Jane did not have very much patience or amusement for Kitty. She had encouraged the girl to open up to Elizabeth and Mary, which had been successful for the young lady, and she had gained a friend in Georgiana too. Then she had turned about and been ungenerous to herownyounger sister. Jane was reasonably certain that if she had sentKittyto Brighton, the result would have been the same, or nearly. Kitty had not been so innocent and was not giving Lydia a chance.
“Ladies, will you join me for a stroll along the river?” Colonel Fitzwilliam offered both arms, which were taken with alacrity.
“We shall, and we will even allot you three minutes in which to express your admiration for fishing, and Mr Isaak Walton,” Jane said cheekily.
Lydia had been in high spirits and on reasonable behavior all the way to the river, which was a walk of a few short minutes from the grotto.
“What can you and Mr Walton tell us about the River Lea, Colonel?” Jane asked the officer as they approached the banks.
“The River Lea is a major tributary of the River Thames, and a crucial trade route for London, Miss Jane. In the seventeenth century, the New River was built to bring fresh, clean water from the upstream waters of the River Lea to London.”
“Theybuiltthe river?” Lydia asked. “I did not know that could be done.”
It did not take long for the colonel to warm up to the subject. “Yes, they certainly can, Miss Lydia, though it was a work of several years to complete. The writer and great fisherman, IsaakWalton, fished here, and I do wish it were spring or summer now, that I might trymyhand at the rod!”
“Has it been three minutes yet?” Jane asked Lydia teasingly.
“No it has not, and just for that, I shall tell you the story of when my friend, Major Stephen Barnes fished the River Lea in the year six while on a visit to his friend here in Ware, and he caught a prize perch, more than twenty inches long, an-”
“Has it been three minutes,now?”Lydia looked around at Jane expressively.
“That’s a true story, that is,” the boy guiding them spoke up. “My brother works at Ascot Cottage, and ‘e was attendin’ the gentlemen. They was so ‘appy, they give him the rest of their catch to take home with ‘im. Ma was proper pleased, she traded some to Mrs Barnes for a share of the next pig they butchered, and some to Mrs Siple for a laying hen. Fed three famblies for near two days, that lot did.”
“Was it truly twenty inches long? Did you get a chance to see it?” Colonel Fitzwilliam asked excitedly. “I cannot believe I can get the story confirmed! How is the river stocked for trout?”
Jane and Lydia smiled at each other and walked on beside the riverbank, pointing out birds and other wildlife hidden among the reeds. Lydia began collecting reed grass with a small pen knife.
“Papa gave me this pen knife for my birthday because when I am out with Kitty I like to collect wildflowers.” Lydia took a seat on a bench near the water and began twisting the reeds into tiny rings, which she then collected in her lap. “It belonged to my grandfather, and Papa said I might as well have it, since I had been the last chance for a son.”
“I take it that your sister did not respond as well as you hoped to the return of her belongings?” Jane asked the girl.
“I almost wish I hadnotgiven them back! I wanted to tear that yellow bonnet off her head when she put it on in the hall! She did not even say thank you.”
“They areherbonnets, my dear. Imagine being expected to thank someone for your own possessions.” Jane smiled at Lydia. “But she will come around. You have not ruined her day, so when you return home, she will have nothing to truly complain of.”
“May I visit you tomorrow to read and discuss Evelina?” the young lady asked.
“Of course you may, if Mrs Bingley and your mother approve,” Jane agreed. “I am certain Lizzy will join us as well, and I do not think Miss Darcy will be persuaded to exclude you for very long. She looked quite guilty this morning when Miss Kitty was making her taunts.”
“I miss Kitty.” Lydia finished a final reed ring and placed the small pile in her reticule sadly.
“I do understand, my dear.” Jane put an arm about her. “I miss my dear Cassandra dearly. I do wish I could get home.”
“I wish you wouldneverleave,” Lydia said vehemently. “There will be no one left to be kind to me when you go.”
“I am quite certain Mrs Bingley at the very least would be generosity itself if you were to prove yourself with good behavior and throw yourself upon her goodwill.”
“I suppose.” Lydia sighed. “Say, what is this?”
Jane watched as the girl pulled a large, loose stone from a nearby clump of grass. “Let us go and ask our guide.”
The two ladies rose and returned to Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was speaking animatedly with the boy about trout, carp, chub, pike, and other species of fish that had been pulled from the river over the years.
Lydia showed the boy the stone, which was larger than even Colonel Fitzwilliam’s fist. It was the most interesting rock Jane had ever seen. It appeared to be one large rock made up of hundreds, if not more, of small little rocks and pebbles.
“That’s puddingstone, that is,” answered the boy. “It’s everywhere near the river. You may take that one if you like, miss. The master won’t mind, visitors often take a piece of puddingstone ‘ome. We won’t ever run short of it ‘ereabouts.”
When they returned to the house, the other ladies were finishing their sketches in the gardens. “How lovely, Georgie!” Colonel Fitzwilliam exclaimed as he examined her drawing.
