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other day。 But I cannot find out that Jane saw any thing of him in
London。 Well； he is a very undeserving young man—and I do not
suppose there is the least chance in the world of her ever getting
him now。 There is no talk of his coming to Netherfield again in the
summer； and I have enquired of every body too； who is likely to
know。’
‘I do not believe that he will ever live at Netherfield any more。
‘Oh； well！ it is just as he chooses。 Nobody wants him to come。
Though I shall always say that he used my daughter extremely ill；
and if I was her； I would not have put up with it。 Well； my comfort
is； I am sure Jane will die of a broken heart； and then he will be
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sorry for what he has done。’
But as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such
expectation； she made no answer。
‘Well； Lizzy；’ continued her mother soon afterwards； ‘and so the
Collinses live very comfortable； do they？ Well； well； I only hope it
will last。 And what sort of table do they keep？ Charlotte is an
excellent manager； I dare say。 If she is half as sharp as her mother；
she is saving enough。 There is nothing extravagant in their
housekeeping； I dare say。’
‘No； nothing at all。’
‘A great deal of good management； depend upon it。 Yes； yes。
They will take care not to outrun their income。 They will never be
distressed for money。 Well； much good may it do them！ And so； I
suppose； they often talk of having Longbourn when your father is
dead。 They look upon it quite as their own； I dare say； whenever
that happens。’
‘It was a subject which they could not mention before me。’
‘No。 It would have been strange if they had。 But I make no
doubt； they often talk of it between themselves。 Well； if they can be
easy with an estate that is not lawfully their own； so much the
better。 I should be ashamed of having one that was only entailed
on me。’
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CHAPTER XVIII
he first week of their return was soon gone。 The second
began。 It was the last of the regiment’s stay in Meryton；
T
and all the young ladies in the neighbourhood were
drooping apace。 The dejection was almost universal。 The elder
Miss Bennets alone were still able to eat； drink； and sleep； and
pursue the usual course of their employments。 Very frequently
were they reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and Lydia；
whose own misery was extreme； and who could not comprehend
such hard…heartedness in any of the family。
‘Good Heaven！ What is to become of us！ What are we to do！’
would they often exclaim in the bitterness of woe。 ‘How can you be
smiling so； Lizzy？’
Their affectionate mother shared all their grief； she remem…
bered what she had herself endured on a similar occasion； five and
twenty years ago。
‘I am sure；’ said she； ‘I cried for two days together when Colonel
Millar’s regiment went away。 I thought I should have broke my
heart。’
‘I am sure I shall break mine；’ said Lydia。
‘If one could but go to Brighton！’ observed Mrs。 Bennet。
‘Oh； yes！—if one could but go to Brighton！ But papa is so
disagreeable。’
‘A little sea…bathing would set me up for ever。’
‘And my aunt Philips is sure it would do me a great deal of
good；’ added Kitty。
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Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually
through Longbourn…house。 Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them；
but all sense of pleasure was lost in shame。 She felt anew the
justice of Mr。 Darcy’s objections； and never had she before been so
much disposed to pardon his interference in the views of his
friend。
But the gloom of Lydia’s prospect was shortly cleared away； for
she received an invitation from Mrs。 Forster； the wife of the
Colonel of the regiment； to accompany her to Brighton。 This
invaluable friend was a very young woman； and very lately
married。 A resemblance in good humour and good spirits had
recommended her and Lydia to each other； and out of their three
months’ acquaintance they had been intimate two。
The rapture of Lydia on this occasion； her adoration of Mrs。
Forster； the delight of Mrs。 Bennet； and the mortification of Kitty；
are scarcely to be described。 Wholly inattentive to her sister’s
feelings； Lydia flew about the house in restless ecstasy； calling for
every one’s congratulations； and laughing and talking with more
violence than ever； whilst the luckless Kitty continued in the
parlour repining at her fate in terms as unreasonable as her accent
was peevish。
‘I cannot see why Mrs。 Forster should not ask me as well as
Lydia；’ said she； ‘though I am not her particular friend。 I have just
as much right to be asked as she has； and more too； for I am two
years older。’
In vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable； and Jane
to make her resigned。 As for Elizabeth herself； this invitation was
so far from exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and
Lydia； that she considered it as the death…warrant of all possibility
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of common sense for the latter； and detestable as such a step must
make her were it known； she could not help secretly advising her
father not to let her go。 She represented to him all the
improprieties of Lydia’s general behaviour； the little advantage
she could derive from the friendship of such a woman as Mrs。
Forster； and the probabi