{{prhprp359.jpg}}
It was the second week in May, in which the three young
ladies set out together from Gracechurch Street for the
town of ____, in Hertfordshire; and, as they drew near
the appointed inn where Mr. Bennet's carriage was to meet
them, they quickly perceived, in token of the coachman's
punctuality, both Kitty and Lydia looking out of a dining-~
room upstairs. These two girls had been above an hour in the
place, happily employed in visiting an opposite milliner, watch-
ing the sentinel on guard, and dressing a salad and cucumber.
After welcoming their sisters, they triumphantly displayed
a table set out with such cold meat as an inn larder usually
affords, exclaiming, 'Is not this nice? is not this an agreeable
surprise?'
'And we mean to treat you all,' added Lydia; 'but you
must lend us the money, for we have just spent ours at the
shop out there.' Then showing her purchases, -- 'Look here,
I have bought this bonnet. I do not think it is very pretty:
but I thought I might as well buy it as not. I shall pull it to
pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up
any better.'
And when her sisters abused it as ugly, she added, with
perfect unconcern, 'Oh, but there were two or three much
uglier in the shop; and when I have bought some prettier-~
coloured satin to trim it with fresh, I think it will be very
tolerable. Besides, it will not much signify what one wears
this summer, after the shire have left Meryton, and they
are going in a fortnight.'
'Are they, indeed?' cried Elizabeth, with the greatest satis-
faction.
'They are going to be encamped near Brighton; and I do
so want papa to take us all there for the summer! It would
be such a delicious scheme, and I daresay would hardly
cost anything at all. Mamma would like to go, too, of
all things! Only think what a miserable summer else we
shall have!'
[359]............prev.....................next................