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Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and Cath-

erine for a considerable time, without making any impres-

sion on them. Elizabeth would not observe her; and when

at last Kitty did, she very innocently said, 'What is the mat-

ter, mamma? What do you keep winking at me for? What

am I to do?'

'Nothing, child, nothing. I did not wink at you.' She then

sat still five minutes longer; but, unable to waste such a

precious occasion, she suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty,--

'Come here, my love, I want to speak to you,' took her out

of the room. Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth which

spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her entreaty

that _she_ would not give in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs.

Bennet half opened the door and called out,--

'Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you.'

Elizabeth was forced to go.

'We may as well leave them by themselves, you know,' said

her mother as soon as she was in the hall. 'Kitty and I are

going upstairs to sit in my dressing-room.'

Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother, but

remained quietly in the hall till she and Kitty were out of

sight, then returned into the drawing-room.

Mrs. Bennet's schemes for this day were ineffectual. Bing-

ley was everything that was charming, except the professed

lover of her daughter. His ease and cheerfulness rendered

him a most agreeable addition to their evening party; and

he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the mother, and

heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command

of countenance particularly grateful to the daughter.

He scarcely needed an invitation to stay to supper; and

before he went away an engagement was formed, chiefly

through his own and Mrs. Bennet's means, for his coming

next morning to shoot with her husband.

After this day, Jane said no more of her indifference.

Not a word passed between the sisters concerning Bingley;

but Elizabeth went to bed in the happy belief that all must

speedily be concluded, unless Mr. Darcy returned within the

stated time. Seriously, however, she felt tolerably persuaded

that all this must have taken place with that gentleman's con-

currence.

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