{{prxprp135.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 135 ||

'Take care, Lizzy; that speech savours strongly of disappoint-'

ment.'

Before they were separated by the conclusion of the play, she

had the unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany

her uncle and aunt in a tour of pleasure which they proposed

taking in the summer.

"We have not quite determined how far it shall carry us,' said

Mrs. Gardiner, 'but, perhaps, to the Lakes.'

No scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and

her acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful.

'My dear, dear aunt,' she rapturously cried, 'what delight! what

felicity! You give me fresh life and vigour. Adieu to dis^

appointment and spleen. What arc men to rocks and moun^

tains? Oh! what hours of transport we shall spend! And when

we do return, it shall not be like other travellers, without being

able to give one accurate idea of any thing. We will know where

we have gone -- we will recollect what we have seen. Lakes,

mountains, and rivers, shall not be jumbled together in our

imaginations; nor, when we attempt to describe any particular

scene, will we begin quarrelling about its relative situation. Let

our first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality

of travellers.'

 [[135]]