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happiness。 She saw with the creative eye of fancy； the streets of
that gay bathing place covered with officers。 She saw herself the
object of attention； to tens and to scores of them at present
unknown。 She saw all the glories of the camp； its tents stretched
forth in beauteous uniformity of lines； crowded with the young
and the gay； and dazzling with scarlet； and to complete the view；
she saw herself seated beneath a tent； tenderly flirting with at
least six officers at once。
Had she known that her sister sought to tear her from such
prospects and such realities as these； what would have been her
sensations？ They could have been understood only by her mother；
who might have felt nearly the same。 Lydia’s going to Brighton
was all that consoled her for the melancholy conviction of her
husband’s never intending to go there himself。
But they were entirely ignorant of what had passed； and their
raptures continued with little intermission to the very day of
Lydia’s leaving home。
Elizabeth was now to see Mr。 Wickham for the last time。 Having
been frequently in company with him since her return； agitation
was pretty well over； the agitations of former partiality entirely so。
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She had even learnt to detect； in the very gentleness which had
first delighted her； an affectation and a sameness to disgust and
weary。 In his present behaviour to herself； moreover； she had a
fresh source of displeasure； for the inclination he soon testified of
renewing those attentions which had marked the early part of
their acquaintance； could only serve； after what had since passed；
to provoke her。 She lost all concern for him in finding herself thus
selected as the object of such idle and frivolous gallantry and while
she steadily repressed it； could not but feel the reproof contained
in his believing； that however long； and for whatever cause； his
attentions had been withdrawn； her vanity would be gratified and
her preference secured at any time by their renewal。
On the very last day of the regiment’s remaining in Meryton； he
dined with others of the officers at Longbourn； and so little was
Elizabeth disposed to part from him in good humour； that on his
making some enquiry as to the manner in which her time had
passed at Hunsford； she mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam’s and Mr。
Darcy’s having both spent three weeks at Rosings； and asked him
if he were acquainted with the former。
He looked surprised； displeased； alarmed； but with a moment’s
recollection and a returning smile； replied； that he had formerly
seen him often； and after observing that he was a very
gentlemanlike man； asked her how she had liked him。 Her answer
was warmly in his favour。 With an air of indifference he soon
afterwards added； ‘How long did you say that he was at Rosings？’
‘Nearly three weeks。’
‘And you saw him frequently？’
‘Yes； almost every day。’
‘His manners are very different from his cousin’s。’
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‘Yes； very different。 But I think Mr。 Darcy improves on
acquaintance。’
‘Indeed！’ cried Wickham with a look which did not escape her。
‘And pray may I ask？’ but checking himself； he added in a gayer
tone； ‘Is it in address that he improves？ Has he deigned to add
ought of civility to his ordinary style？ for I dare not hope；’ he
continued in a lower and more serious tone； ‘that he is improved
in essentials。’
‘Oh； no！’ said Elizabeth。 ‘In essentials； I believe； he is very much
what he ever was。’
While she spoke； Wickham looked as if scarcely knowing
whether to rejoice over her words； or to distrust their meaning。
There was a something in her countenance which made him listen
with an apprehensive and anxious attention； while she added；
‘When I said that he improved on acquaintance； I did not mean
that either his mind or manners were in a state of improvement；
but that from knowing him better； his disposition was better
understood。’
Wickham’s alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion
and agitated look； for a few minutes he was silent； till； shaking off
his embarrassment； he turned to her again； and said in the
gentlest of accents；
‘You； who so well know my feelings towards Mr。 Darcy； will
readily comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise
enough to assume even the appearance of what is right。 His pride；
in that direction； may be of service； if not to himself； to many
others； for it must deter him from such foul misconduct as I have
suffered by。 I only fear that the sort of cautiousness； to which you；
I imagine； have been alluding； is merely adopted on his visits to his
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aunt； of whose good opinion and judgment he stands much in awe。
His fear of her； has always operated； I know； when they were
together； and a good deal is to be imputed to his wish of
forwarding the match with Miss De Bourgh； which I am certain he
has very much at heart。’
Elizabeth could not repress a smile at this； but she answered
only by a slight inclination of the head。 She saw that he wanted to
engage her on the old subject of his grievances； and she was in no
humour to indulge him。 The rest of the evening passed with the
appearance； on his side； of usual cheerfulness； but with no farther
attempt to distinguish Elizabeth； and they parted at last with
mutual civility； and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting
again。
When the party broke up； Lydia returned with Mrs。 Forster to
Meryton； from whence they were to set out early the next
morning。 The separation between her and her family was rather
noisy than pathetic。 Kitty was the only one who shed tears； but she
did weep from vexation and envy。 Mrs。 Bennet was diffuse in her
good wishes for the felicity of her daughter； and impressive in her
injunctions that she would not miss the opportunity of enjoying
herself as much as possible； advice； which there was every reason
to believe would be attended to； and in the clamorous happiness of
Lydia herself in bidding farewell； the more gentle adieus of her
sisters were uttered without being heard。
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CHAPTER XIX
ad Elizabeth’s opinion been all drawn from her own
family； she could not have formed a very pleasing
H
picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort。 Her
father captivated by youth and beauty； and that appearance of
good humour； which youth and beauty generally give； had married
a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind； had very
early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her。
Respect； esteem； and confidence； had vanished for ever； and all his
views of domestic happiness were overthrown。 But Mr。 Bennet
was not of a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment
which his own imprudence had brought on； in any of those
pleasures which too often console the unfortunate for their folly or
their vice。 He was fond of the country and of books； and from
these tastes had arisen his principal