Catherine and Lydia - Comments on Chapter 7

The focus turns briefly to the less prominent Bennet daughters, Catherine and Lydia. Austen tellingly describes them: "Their minds were more vacant than their sisters'". These youngest Bennet girls make it their chief occupation to be the bearers of gossip - regularly visiting their aunt in Meryton in order to return with news for evening conversation. "At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighborhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the head quarters."