{{prxprp023.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 23 ||

'Miss Elizabeth Bennet.'

'Miss Elizabeth Bennet!' repeated Miss Bingley. 'I am all

astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? -- and

pray when am I to wish you joy?'

'That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask.

A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration

to love, from love to matrimony in a moment. I knew you

would be wishing me joy.'

'Nay, if you are serious about it, I shall consider the matter as

absolutely settled. -- You will have a charming mother-in-law,

indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you.'

He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to

entertain herself in this manner; and as his composure convinced

her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.

Chapter VII

Mr. Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of

two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was

entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their

mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but

ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney

in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.

She had a sister married to a Mr. Philips, who had been a

clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, and a

brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton;

a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually

tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to

their aunt and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two

youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly

frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than

their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton

was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish corv

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