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others. In vain did she entreat him to stand up with some-

body else, and offered to introduce him to any young lady in

the room. He assured her that, as to dancing, he was

perfectly indifferent to it; that his chief object was, by del-

icate attentions, to recommend himself to her; and that he

should therefore make a point of remaining close to her the

whole evening. There was no arguing upon such a project.

She owed her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas, who

often joined them, and good-naturedly engaged Mr. Collins's

conversation to herself.

She was at least free from the offence of Mr. Darcy's

further notice: though often standing within a very short

distance of her, quite disengaged, he never came near enough

to speak. She felt it to be the probable consequence of her

allusions to Mr. Wickham, and rejoiced in it.

The Longbourn party were the last of all the company to

depart; and by a manoeuvre of Mrs. Bennet had to wait for

their carriage a quarter of an hour after everybody else was

gone, which gave them time to see how heartily they were

wished away by some of the family. Mrs. Hurst and her

sister scarcely opened their mouths except to complain of

fatigue, and were evidently impatient to have the house to

themselves. They repulsed every attempt of Mrs. Bennet at

conversation, and, by so doing, threw a languor over the

whole party, which was very little relieved by the long

speeches of Mr. Collins, who was complimenting Mr. Bingley

and his sisters on the elegance of their entertainment, and the

hospitality and politeness which had marked their behaviour

to their guests. Darcy said nothing at all. Mr. Bennet, in

equal silence, was enjoying the scene. Mr. Bingley and Jane

were standing together a little detached from the rest, and

talked only to each other. Elizabeth preserved as steady a

silence as either Mrs. Hurst or Miss Bingley; and even Lydia

was too much fatigued to utter more than the occasional ex-

clamation of 'Lord, how tired I am!' accompanied by a

violent yawn.

When at length they arose to take leave, Mrs. Bennet was

most pressingly civil in her hope of seeing the whole family

soon at Longbourn; and addressed herself particularly to Mr.

Bingley, to assure him how happy he would make them by

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