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They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the de-

parture of the family, without being alarmed on the score

of the gentleman's conduct; but even this partial communi-

cation gave her a great deal of concern, and she bewailed it

as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen to go

away just as they were all getting so intimate together. After

lamenting it, however, at some length, she had the consola-

tion of thinking that Mr. Bingley would be soon down again,

and soon dining at Longbourn; and the conclusion of all was

the comfortable declaration, that, though he had been invited

only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full

courses.

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