{{prxprp161.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 161 ||

'Is this,' thought Elizabeth, 'meant for me?' and she coloured

at the idea; but, recovering herself, said in a lively tone, 'and

pray, what is the usual price of an earl's younger son' Unless

the elder brother is very sickly, I suppose you would not ask above

fifty thousand pounds.'

He answered her in the same style, and the subject dropped.

To interrupt a silence which might make him fancy her affected

with what had passed, she soon afterwards said,

'I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly

for the sake of having somebody at his disposal. I wonder he

does not marry, to secure a lasting convenience of that kind.

But, perhaps, his sister does as well for the present, and, as she is

under his sole care, he may do what he likes with her.'

'No,' said Colonel Fitzwilliam, 'that is an advantage which he

must divide with me. I am joined with him in the guardianship

of Miss Darcy.'

'Are you indeed; And pray what sort of guardians do you

make; Does your charge give you much trouble? Young

ladies of her age are sometimes a little difficult to manage, and if

she has the true Darcy spirit, she may like to have her own way.'

As she spoke, she observed him looking at her earnestly, and

the manner in which he immediately asked her why she supposed

Miss Darcy likely to give them any uneasiness, convinced her

that she had somehow or other got pretty near the truth. She

directly replied,

'You need not be frightened. I never heard any harm of her;

and I dare say she is one of the most tractable creatures in the

world. She is a very great favourite with some ladies of my

acquaintance, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley. I think I have

heard you say that you know them.'

'I know them a little. Their brother is a pleasant, gentlemanlike

man -- he is a great friend of Darcy 's.'

'Oh! yes,' said Elizabeth drily -- 'Mr. Darcy is uncommonly

kind to Mr. Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of

him.'

'Care of him! -- Yes, I really believe Darcy does take care of

him in those points where he most wants care. From something

 [[161]]