Meryton was only a small market town, Sir William felt it was not good enough to reside there after receiving his knighthood, he moved to a house within a short walk of Longbourn, but Lucas Lodge was not an estate. I have a feeling Meryton was like Lambton near Pemberley, or Highbury near Hartfield and Randalls. -- resided by people in business rather than gentry --
re chap 5 -- "Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the King, during his mayoralty. The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, quitting them both, he had removed with his family to an house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge".
Mrs Bennet entertained quite a lot, she had "very frequent parties" at Longbourn, (that's where the 2000 a year must have also gone to) and there were probably impromptu dances, even if no formal ball. A formal ball at home was probably thought unnecessary, since they could go to balls at the Assembly room. In JA's other novels, only Sir Thomas held a ball at home because it was not convenient at that time when William was visiting to go to an assembly room ball. Bingley held a ball at home because for him the assembly room ball ended too early.
re chap 5 -- "Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune, and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the King, during his mayoralty. The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, quitting them both, he had removed with his family to an house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge".
Mrs Bennet entertained quite a lot, she had "very frequent parties" at Longbourn, (that's where the 2000 a year must have also gone to) and there were probably impromptu dances, even if no formal ball. A formal ball at home was probably thought unnecessary, since they could go to balls at the Assembly room. In JA's other novels, only Sir Thomas held a ball at home because it was not convenient at that time when William was visiting to go to an assembly room ball. Bingley held a ball at home because for him the assembly room ball ended too early.