第67章

Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was the case，and with equal sincerity could add that she firmly believed and rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry，however，to have the recital of them interrupted by the entrance of the lady from whom they sprung.Poor Charlotte！—it was melancholy to leave her to such society！—But she had chosen it with her eyes open；and though evidently regretting that hervisitors were to go，she did not seem to ask for compassion.Her home and her housekeeping，her parish and her poultry，and all their dependent concerns，had not yet lost their charms.

At length the chaise arrived，the trunks were fastened on，the parcels placed within，and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionate parting between the friends，Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by Mr.Collins，and as they walked down the garden，he was commissioning her with his best respects to all her family，not forgetting his thanks for the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter，and his compliments to Mr.and Mrs.Gardiner，though unknown.He then handed her in，Maria followed，and the door was on the point of being closed，when he suddenly reminded them，with some consternation，that they had hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies of Rosings.

'But，'he added，'you will of course wish to have your humble respects delivered to them，with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you while you have been here.'

Elizabeth made no objection；—the door was then allowed to be shut，and the carriage drove off.

'Good gracious！'cried Maria，after a few minutes silence，'it seems but a day or two since we first came！—and yet how many things have happened！'

'A great many indeed，'said her companion with a sigh.

'We have dined nine times at Rosings，besides drinking tea there twice！—How much I shall have to tell！'

Elizabeth privately added，'And how much I shall have to conceal.'

Their journey was performed without much conversation，or any alarm；and within four hours of their leaving Hunsford，theyreached Mr. Gardiner's house，where they were to remain a few days.

Jane looked well，and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her spirits，amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunt had reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her，and at Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation.

It was not without an effort meanwhile that she could wait even for Longbourn，before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy's proposals.To know that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish Jane，and must，at the same time，so highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had not yet been able to reason away，was such a temptation to openness as nothing could have conquered，but the state of indecision in which she remained，as to the extent of what she should communicate；and her fear，if she once entered on the subject，of being hurried into repeating something of Bingley，which might only grieve her sister farther.

XVI

I t was the second week in May，in which the three young ladies set out together from Gracechurch-street，for the town of—in Hertfordshire；and，as they drew near the appointed inn where Mr. Bennet's carriage was to meet them，they quickly perceived，in token of the coachman's punctuality，both Kitty and Lydia looking out of a dining room up stairs.These two girls had been above an hour in the place，happily employed in visiting an opposite milliner，watching the sentinel on guard，and dressing a sallad and cucumber.

After welcoming their sisters，they triumphantly displayed a table set out with such cold meat as an inn larder usually affords，exclaiming，'Is not this nice？is not this an agreeable surprise？'

'And we mean to treat you all，'added Lydia；'but you must lend us the money，for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.'Then shewing her purchases：'Look here，I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it is very pretty；but I thought I might as well buy it as not.I shall pull it to pieces as soon as I get home，and see if I can make it up any better.'

And when her sisters abused it as ugly，she added，with perfect unconcern，'Oh！but there were two or three much uglier in the shop；and when I have bought some prettier-coloured satin to trim it with fresh，I think it will be very tolerable. Besides，it will not much signify what one wears this summer，after the—shire have left Meryton，and they are going in a fortnight.'

'Are they indeed？'cried Elizabeth，with the greatestsatisfaction.

'They are going to be encamped near Brighton；and I do so want papa to take us all there for the summer！It would be such a delicious scheme，and I dare say would hardly cost any thing at all. Mamma would like to go too of all things！Only think what a miserable summer else we shall have！'

'Yes，'thought Elizabeth，'that would be a delightful scheme，indeed，and completely do for us at once. Good Heaven！Brighton，and a whole campful of soldiers，to us，who have been overset already by one poor regiment of militia，and the monthly balls of Meryton.'

'Now I have got some news for you，'said Lydia，as they sat down to table.'What do you think？It is excellent news，capital news，and about a certain person that we all like.'

Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other，and the waiter was told that he need not stay. Lydia laughed，and said，

'Aye，that is just like your formality and discretion. You thought the waiter must not hear，as if he cared！I dare say he often hears worse things said than I am going to say.But he is an ugly fellow！I am glad he is gone.I never saw such a long chin in my life.Well，but now for my news：it is about dear Wickham；too good for the waiter，is not it？There is no danger of Wickham's marrying Mary King.There's for you！She is gone down to her uncle at Liverpool；gone to stay.Wickham is safe.'

'And Mary King is safe！'added Elizabeth；'safe from a connection imprudent as to fortune.'