“Of course you are right, Lizzy. If Lord Hallendale had not made me an offer all these years ago, I would have continued as a shopkeeper’s daughter and never as a shop-keeper. I can know this and still feel immense gratitude to my father for leaving me the means to earn a respectable living, even though I could not then have imagined a quarter of the freedoms and pleasures which I daily take for granted. I have long felt that we, who enjoy more than our share of blessings, owe it to those less fortunate women to be diligent in improving our own natural talents, and promoting our usefulness in every way possible.”

Elizabeth reflected on Lady Sarah’s words, as she copied a bill for some mending into the page of Lady Hallendale’s receipt-book, feeling that she was disappointing those many women of mean existence.

“Certainly there are women who are granted opportunity, but lack the abilities to exercise it? The running of an estate such as Pemberley is simply beyond my power, as I quickly learnt upon marrying. I am not a great organiser, and find no pleasure in instructing others. Housekeeping comes naturally to some women, but not to me. I seem as hopeless of remedy as of use!”

“Your view is only too narrow, my dear,” said Her Ladyship, as she reached across the desk to pat Elizabeth’s hand affectionately. “Women need not be confined to the house. You will find that you have talents elsewhere. Darcy’s estate is large and has many dependencies, but it is not incapable of improvement. The village does not, for example, boast a trade-school—an enterprise which would generate a great deal of good if someone were sufficiently energetic and apperceptive to formulate and carry out a plan for its institution.”