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In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have

noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young

ladies to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their

bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they

would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips's throwing

up the parlour window, and loudly seconding the invitation.

Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces; and the

two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly wel-

come; and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their

sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not

fetched them, she should have known nothing about if she

had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop-boy in the street,

who had told her that they were not to send any more

draughts to Netherfield, because the Miss Bennets were come

away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by

Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very

best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apolo-

gising for his intrusion without any previous acquaintance

with her, which he could not help flattering himself however

might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who

introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed

by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation

of one stranger was soon put to an end to by exclamations and

inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only

tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had

brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieu-

tenant's commission in the shire. She had been watch-

ing him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the

street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia

would certainly have continued the occupation; but unluckily

no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers,

who, in comparison with the stranger, were become 'stupid,

disagreeable fellows.' Some of them were to dine with the

Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her

husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation

also, if the family, from Longbourn would come in the even-

ing. This was agreed to: and Mrs. Philips protested that

they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery

tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The pros-

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