{{prxprp273.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 273 ||

embarrassment, from which she had been so wholly free at first.

Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs.

Philips, the Lucases, and all their other neighbours, and to hear

herself called 'Mrs. Wickham,' by each of them; and, in the

mean time, she went after dinner to show her ring and boast of

being married, to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids.

'Well, mamma,' said she, when they were all returned to the

breakfast room, 'and what do you think of my husband? Is not

he a charming man J I am sure my sisters must all envy me.

I only hope they may have half my good luck. They must all

go to Brighton. That is the place to get husbands. What a

pity it is, mamma, we did not all go.'

'Very true; and if I had my will, we should. But, my dear

Lydia, I don't at all like your going such a way off. Must it be so?'

'Oh, Lord! yes; -- there is nothing in that. I shall like it of all

things. You and papa, and my sisters, must come down and

see us. We shall be at Newcastle all the winter, and I dare say

there will be some balls, and I will take care to get good partners

for them all.'

'I should like it beyond any thing!' said her mother.

'And then, when you go away! you may leave one or two of

my sisters behind you; and I dare say I shall get husbands for

them before the winter is over.'

'I thank you for my share of the favour,' said Elizabeth; 'but

I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands.'

Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them.

Mr. Wickham had received his commission before he left London,

and he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight.

No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be so

short; and she made the most of the time, by visiting aboui with

her daughter, and having very frequent parties at home. These

parties were acceptable to all; to avoid a family circle was even

more desirable to such as did think, than such as did not.

Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had

expected to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She had

scarcely needed her present observation to be satisfied, from the

reason of things, that their elopement had been brought on by the

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