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be happy together; and, fourthly, that the match might be

broken off. Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced

from the whole: one, that Elizabeth was the real cause of

all the mischief; and the other, that she herself had been

barbarously used by them all; and on these two points she

principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could

console and nothing appease her. Nor did that day wear

out her resentment. A week elapsed before she could see

Elizabeth without scolding her: a month passed away before

she could speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being

rude; and many months were gone before she could at all

forgive their daughter.

Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the

occasion, and such as he did experience he pronounced to be

of a most agreeable sort; for it gratified him, he said, to dis-

cover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think

tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish

than his daughter!

Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match: but

she said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire

for their happiness; nor could Elizabeth persuade her to con-

sider it as improbable. Kitty and Lydia were far from envy-

ing Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; and it

affected them in no other way than as a piece of news to

spread at Meryton.

Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being

able to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daugh-

ter well married; and she called at Longbourn rather oftener

than usual to say how happy she was, though Mrs. Bennet's

sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough

to drive happiness away.

Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint

which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth

felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist

between them again. Her disappointment in Charlotte made

her turn with fonder regard to her sister, of whose rectitude

and delicacy she was sure her opinion could never be shaken,

and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, as

Bingley had now been gone a week, and nothing was heard

of his return.

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