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scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold?

Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!'

'Yes, and her petticoat; I hope you saw her petticoat, six

inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certain, and the gown

which had been let down to hide it not doing its office.'

'Your picture may be very exact, Louisa,' said Bingley;

'but this was all lost upon me. I thought Miss Elizabeth

Bennet looked remarkably well when she came into the room

this morning. Her dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice.'

_'You_ observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,' said Miss

Bingley; 'and I am inclined to think that you would not

wish to see _your_ _sister_ make such an exhibition.'

'Certainly not.'

'To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or what-

ever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone!

what could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an

abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-~

town indifference to decorum.'

'It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasing,'

said Bingley.

'I am afraid, Mr. Darcy,' observed Miss Bingley, in a

half whisper, 'that this adventure has rather affected your

admiration of her fine eyes.'

'Not at all,' he replied: 'they were brightened by the

exercise.' A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs.

Hurst began again,--

'I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet, -- she is

really a very sweet girl, -- and I wish with all my heart she

were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and

such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.'

'I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an at-

torney in Meryton?'

'Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near

Cheapside.'

'That is capital,' added her sister; and they both laughed

heartily.

'If they had uncles enough to fill _all_ Cheapside,' cried

Bingley, 'it would not make them one jot less agreeable.'

'But it must very materially lessen their chance of marry-

ing men of any consideration in the world,' replied Darcy.

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