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trusted that they would never be happy together; and fourthly,

that the match might be broken off. Two inferences, however,

were plainly deduced from the whole; one, that Elizabeth was

the real cause of all the mischief; and the other that she herself

had been barbarously used by them all; and on these two points

she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could

console and nothing appease her. -- Nor did that day wear out

her resentment. A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth

without scolding her, a month passed away before she could

speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude, and

many months were gone before she could at all forgive their

daughter.

Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion,

and such as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most

agreeable sort; for it gratified him, he said, to discover that Char-'

lotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think tolerably sensible,

was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter!

Jane confessed herseli a little surprized at the match; but she

said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their

happiness; nor could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as

improbable. Kitty and Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas,

for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; and it affected them in

no other way than as a piece of news to spread at Meryton.

Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able

to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well

married; and she called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual

to say how happy she was, though Mrs. Bennet's sour looks and

ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive happiness

away.

Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which

kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt

persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between

them again. Her disappointment in Charlotte made her turn

with fonder regard to her sister, of whose rectitude, and delicacy

she was sure her opinion could never be shaken, and for whose

happiness she grew daily more anxious, as Bingley had now

been gone a week, and nothing was heard of his return.

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