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Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the frequent notice

of either, and was ever anxious to keep him to herself, and to

those of her family with whom he might converse without

mortification; and though the uncomfortable feelings arising

from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure,

it added to the hope of the future; and she looked forward with

delight to the time when they should be removed from society

so little pleasing to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their

family party at Pemberley.

Chapter LXI

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which

Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters. With

what delighted pride she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley, and

talked of Mrs. Darcy, may be guessed. I wish I could say, for

the sake of her family, that the accomplishment of her earnest

desire in the establishment of so many of her children, produced

so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, amiable, well-informed

woman for the rest of her life; though, perhaps, it was lucky for

her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity in so

unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous and

invariably silly.

Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his

affection for her drew him oftener from home than anything else

could do. He delighted in going to Pemberley, especially when

he was least expected.

Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelve^

month. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations

was not desirable even to bis easy temper, or btr affectionate heart.

The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified; he bought an

estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire; and Jane and

Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were

within thirty miles of each other.

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