.
Such was Mrs. Daniel Bennet, who had been surprised to discover that what she thought had been a bit of tainted food consumed recently was evidence that she was increasing again. This was all well and good, but Martha Bennet longed to be able to visit her Sister Phillips, Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long, her particular friends.
Yes Mr. Bennet came to see her everyday, to read her the letters from their five married daughters. She missed them all, but most especially she missed Lydia, but she was an indifferent correspondent at best, despite the glowing reports of the doings of the Congress in Vienna.
She also enjoyed Kitty's letters, letters filled with stories of her life as a shining light of Montreal society. The other officers' wives were pleasant company. She had also rejoiced at the promotion for conspicuous bravery of Denny. Kitty's letter was somewhat garbled, but apparently Denny's bravery had saved the life of General Sir Isaac Brock at the siege of someplace called Fort Detroit. He was now Major Christopher Denny, and did not she think that sounded splendid. She also sent word of her most ungrateful daughter, Mary, who had gone to America to live among the Red Indian savages with her cousin Lucas, but even her stories of life at the mission were interesting. She also longed to hear from her two oldest daughters, Jane and Lizzie, they had written, but they were not too many months past confinements themselves, and Lizzie had twins, and Jane had an adorable little girl. So of course it was hard on Mrs. Bennet.