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Chapter XLIX

Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, as Jane and

Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery be-

hind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming

towards them, and concluding that she came to call them to

their mother, went forward to meet her; but instead of the

expected summons, when they approached her, she said to

Miss Bennet, 'I beg your pardon, madam, for interrupting

you, but I was in hopes you might have got some good news

from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask.'

'What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from

town.'

'Dear madam,' cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment,

'don't you know there is an express come for master from

Mr. Gardiner? He has been here this half-hour, and mas-

ter has had a letter.'

Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for

speech. They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-~

room; from thence to the library; -- their father was in

neither; and they were on the point of seeking him upstairs

with their mother, when they were met by the butler, who

said,--

'If you are looking for my master, ma'am, he is walking

towards the little copse.'

Upon this information, they instantly passed through the

hall once more, and ran across the lawn after their father,

who was deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood

on one side of the paddock.

Jane, who was not so light, nor so much in the habit of

running as Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister,

panting for breath, came up with him, and eagerly cried

out,--

'Oh, papa, what news? what news? have you heard from

my uncle?'

'Yes, I have had a letter from him by express.'

'Well, and what news does it bring -- good or bad?'

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