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Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and

was counting the days till she might reasonably hope to hear

again. The promised letter of thanks from Mr. Collins

arrived on Tuesday, addressed to their father, and written

with all the solemnity of gratitude which a twelvemonth's

abode in the family might have prompted. After discharging

his conscience on that head, he proceeded to inform them,

with many rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having

obtained the affection of their amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas,

and then explained that it was merely with the view of enjoy-

ing her society that he had been so ready to close with their

kind wish of seeing him again at Longbourn, whither he

hoped to be able to return on Monday fortnight; for Lady

Catherine, he added, so heartily approved his marriage, that

she wished it to take place as soon as possible, which he

trusted would be an unanswerable argument with his amiable

Charlotte to name an early day for making him the happiest

of men.

Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a

matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she

was as much disposed to complain of it as her husband. It

was very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead

of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceed-

ingly troublesome. She hated having visitors in the house

while her health was so indifferent, and lovers were of all

people the most disagreeable. Such were the gentle murmurs

of Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater dis-

tress of Mr. Bingley's continued absence.

Neither Jane nor Elizabeth was comfortable on this sub-

ject. Day after day passed away without bringing any other

tidings of him than the report which shortly prevailed in

Meryton of his coming no more to Netherfield the whole win-

ter; a report which highly incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which

she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous false-

hood.

Even Elizabeth began to fear -- not that Bingley was in-

different -- but that his sisters would be successful in keeping

him away. Unwilling as she was to admit an idea so de-

structive of Jane's happiness, and so dishonourable to the

stability of her lover, she could not prevent its frequently

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