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Chapter XXXIX

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!'

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