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'Jane, I congratulate you. You will be a very happy

woman.'

Jane went to him instantly, kissed him, and thanked him

for his goodness.

'You are a good girl,' he replied, 'and I have great pleasure

in thinking you will be so happily settled. I have not a doubt

of your doing very well together. Your tempers are by no

means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that noth-

ing will ever be resolved on; so easy, that every servant will

cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed your

income.'

'I hope not so. Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money

matters would be unpardonable in _me.'_

'Exceed their income! My dear Mr. Bennet,' cried his

wife, 'what are you talking of? Why, he has four or five

thousand a year, and very likely more.' Then addressing her

daughter, 'Oh, my dear, dear Jane, I am so happy! I am

sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night. I knew how it

would be. I always said it must be so, at last. I was sure

you could not be so beautiful for nothing! I remember, as

soon as ever I saw him, when he first came into Hertford-

shire last year, I thought how likely it was that you should

come together. Oh, he is the handsomest young man that

ever was seen!'

Wickham, Lydia, were all forgotten. Jane was beyond

competition her favourite child. At that moment she cared

for no other. Her younger sisters soon began to make inter-

est with her for objects of happiness which she might in

future be able to dispense.

Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield;

and Kitty begged very hard for a few balls there every

winter.

Bingley, from this time, was of course a daily visitor at

Longbourn; coming frequently before breakfast, and always

remaining till after supper; unless when some barbarous

neighbour, who could not be enough detested, had given him

an invitation to dinner, which he thought himself obliged to

accept.

Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her

sister; for while he was present Jane had no attention to be-

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