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during the walk he particularly attended to her. His accom-

panying them was a double advantage: she felt all the com-

pliment it offered to herself; and it was most acceptable as

an occasion of introducing him to her father and mother.

Soon after their return a letter was delivered to Miss Ben-

net; it came from Netherfield, and was opened immediately.

The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed

paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and

Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read

it, and saw her dwelling intently on some particular pas-

sages. Jane recollected herself soon; and putting the letter

away, tried to join, with her usual cheerfulness, in the general

conversation: but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject

which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no

sooner had he and his companion taken leave than a glance

from Jane invited her to follow her upstairs. When they

had gained their own room, Jane, taking out her letter, said,

'This is from Caroline Bingley: what it contains has sur-

prised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield

by this time, and are on their way to town, and without any

intention of coming back again. You shall hear what she

says.'

She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised

the information of their having just resolved to follow their

brother to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that

day in Grosvenor Street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. The

next was in these words: -- 'I do not pretend to regret any-

thing I shall leave in Hertfordshire except your society, my

dearest friend; but we will hope, at some future period, to

enjoy many returns of that delightful intercourse we have

known, and in the meanwhile may lessen the pain of separa-

tion by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence.

I depend on you for that.' To these high-flown expressions

Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and

though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she

saw nothing in it really to lament: it was not to be supposed

that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bing-

ley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was

persuaded that Jane must soon cease to regard it in the en-

joyment of his.

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