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Chapter LV

A few days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again,

and alone. His friend had left him that morning for

London, but was to return home in ten days' time.

He sat with them above an hour, and was in remarkably good

spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dine with them; but,

with many expressions of concern, he confessed himself en-

gaged elsewhere.

'Next time you call,' said she, 'I hope we shall be more

lucky.'

He should be particularly happy at any time, etc.;

and if she would give him leave, would take an early oppor-

tunity of waiting on them.

'Can you come to-morrow?'

Yes, he had no engagement at all for to-morrow; and her

invitation was accepted with alacrity.

He came, and in such very good time that the ladies were

none of them dressed. In ran Mrs. Bennet to her daughter's

room, in her dressing gown, and with her hair half-finished,

crying out,--

'My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down. He is come --

Mr. Bingley is come. He is, indeed. Make haste, make

haste. Here, Sarah, come to Miss Bennet this moment, and

help her on with her gown. Never mind Miss Lizzy's hair.'

'We will be down as soon as we can,' said Jane, 'but I

daresay Kitty is forwarder than either of us, for she went

upstairs half an hour ago.'

'Oh! hang Kitty! what has she to do with it? Come, be

quick, be quick! where is your sash, my dear?'

But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be pre-

vailed on to go down without one of her sisters.

The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible

again in the evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the

library, as was his custom, and Mary went upstairs to her

instrument. Two obstacles of the five being thus removed,

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