Netherfield Park Revisited by Rebecca Ann Collins

Author:Rebecca Ann Collins
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Published: 2013-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

“It is a good philosophy,” she declared, adding, “I think you will find Anna willing to listen to you.”

The sound of James returning brought their conversation to an end.

James Wilson greeted his brother-in-law cheerfully, very glad to see him again. They always had a great deal to discuss, and their conversations usually went late into the night.

After dinner, Emma left them together, knowing Jonathan needed time to tell his brother-in-law of his decision.

Jonathan had expected it would be a difficult undertaking, but strangely, it turned out very different indeed. James was disappointed, of course, but he comprehended and sympathised with Jonathan’s grave concerns. He realised, he said, that the death of his wife and the subsequent move to Netherfield Park had materially altered Jonathan’s circumstances.

Nor did he argue with the need for a father to put the interest of his young daughters first.

“I will not try to hide my disappointment, Jonathan,” he said, after he had listened to his reasons. “I had hoped we would have your voice to support our push for further electoral reform. Lord Russell is eager, but Palmerston is not. Darcy is quite right, he is very much the Tory he was in matters of electoral reform. And of course, we intend to work for a policy on Public Education, including education for girls. We have the Prince Consort’s support on this, but nothing worthwhile is being done.” James seemed very frustrated.

“Then there is the matter of Lord Shaftesbury’s Bill—yes I know he is a Tory, but he alone has fought for laws against the exploitation of children. I understand he plans another assault on the chimney sweeps—he wants to outlaw their use of children as young as four and five to clear chimneys and put out fires! It is a subject very close to Emma’s heart. The charity she works with in the east end of London can produce dozens of cases of children hurt or even killed by this reprehensible practice. It is truly appalling that we permit it to go on in England, yet the only person who has shown an interest in stopping them is Shaftesbury. I have promised him my full support.

“I should have liked very much to have you on our side in the Parliament, but I cannot cavil at your desire to devote your time to your daughters; they probably need you even more than the little chimney sweeps,” he said.

Jonathan protested that he would not turn his back on the little chimney sweeps or any of these causes; they were far too dear to his heart.

“James, I give you my word, I shall work outside the Parliament, in the councils and the community, wherever I can, to make people aware of these dreadful injustices. I shall not abandon you and my friends in the Reform Group, I promise.”

James Wilson was very touched and thanked him, but then asked, “And does Miss Faulkner share your enthusiasm for reform?”

Jonathan responded, without stopping to think, “Indeed, she does, James, very much so,” realising only after the words were spoken the true import of his reply.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.