{{prxprp246.jpg}} || 246 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

Elizabeth, as she affectionately embraced her, whilst tears filled

the eyes of both, lost not a moment in asking whether any thing

had been heard of the fugitives.

'Not yet,' replied Jane. 'But now that my dear uncle is come,

I hope every thing will be well.'

'Is my father in town?'

'Yes, he went on Tuesday, as I wrote you word/

'And have you heard from him often?'

'We have heard only once. He wrote me a few lines on

Wednesday, to say that he had arrived in safety, and to give me

his directions, which I particularly begged him to do. He merely

added, that he should not write again, till he had something of

importance to mention.'

'And my mother -- How is she? How are you all?'

'My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are

greatly shaken. She is up stairs, and will have great satisfaction

in seeing you all. She does not yet leave her dressing-room.

Mary and Kitty, thank Heaven! are quite well.'

'But you -- How are you?' cried Elizabeth. 'You look pale.

How much you must have gone through!'

Her sister, however, assured her of her being perfectly well;

and their conversation, which had been passing while Mr. and

Mrs. Gardiner were engaged with their children, was now put

an end to, by the approach of the whole party. Jane ran to her

uncle and aunt, and welcomed and thanked them both, with

alternate smiles and tears.

When they were all in the drawing room, the questions which

Elizabeth had already asked were of course repeated by the others,

and they soon found that Jane had no intelligence to give. The

sanguine hope of good, however, which the benevolence of her

heart suggested, had not yet deserted her; she still expected that

it would all end well, and that every morning would bring some

letter, either from Lydia or her father, to explain their proceedings,

and, perhaps, announce the marriage.

Mrs. Bennet, to whose apartment they all repaired, after a

few minutes conversation together, received them exactly as

might be expected; with tears and lamentations of regret, invectives

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