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attention. He answered me with the utmost civility, and even

paid me the compliment of saying, that he was so well convinced

of Lady Catherine's discernment as to be certain she could

never bestow a favour unworthily. It was really a very hand'

some thought. Upon the whole, I am much pleased with

him.'

As Elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own to pursue,

she turned her attention almost entirely on her sister and Mr.

Bingley; and the train of agreeable reflections which her obscrva^

tions gave birth to, made her perhaps almost as happy as Jane.

She saw her in idea settled in that very house, in all the felicity

which a marriage of true affection could bestow; and she felt

capable, under such circumstances, of endeavouring even to like

Bingley 's two sisters. Her mother's thoughts she plainly saw were

bent the same way, and she determined not to venture near her,

lest she might hear too much. When they sat down to supper,

therefore, she considered it a most unlucky perverseness which

placed them within one of each other; and deeply was she vexed

to find that her mother was talking to that one person (Lady Lucas)

freely, openly, and of nothing else but of her expectation that

Jane would be soon married to Mr. Bingley. -- It was an animating

subject, and Mrs. Bennet seemed incapable of fatigue while

enumerating the advantages of the match. His being such a

charming young man, and so rich, and living but three miles

from them, were the first points of self-gratulation; and then it

was such a comfort to think how fond the two sisters were of

Jane, and to be certain that they must desire the connection as

much as she could do. It was, moreover, such a promising

thing for her younger daughters, as Jane's marrying so greatly

must throw them in the way of other rich men; and lastly, it was

so pleasant at her time of life to be able to consign her single

daughters to the care of their sister, that she might not be obliged

to go into company more than she liked. It was necessary to

make this circumstance a matter of pleasure, because on such

occasions it is the etiquette; but no one was less likely than

Mrs. Bennet to find comfort in staying at home at any period

of her life. She concluded with many good wishes that Lady

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