Jack Holt

“the rich never see themselves as we do – they will compare themselves to the Bingleys and the Darcys, instead of to everyone else in England!”
― Alice McVeigh, Pride and Perjury: Twelve Short Stories Inspired by Pride and Prejudice

“And all because of the master’s fatal flaw – the flaw of his character, as in Shakespeare.’ I knew nothing of Shakespeare’s flaws – but, of course, Mr Spencer’s father had taught him a good deal. ‘What flaw do you mean, Mr Spencer?’ I asked at last, for he was still staring into the fire, and his pipe quite gone out. He said, ‘It is the quality that brings down the principal player, in every tragedy. In Macbeth ’tis ambition. In Othello – of course –’tis jealousy. But in Mr Bennet’s case, it is indolence. Miss Lydia wanted discipline – wanted it badly – but her own father only bestirred himself enough to laugh at her.’ I could not defend him, for had not Bessy always said the same? But I could not help asking, ‘But surely – it is the mother’s duty to correct her daughter?’ He sat looking into the fire for a terrible long time, while I feared he could not disapprove me more, or else that he was falling asleep over his pipe, as had happened once before. But finally he said, ‘You are a very wise woman, Mrs Hill.’ ⸎”
― Alice McVeigh, Pride and Perjury: Twelve Short Stories Inspired by Pride and Prejudice

“I cannot believe, Hill, that any person, in the history of mankind, ever had more burdens to bear than I! An eldest daughter – so lovely, so gentle – still unmarried! A second daughter as cross and contrary as Lizzy is! A third with no talent to console her cousin, a sulky fourth, and a fifth who finds losing her home a source of humour!”
― Alice McVeigh, Pride and Perjury: Twelve Short Stories Inspired by Pride and Prejudice

“Well, the new master of Netherfield has called at last and is very fine-looking indeed. A face as open as a puppy’s – a fine, fluffy, cream-coloured puppy with wide eyes and a shock of fair curls.”
― Alice McVeigh, Pride and Perjury: Twelve Short Stories Inspired by Pride and Prejudice