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first. Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to

see Mrs. Philips, the Lucases, and all their other neighbours,

and to hear herself called 'Mrs. Wickham' by each of them;

and in the meantime she went after dinner to show her ring

and boast of being married to Mrs. Hill and the two house-

maids.

'Well, mamma,' said she, when they were all returned to

the breakfast-room, 'and what do you think of my husband?

Is not he a charming man? I am sure my sisters must all

envy me. I only hope they may have half my good luck.

They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get

husbands. What a pity it is, mamma, we did not all go.'

'Very true; and if I had my will we should. But, my

dear Lydia, I don't at all like your going such a way off.

Must it be so?'

'O Lord! yes; there is nothing in that. I shall like it

of all things. You and papa, and my sisters, must come down

and see us. We shall be at Newcastle all the winter, and I

daresay there will be some balls, and I will take care to get

good partners for them all.'

'I should like it beyond anything!' said her mother.

'And then when you go away, you may leave one or two of

my sisters behind you; and I daresay I shall get husbands

for them before the winter is over.'

'I thank you for my share of the favour,' said Elizabeth;

'but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands.'

Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with

them. Mr. Wickham had received his commission before he

left London, and he was to join his regiment at the end of a

fortnight.

No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be

so short; and she made the most of the time by visiting about

with her daughter, and having very frequent parties at home.

These parties were acceptable to all; to avoid a family circle

was even more desirable to such as did think than such as

did not.

Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth

had expected to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She

had scarcely needed her present observation to be satisfied,

from the reason of things, that their elopement had been

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