Pride and Prejudice (version 6, dramatic reading) — Chapter 04

[Illustration] When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him.

“He is just what a young-man ought to be,” said she, “sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!

so much ease, with such perfect good breeding!

” “He is also handsome,” replied Elizabeth, “which a young man ought likewise to be if he possibly can.

His character is thereby complete.

” “I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time.

I

did not expect such a compliment.

” “Did not you?

_I_ did for you.

But that is one great difference between us.

Compliments always take _you_ by surprise, and _me_ never.

What could be more natural than his asking you again?

He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room.

No thanks to his gallantry for that.

Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him.

You have liked many a stupider person.

” “Dear Lizzy!

” “Oh, you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general.

You never see a fault in anybody.

All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes.

I never heard you speak ill of a human being in my life.

” “I would wish not to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak what I think.

” “I know you do: and it is _that_ which makes the wonder.

With _your_ good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others!

Affectation of candour is common enough; one meets with it everywhere.

But to be candid without ostentation or design,--to take the good of everybody’s character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad,--belongs to you alone.

And so, you like this man’s sisters, too, do you?

Their manners are not equal to his.

” “Certainly not, at first; but they are very pleasing women when you converse with them.

Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbour in her.

” Elizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced: their behaviour at the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and with a judgment, too, unassailed by any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve them.

They were, in fact, very fine ladies; not deficient in good-humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of being agreeable where they chose it; but proud and conceited.

They were rather handsome; had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town; had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds; were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank; and were, therefore, in every respect entitled to think well of themselves and meanly of others.

They were of a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother’s fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.

Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly a hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to do it.

Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and sometimes made choice of his county; but, as he was now provided with a good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase.

His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own; but though he was now established only as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table; nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her.

Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years when he was tempted, by an accidental recommendation, to look at Netherfield House.

He did look at it, and into it, for half an hour; was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.

Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character.

Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied.

On the strength of Darcy’s regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion.

In understanding, Darcy was the superior.

Bingley was by no means deficient; but Darcy was clever.

He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious; and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting.

In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage.

Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.

The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic.

Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive to him;

there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful.

Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure.

Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty; but she smiled too much.

Mrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so; but still they admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of.

Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl; and their brother felt authorized by such commendation to think of her as he chose.

[Illustration: [_Copyright 1894 by George Allen.

_]] CHAPTER V.

[Illustration] 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 a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge; where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world.

For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody.

By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. James’s had made him courteous.

Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet.

They had several children.

The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth’s intimate friend.

That the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to communicate.

“_You_ began the evening well, Charlotte,” said Mrs. Bennet, with civil self-command, to Miss Lucas.

“_You_ were Mr. Bingley’s first choice.

” “Yes; but he seemed to like his second better.

” “Oh, you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice.

To be sure that _did_ seem as if he admired her--indeed, I rather believe he _did_--I heard something about it--but I hardly know what--something about Mr. Robinson.

” “Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson: did not I mention it to you?

Mr. Robinson’s asking him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the room, and _which_ he thought the prettiest?

and his answering immediately to the last question, ‘Oh, the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt: there cannot be two opinions on that point.

’” “Upon my word!

Well, that was very decided, indeed--that does seem as if--but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.

” “_My_ overhearings were more to the purpose than _yours_, Eliza,” said Charlotte.

“Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he?

Poor Eliza!

to be only just _tolerable_.

” “I beg you will not put it into Lizzy’s head to be vexed by his ill-treatment, for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him.

Mrs. Long told me last night that he sat close to her for half an hour without once opening his lips.

” [Illustration: “Without once opening his lips” [_Copyright 1894 by George Allen.

_]] “Are you quite sure, ma’am?

Is not there a little mistake?

” said Jane.

“I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.

” “Ay, because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he could not help answering her; but she said he seemed very angry at being spoke to.

” “Miss Bingley told me,” said Jane, “that he never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance.

With _them_ he is remarkably agreeable.

” “I do not believe a word of it, my dear.

If he had been so very agreeable, he would have talked to Mrs. Long.

But I can guess how it was; everybody says that he is eat up with pride, and I dare say he had heard somehow that Mrs. Long does not keep a carriage, and had to come to the ball in a hack chaise.

” “I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long,” said Miss Lucas, “but I wish he had danced with Eliza.

” “Another time, Lizzy,” said her mother, “I would not dance with _him_, if I were you.

” “I believe, ma’am, I may safely promise you _never_ to dance with him.

” “His pride,” said Miss Lucas, “does not offend _me_ so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it.

One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself.

If I may so express it, he has a _right_ to be proud.

” “That is very true,” replied Elizabeth, “and I could easily forgive _his_ pride, if he had not mortified _mine_.

” “Pride,” observed Mary, who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections, “is a very common failing, I believe.

By all that I have ever read, I am convinced that it is very common indeed; that human nature is particularly prone to it, and that there are very few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self-complacency on the score of some quality or other, real or imaginary.

Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously.

A person may be proud without being vain.

Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity to what we would have others think of us.

” “If I were as rich as Mr. Darcy,” cried a young Lucas, who came with his sisters, “I should not care how proud I was.

I would keep a pack of foxhounds, and drink a bottle of wine every day.

” “Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought,” said Mrs. Bennet; “and if I were to see you at it, I should take away your bottle directly.

” The boy protested that she should not; she continued to declare that she would; and the argument ended only with the visit.

[Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER VI.

[Illustration] The ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield.

The visit was returned in due form.

Miss Bennet’s pleasing manners grew on the good-will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was found to be intolerable, and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of being better acquainted with _them_ was expressed towards the two eldest.

By Jane this attention was received with the greatest pleasure; but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment of everybody, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them;

though their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value, as arising, in all probability, from the influence of their brother’s admiration.

It was generally evident, whenever they met, that he _did_ admire her; and to _her_ it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and an uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent.

She mentioned this to her friend, Miss Lucas.

“It may, perhaps, be pleasant,” replied Charlotte, “to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded.

If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark.

There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself.

We can all _begin_ freely--a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement.

In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better show _more_ affection than she feels.

Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on.

” “But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow.

If _I_ can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton indeed not to discover it too.

” “Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane’s disposition as you do.

” “But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavor to conceal it, he must find it out.

” “Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her.

But though Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together.

Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour in which she can command his attention.

When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chooses.

” “Your plan is a good one,” replied Elizabeth, “where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married; and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it.

But these are not Jane’s feelings; she is not acting by design.

As yet she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness.

She has known him only a fortnight.

She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has since dined in company with him four times.

This is not quite enough to make her understand his character.

” “Not as you represent it.

Had she merely _dined_ with him, she might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember that four evenings have been also spent together--and four evenings may do a great deal.

” “Yes: these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce, but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded.

” “Well,” said Charlotte, “I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth.

Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance.

If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar beforehand, it does not advance their felicity in the least.

They always continue to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.

” “You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound.

You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself.

” Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley’s attention to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend.

Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty: he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise.

But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes.

To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying.

Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness.

Of this she was perfectly unaware: to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable nowhere, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.

He began to wish to know more of her; and, as a step towards conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with others.

His doing so drew her notice.

It was at Sir William Lucas’s, where a large party were assembled.

“What does Mr. Darcy mean,” said she to Charlotte, “by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?

” “That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer.

” “But if he does it any more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about.

He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.

” [Illustration: “The entreaties of several” [_Copyright 1894 by George Allen.

_]] On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,-- “Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?

” “With great energy; but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic.

” “You are severe on us.

” “It will be _her_ turn soon to be teased,” said Miss Lucas.

“I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows.

” “You are a very strange creature by way of a friend!

--always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody!

If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers.

” On Miss Lucas’s persevering, however, she added, “Very well; if it must be so, it must.

” And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, “There is a very fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with--‘Keep your breath to cool your porridge,’--and I shall keep mine to swell my song.

” Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital.

After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.

Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached.

Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who with some of the Lucases, and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.

Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by his own thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began:-- “What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy!

There is nothing like dancing, after all.

I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies.

” “Certainly, sir; and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world: every savage can dance.

” Sir William only smiled.

“Your friend performs delightfully,” he continued, after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; “and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy.

” “You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, sir.

” “Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight.

Do you often dance at St. James’s?

” “Never, sir.

” “Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?

” “It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid it.

” “You have a house in town, I conclude?

” Mr. Darcy bowed.

“I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself, for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas.

” He paused in hopes of an answer: but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her,-- “My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing?

Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner.

You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you.

” And, taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,-- “Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing.

I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.

” Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain.

Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.

“You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour.

” “Mr. Darcy is all politeness,” said Elizabeth, smiling.

“He is, indeed: but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?

” Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away.

Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley,-- “I can guess the subject of your reverie.

” “I should imagine not.

” “You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner,--in such society; and, indeed, I am quite of your opinion.

I was never more annoyed!

The insipidity, and yet the noise--the nothingness, and yet the self-importance, of all these people!

What would I give to hear your strictures on them!

” “Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you.

My mind was more agreeably engaged.

I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.

” Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections.

Mr. Darcy replied, with great intrepidity,-- “Miss Elizabeth Bennet.

” “Miss Elizabeth Bennet!

” repeated Miss Bingley.

“I am all astonishment.

How long has she been such a favourite?

and pray when am I to wish you joy?

” “That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask.

A lady’s imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment.

I knew you would be wishing me joy.

” “Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled.

You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you.

” He listened to her with perfect indifference, while she chose to entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed along.

[Illustration: “A note for Miss Bennet” [_Copyright 1894 by George Allen.

_]] CHAPTER VII.

[Illustration] Mr. Bennet’s property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother’s fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his.

Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.

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.

Their visits to Mrs. Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence.

Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers’ names and connections.

Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves.

Mr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity unknown before.

They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley’s large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.

After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed,-- “From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country.

I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.

” Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.

“I am astonished, my dear,” said Mrs. Bennet, “that you should be so ready to think your own children silly.

If I wished to think slightingly of anybody’s children, it should not be of my own, however.

” “If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it.

” “Yes; but as it happens, they are all of them very clever.

” “This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree.

I

had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish.

” “My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother.

When they get to our age, I dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do.

I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well--and, indeed, so I do still at my heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls, I shall not say nay to him; and I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William’s in his regimentals.

” “Mamma,” cried Lydia, “my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson’s as they did when they first came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke’s library.

” Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer.

Mrs. Bennet’s eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,-- “Well, Jane, who is it from?

What is it about?

What does he say?

Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love.

” “It is from Miss Bingley,” said Jane, and then read it aloud.

/* NIND “My dear friend, */ “If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives; for a whole day’s _tête-à-tête_ between two women can never end without a quarrel.

Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this.

My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.

Yours ever, “CAROLINE BINGLEY.

” “With the officers!

” cried Lydia: “I wonder my aunt did not tell us of _that_.

” “Dining out,” said Mrs. Bennet; “that is very unlucky.

” “Can I have the carriage?

” said Jane.

“No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night.

” “That would be a good scheme,” said Elizabeth, “if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home.

” “Oh, but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley’s chaise to go to Meryton;

and the Hursts have no horses to theirs.

” “I had much rather go in the coach.

” “But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure.

They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are not they?

” [Illustration: Cheerful prognostics] “They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them.

” “But if you have got them to-day,” said Elizabeth, “my mother’s purpose will be answered.

” She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged; Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day.

Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard.

Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted.

The rain continued the whole evening without intermission;

Jane certainly could not come back.

“This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!

” said Mrs. Bennet, more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own.

Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance.

Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:-- /* NIND “My dearest Lizzie, */ “I find myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday.

My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better.

They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones--therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me--and, excepting a sore throat and a headache, there is not much the matter with me.

“Yours, etc. ” “Well, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, “if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness--if she should die--it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.

” “Oh, I am not at all afraid of her dying.

People do not die of little trifling colds.

She will be taken good care of.

As long as she stays there, it is all very well.

I would go and see her if I could have the carriage.

” Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be had: and as she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative.

She declared her resolution.

“How can you be so silly,” cried her mother, “as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt!

You will not be fit to be seen when you get there.

” “I shall be very fit to see Jane--which is all I want.

” “Is this a hint to me, Lizzy,” said her father, “to send for the horses?

” “No, indeed.

I do not wish to avoid the walk.