{{prxprp258.jpg}} || 258 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'Do you suppose them to be in London I*

'Yes; where else can they be so well concealed J*

'And Lydia used to want to go to London,' added Kitty.

'She is happy, then,' said her father drily; 'and her residence

there will probably be of some duration.'

Then, after a short silence, he continued,

'Lizzy, I bear you no ill-will for being justified in your advice

to me last May, which, considering the event, shews some

greatness of mind.'

They were interrupted by Miss Bennet, who came to fetch her

mother's tea.

'This is a parade,' cried he, 'which does one good; it gives such

an elegance to misfortune! Another day I will do the same;

I will sit in my library, in my nightcap and powdering gown, and

give as much trouble as I can, -- or, perhaps, I may defer it, till

Kitty runs away.'

'I am not going to run away, papa,' said Kitty fretfully. 'If

I should ever go to Brighton, I would behave better than Lydia.'

'You go to Brighton! -- I would not trust you so near it as

East Bourne for fifty pounds! No, Kitty, I have at last learnt to

be cautious, and you will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever

to enter my house again, nor even to pass through the village.

Balls will be absolutely prohibited, unless you stand up with one

of your sisters. And you are never to stir out of doors, till you

can prove, that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a

rational manner.'

Kitty, who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry.

'Well, well,' said he, 'do not make yourself unhappy. If you

are a good girl for the next ten years, I will take you to a review

at the end of them.'

 [[258]]