Post by Mr Jonathan Keeper on May 29, 2013 15:34:03 GMT -5
[Tag: Miss Rebecca Levitt, open]
Jonny was of two minds about taking the day off from the stables at Netherfield Park. For one, he never enjoyed himself so much as when he was working with the many fine horses there; grooming and feeding aside, there was something to be said for exercising a powerful thoroughbred, or training him for the purpose of racing. But for another, it was good for Jonny to occasionally venture into town for the sake of indulging in a more varied company--or to rid himself of the stink of horse, if nothing else.
It was on this day that Jonny took it upon himself to venture into town (freshly washed, of course), with half a notion to visit his father and brother at the smithy, and another half to wander. With little instruction to his day, he had already visited his family and was on his way to nowhere in particular. The sun was very strong today, and while working with an uncovered head in the fields of Netherfield was permissible, apparently walking in town in such fashion was not. Jonny had to borrow a cap from another stable boy and this one was resolutely too small for head, and also rather too hot (it being closer to a winter cap than anything). Jonny sweated beneath it most unfashionably, and he had begun to notice the furtive, disapproving glances of the passers-by. From then on, he kept his head down and quickened his pace.
It was not that Jonny blatantly disregarded manners, it was only that he was rather ignorant of many of them, and of apparently important ones. He did not know how he had managed so many years in this apparent vulgarity, but supposed, rather than blamed, that his parents had other matters to teach them the manners of the day. Jonny watched others in society and strove to copy them for his own sake: he was not altogether interested in society as it was, but was more eager to advance himself in his position at Netherfield. If doing so required a hat in town, then a hat in town he would have.
Still, he could do very little if people noticed how his hair was brightened considerably by the sun so that it nearly flamed red under his borrowed cap, or how his skin was darkened and freckled. He had to content himself with first purchasing the required attire, and then hope that not all else would dismiss him so easily as a working lad. Jonny rather hoped to capture someone's attention himself.
Jonny was twenty-one now, and well ready to settle himself. He was a man with a head very down to earth, with reasonable ambitions and a talent for his work, if a little ignorant of manners. He had greatly improved himself upon his employment at Netherfield, as it offered him both a position associated with a family of means, and a considerable rise in pay. He hoped this could appeal to lady of equal standing, but Jonny had a feeling this would not be enough. A quiet and occasionally awkward man, Jonny was sure he would be easily passed over for a man more sociable than he. So as he passed the town bookshop and looked into its windows and thought of the very pretty sister of the Netherfield stable master, Jonny felt very hopeless indeed.
Jonny was of two minds about taking the day off from the stables at Netherfield Park. For one, he never enjoyed himself so much as when he was working with the many fine horses there; grooming and feeding aside, there was something to be said for exercising a powerful thoroughbred, or training him for the purpose of racing. But for another, it was good for Jonny to occasionally venture into town for the sake of indulging in a more varied company--or to rid himself of the stink of horse, if nothing else.
It was on this day that Jonny took it upon himself to venture into town (freshly washed, of course), with half a notion to visit his father and brother at the smithy, and another half to wander. With little instruction to his day, he had already visited his family and was on his way to nowhere in particular. The sun was very strong today, and while working with an uncovered head in the fields of Netherfield was permissible, apparently walking in town in such fashion was not. Jonny had to borrow a cap from another stable boy and this one was resolutely too small for head, and also rather too hot (it being closer to a winter cap than anything). Jonny sweated beneath it most unfashionably, and he had begun to notice the furtive, disapproving glances of the passers-by. From then on, he kept his head down and quickened his pace.
It was not that Jonny blatantly disregarded manners, it was only that he was rather ignorant of many of them, and of apparently important ones. He did not know how he had managed so many years in this apparent vulgarity, but supposed, rather than blamed, that his parents had other matters to teach them the manners of the day. Jonny watched others in society and strove to copy them for his own sake: he was not altogether interested in society as it was, but was more eager to advance himself in his position at Netherfield. If doing so required a hat in town, then a hat in town he would have.
Still, he could do very little if people noticed how his hair was brightened considerably by the sun so that it nearly flamed red under his borrowed cap, or how his skin was darkened and freckled. He had to content himself with first purchasing the required attire, and then hope that not all else would dismiss him so easily as a working lad. Jonny rather hoped to capture someone's attention himself.
Jonny was twenty-one now, and well ready to settle himself. He was a man with a head very down to earth, with reasonable ambitions and a talent for his work, if a little ignorant of manners. He had greatly improved himself upon his employment at Netherfield, as it offered him both a position associated with a family of means, and a considerable rise in pay. He hoped this could appeal to lady of equal standing, but Jonny had a feeling this would not be enough. A quiet and occasionally awkward man, Jonny was sure he would be easily passed over for a man more sociable than he. So as he passed the town bookshop and looked into its windows and thought of the very pretty sister of the Netherfield stable master, Jonny felt very hopeless indeed.
