{{prhprp228.jpg}}

of his hopes that a mistress for it might be found at Long-

bourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and

general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he

had fixed on. 'As to her _younger_ daughters, she could not

take upon her to say -- she could not positively answer -- but

she did not _know_ of any prepossession; -- her _eldest_ daughter

she must just mention -- she felt it incumbent on her to hint,

was likely to be very soon engaged.'

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth --

and it was soon done -- done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring

the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty,

succeeded her of course.

Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she

might soon have two daughters married; and the man whom

she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high

in her good graces.

Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgot-

ten: every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and

Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet,

who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library

to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after

breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged

with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talk-

ing to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and

garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet

exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure

and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth,

to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the

house, he was used to be free from them there: his civility,

therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his

daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much

better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well

pleased to close his large book, and go.

In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that

of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton.

The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be

gained by _him._ Their eyes were immediately wandering up

the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very

smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window

could recall them.

 [228]