{{prxprp006.jpg}} || 6 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'What an excellent father you have, girls,' said she, when the

door was shut. 'I do not know how you will ever make him

amends for his kindness; or me either, for that matter. At our

time of life it is not so pleasant, I can tell you, to be making new

acquaintance every day; but for your sakes, we would do any thing.

Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley

will dance with you at the next ball.'

'Oh!' said Lydia stoutly, 'I am not afraid; for though I am

the youngest, I 'm the tallest.'

The rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he

would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they

should ask him to dinner.

Chapter III

Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her

five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw

from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley.

They attacked him in various ways; with barefaced questions,

ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the

skill of them all; and they were at last obliged to accept the

second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her

report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted

with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, ex.*

tremely agreeable, and to crown the whole, he meant to be at

the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more

delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards

falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart

were entertained.

'If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Nether^

field,' said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, 'and all the others equally

well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.'

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat

about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained

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