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‘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； they
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reached 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。
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CHAPTER XVI
t was the second week in May； in which the three young
ladies set out together from Gracechurch…street； for the town
I
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 greatest
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satisfaction。
‘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。’
‘She is a great fool for going away； if she liked him。’
‘But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side；’ said
Jane。
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‘I am sure there is not on his。 I will answer for it he never cared
three straws about her。 Who could about such a nasty little
freckled thing？’
Elizabeth was shocked to think that； however incapable of such
coarseness of expression herself； the coarseness of the sentiment
was little other than her own breast had formerly harboured and
fancied liberal！
As soon as all had ate； and the elder ones paid； the carriage was
ordered； and after some contrivance； the whole party； with all
their boxes； workbags； and parcels； and the unwelcome addition of
Kitty’s and Lydia’s purchases； were seated in it。
‘How nicely we are crammed in！’ cried Lydia。 ‘I am glad I
bought my bonnet； if it is only for the fun of having another
bandbox！ Well； now let us be quite comfortable and snug； and talk
and laugh all the way home。 And in the first place； let us hear what
has happened to you all； since you went away。 Have you seen any
pleasant men？ Have you had any flirting？ I was in great hopes
that one of you would have got a husband before you came back。
Jane will be quite an old maid soon； I declare。 She is almost three
and twenty！ Lord； how ashamed I should be of not being married
before three and twenty！ My aunt Philips wants you so to get
husbands； you can’t think。 She says Lizzy had better have taken
Mr。 Collins； but I do not think there would have been any fun in it。
Lord！ how I should like to be married before any of you； and then I
would chaperon you about to all the balls。 Dear me！ we had such a
good piece of fun the other day at Colonel Forster’s。 Kitty and me
were to spend the day there； and Mrs。 Forster promised to have a
little dance in the evening； （by the bye； Mrs。 Forster and me are
such friends！） and so she asked the two Harringtons to come； but
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Harriet was ill； and so Pen was forced to come by herself； and
then； what do you think we did？ We dressed up Chamberlayne in
woman’s clothes