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She had a sister married to a Mr. Philips, who had been a clerk

to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a brother

settled in London in a respectable line of trade.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most

convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually

tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to

their aunt, and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two

youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly

frequent in these attentions: their minds were more vacant than

their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to

Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish

conversation for the evening; and, however bare of news the

country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some

from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both

with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia

regiment in the neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole winter,

and Meryton was the head-quarters.