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'I began to be afraid you would never come back again.

People _did_ say, you meant to quit the place entirely at

Michaelmas; but, however, I hope it is not true. A great

many changes have happened in the neighbourhood since

you went away. Miss Lucas is married and settled: and one

of my own daughters. I suppose you have heard of it;

indeed, you must have seen it in the papers. In was in the

_Times_ and the _Courier,_ I know; though it was not put in as

it ought to be. It was only said, "Lately, George Wickham,

Esq., to Miss Lydia Bennet," without there being a syllable

said of her father, or the place where she lived, or anything.

It was my brother Gardiner's drawing up, too, and I wonder

how he came to make such an awkward business of it. Did

you see it?'

Bingley replied that he did, and made his congratulations.

Elizabeth dared not lift up her eyes. How Mr. Darcy looked,

therefore, she could not tell.

'It is a delightful thing, to be sure, to have a daughter well

married,' continued her mother; 'but at the same time, Mr.

Bingley, it is very hard to have her taken away from me.

They are gone down to Newcastle, a place quite northward it

seems, and there they are to stay, I do not know how long.

His regiment is there; for I suppose you have heard of his

leaving the shire, and of his being gone into the Regu-

lars. Thank heaven! he has _some_ friends, though, perhaps,

not so many as he deserves.'

Elizabeth, who knew this to be levelled at Mr. Darcy, was

in such misery of shame that she could hardly keep her seat.

It drew from her, however, the exertion of speaking, which

nothing else had so effectually done before; and she asked

Bingley whether he meant to make any stay in the country

at present. A few weeks, he believed.

'When you have killed all your own birds, Mr. Bingley,'

said her mother, 'I beg you will come here and shoot as many

as you please on Mr. Bennet's manor. I am sure he will be

vastly happy to oblige you, and will save all the best of the

coveys for you.'

Elizabeth's misery increased at such unnecessary, such

officious attention! Were the same fair prospect to arise at

present, as had flattered them a year ago, everything, she was

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