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actually married； you cannot greatly err。 You must write again
very soon； and praise him a great deal more than you did in your
last。 I thank you； again and again； for not going to the Lakes。 How
could I be so silly as to wish it！ Your idea of the ponies is
delightful。 We will go round the Park every day。 I am the happiest
creature in the world。 Perhaps other people have said so before；
but not one with such justice。 I am happier even than Jane； she
only smiles； I laugh。 Mr。 Darcy sends you all the love in the world；
that he can spare from me。 You are all to come to Pemberley at
Christmas。 Your’s； &c。’
Mr。 Darcy’s letter to Lady Catherine； was in a different style；
and still different from either； was what Mr。 Bennet sent to Mr。
Collins； in reply to his last。
‘Dear Sir；
‘I must trouble you once more for congratulations。 Elizabeth
will soon be the wife of Mr。 Darcy。 Console Lady Catherine as well
as you can。 But； if I were you； I would stand by the nephew。 He
has more to give。
‘Your’s sincerely； &c。’
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Miss Bingley’s congratulations to her brother； on his
approaching marriage； were all that was affectionate and
insincere。 She wrote even to Jane on the occasion； to express her
delight； and。 repeat all her former professions of regard。 Jane was
not deceived； but she was affected； and though feeling no reliance
on her； could not help writing her a much kinder answer than she
knew was deserved。
The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar
information； was as sincere as her brother’s in sending it。 Four
sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight； and all
her earnest desire of being loved by her sister。
Before any answer could arrive from Mr。 Collins； or any
congratulations to Elizabeth； from his wife； the Longbourn family
heard that the Collinses were come themselves to Lucas lodge。
The reason of this sudden removal was soon evident。 Lady
Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the
contents of her nephew’s letter； that Charlotte； really rejoicing in
the match； was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over。
At such a moment； the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure
to Elizabeth； though in the course of their meetings she must
sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought； when she saw Mr。
Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of her
husband。 He bore it however with admirable calmness。 He could
even listen to Sir William Lucas； when he complimented him on
carrying away the brightest jewel of the country； and expressed
his hopes of their all meeting frequently at St。 James’s； with very
decent composure。 If he did shrug his shoulders； it was not till Sir
William was out of sight。
Mrs。 Philips’s vulgarity was another； and perhaps a greater tax
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on his forbearance； and though Mrs。 Philips； as well as her sister；
stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which
Bingley’s good humour encouraged； yet； whenever she did speak；
she must be vulgar。 Nor was her respect for him； though it made
her more quiet； at all likely to make her more elegant。 Elizabeth
did all she could； to shield him from the frequent notice of either；
and was ever anxious to keep him to herself； and to those of her
family with whom he might converse without mortification； and
though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from
the season of courtship much of its pleasure； it added to the hope
of the future； and she looked forward with delight to the time
when they should be removed from society so little pleasing to
either； to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at
Pemberley。
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CHAPTER XIX
appy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which
Mrs。 Bennet got rid of her two most deserving
H
daughters。 With what delighted pride she afterwards
visited Mrs。 Bingley and talked of Mrs。 Darcy may be guessed。 I
wish I could say； for the sake of her family； that the
accomplishment of her earnest desire in the establishment of so
many of her children； produced so happy an effect as to make her
a sensible； amiable； well…informed woman for the rest of her life；
though perhaps it was lucky for her husband； who might not have
relished domestic felicity in so unusual a form； that she still was
occasionally nervous and invariably silly。
Mr。 Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly； his
affection for her drew him oftener from home than any thing else
could do。 He delighted in going to Pemberley； especially when he
was least expected。
Mr。 Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a
twelvemonth。 So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton
relations was not desirable even to his easy temper； or her
affectionate heart。 The darling wish of his sisters was then
gratified； he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to
Derbyshire； and Jane and Elizabeth； in addition to every other
source of happiness； were within thirty miles of each other。
Kitty； to her very material advantage； spent the chief of her
time with her two elder sisters。 In society so superior to what she
had generally known； her improvement was great。 She was not of
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so ungovernable a temper as Lydia； and； removed from the
influence of Lydia’s example； she became； by proper attention and
management； less irritable； less ignorant； and less insipid。 From
the farther disadvantage of Lydia’s society she was of course
carefully kept； and though Mrs。 Wickham frequently invited her to
come and stay with her； with the promise of balls and young men；
her father would never consent to her going。
Mary was the only daughter who remained at home； and she
was necessarily drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by
Mrs。 Bennet’s being quite unable to sit alone。 Mary was obliged to
mix more with the world； but she could still moralize over every
morning visit； and as she was no longer mortified by comparisons
between her sisters’ beauty and her own； it was suspected by her
father that she submitted to the change without much reluctance。
As for Wickham and Lydia； their characters suffered no
revolution from the marriage of her sisters。 He bore with
philosophy the conviction that Elizabeth must now become
acquainted with whatever of his ingratitude and falsehood had
before been unknown to her； and in spite of every thing； was not
wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make
his fortune。 The congratulatory letter which Elizabeth received
from Lydia on her marriage； explained to her that； by his wife at
least； if not by himself； such a hope was cherished。 The letter was
to this effect：
‘My Dear Lizzy；
‘I wish you joy。 If you love Mr。 Darcy half as well as I do my
dear Wickham； you must be very happy。 It i