{{prxprp064.jpg}} || 64 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have

noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies

to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in

spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in,

and even in spite of Mrs. Philips's throwing up the parlour

window, and loudly seconding the invitation.

Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces; and the two

eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and

she was eagerly expressing her surprize at their sudden return

home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she

should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to

see Mr. Jones's shop^boy in the street, who had told her that

they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because

the Miss Benncts were come away, when her civility was claimed

towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received

him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as

much more, apologizing for his intrustion, without any previous

acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself

however might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies

who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed

by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one

stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries

about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell her

nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him

from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission

in the shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she

said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wick'

ham appeared Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued

the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the windows now

except a few of the officers, who, in comparison with the stranger,

were become 'stupid, disagreeable fellows'. Some of them were

to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised

to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an

invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in

the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested

that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery

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