{{prhprp505.jpg}}

your sister was still partial to Bingley, and if she were, to

make the confession to him which I have since made.'

'Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Cathe-

rine what is to befall her?'

'I am more likely to want time than courage, Elizabeth.

But it ought to be done; and if you will give me a sheet

of paper it shall be done directly.'

'And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by

you, and admire the evenness of your writing, as another

young lady once did. But I have an aunt, too, who must not

be longer neglected.'

From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy

with Mr. Darcy had been over-rated, Elizabeth had never

yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's long letter; but now, having

that to communicate which she knew would be most wel-

come, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and

aunt had already lost three days of happiness, and imme-

diately wrote as follows:--

> 'I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have

> done, for your long, kind, satisfactory detail of particulars; but, to

> say the truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than

> really existed. But now suppose as much as you choose; give a

> loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight

> which the subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually

> married, you cannot greatly err. You must write again very soon,

> and praise him a great deal more than you did in your last. I thank

> you again and again for not going to the Lakes. How could I be so

> silly as to wish it? Your idea of the ponies is delightful. We will

> go round the park every day. I am the happiest creature in the

> world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but no one with

> such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh.

> Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that can be spared

> from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. Yours, etc.'

Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different

style, and still different from either was what Mr. Bennet

sent to Mr. Collins, in return for his last.

> 'Dear Sir -- I must trouble you once more for congratulations.

> Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Cath-

> erine as well as you can. But, if I were you, I would stand by the

> nephew. He has more to give. -- Yours sincerely,' etc.

Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother on his ap-

proaching marriage were all that was affectionate and in-

 [505]