{{prxprp038.jpg}} || 38 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity

they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so very

plain -- but then she is our particular friend.'

'She seems a very pleasant young woman,' said Bingley.

'Oh! dear, yes; -- but you must own she is very plain. Lady

Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty.

I do not like to boast of my own child, but to be sure, Jane --

one does not often see anybody better looking. It is what every

body says. I do not trust my own partiality. When she was

only fifteen, there was a gentleman at my brother Gardiner's in

town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure

he would make her an offer before we came away. But however

he did not. Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he

wrote some verses on her, and very pretty they were.'

'And so ended his affection,' said Elizabeth impatiently.

'There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way.

I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving

away love!'

'I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,' said

Darcy.

'Of a fine, stout, healthy love it may. -- Every thing nourishes

what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of

inclination, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it

entirely away.'

Darcy only smiled; and the general pause which ensued made

Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself

again. She longed to speak, but could think of nothing to say;

and after a short silence Mrs. Bennet began repeating her thanks

to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for

troubling him also with Lizzy. Mr. Bingley was unaffectedly

civil in his answer, and forced his younger sister to be civil

also, and say what the occasion required. She performed her

part indeed without much graciousness, but Mrs. Bennet was

satisfied, and soon afterwards ordered her carriage. Upon this

signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The

two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole

visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest should tax

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