{{prxprp270.jpg}} || 270 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

Mr. Bennet and his daughters saw all the advantages of Wick-

ham's removal from the shire, as clearly as Mr. Gardiner could

do. But Mrs. Bennet was not so well pleased with it. Lydia's

being settled in the North, just when she had expected most

pleasure and pride in her company, for she had by no means

given up her plan of their residing in Hertfordshire, was a severe

disappointment; and besides, it was such a pity that Lydia

should be taken from a regiment where she was acquainted with

every body, and had so many favourites.

'She is so fond of Mrs. Forster,' said she, 'it will be quite

shocking to send her away! And there are several of the young

men, too, that she likes very much. The officers may not be so

pleasant in General 's regiment.'

His daughter's request, for such it might be considered, of

being admitted into her family again before she set off for the

North, received at first an absolute negative. But Jane and

Elizabeth, who agreed in wishing, for the sake of their sister's

feelings and consequence, that she should be noticed on her

marriage by her parents, urged him so earnestly, yet so rationally

and so mildly, to receive her and her husband at Longbourn, as

soon as they were married, that he was prevailed on to think as

they thought, and act as they wished. And their mother had

the satisfaction of knowing, that she should be able to show her

married daughter in the neighbourhood, before she was banished

to the North. When Mr. Bennet wrote again to his brother,

therefore, he sent his permission for them to come; and it was

settled, that as soon as the ceremony was over, they should proceed

to Longbourn. Elizabeth was surprized, however, that Wickham

should consent to such a scheme, and, had she consulted only her

own inclination, any meeting with him would have been the

last object of her wishes.

 [[270]]