{{prxprp193.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 193 ||

they would have no charms for me. I should infinitely prefer

a book.'

But of this answer Lydia heard not a word. She seldom

listened to any body for more than half a minute, and never

attended to Mary at all.

In the afternoon Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to

walk to Meryton, and see how everybody went on: but Elizabeth

steadily opposed the scheme. It should not be said, that the Miss

Bennets could not be at home half a day before they were in

pursuit of the officers. There was another reason too for her

opposition. She dreaded seeing Wickham again, and was

resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The comfort to her, of

the regiment's approaching removal, was indeed beyond express

sion. In a fortnight they were to go, and once gone, she hoped

there could be nothing more to plague her on his account.

She had not been many hours at home, before she found that

the Brighton scheme, of which Lydia had given them a hint

at the inn, was under frequent discussion between her parents.

Elizabeth saw directly that her father had not the smallest intention

of yielding; but his answers were at the same time so vague and

equivocal, that her mother, though often disheartened, had never

yet despaired of succeeding at last.

 [[193]]