苗疆小说网

第142章（第1页）

MissBingleyscongratulationstoherbrother，onhisapproachingmarriage，wereallthatwasaffectionateandinsincere。ShewroteeventoJaneontheoccasion，toexpressherdelight，andrepeatallherformerprofessionsofregard。Janewasnotdeceived，butshewasaffected;andthoughfeelingnorelianceonher，couldnothelpwritingheramuchkinderanswerthansheknewwasdeserved。

ThejoywhichMissDarcyexpressedonreceivingsimilarinformation，wasassincereasherbrothersinsendingit。Foursidesofpaperwereinsufficienttocontainallherdelight，andallherearnestdesireofbeinglovedbyhersister。

BeforeanyanswercouldarrivefromMr。Collins，oranycongratulationstoElizabethfromhiswife，theLongbournfamilyheardthattheCollinseswerecomethemselvestoLucasLodge。Thereasonofthissuddenremovalwassoonevident。LadyCatherinehadbeenrenderedsoexceedinglyangrybythecontentsofhernephewsletter，thatCharlotte，reallyrejoicinginthematch，wasanxioustogetawaytillthestormwasblownover。Atsuchamoment，thearrivalofherfriendwasasincerepleasuretoElizabeth，thoughinthecourseoftheirmeetingsshemustsometimesthinkthepleasuredearlybought，whenshesawMr。Darcyexposedtoalltheparadingandobsequiouscivilityofherhusband。Heboreit，however，withadmirablecalmness。HecouldevenlistentoSirWilliamLucas，whenhecomplimentedhimoncarryingawaythebrightestjewelofthecountry，andexpressedhishopesoftheirallmeetingfrequentlyatSt。Jamess，withverydecentcomposure。Ifhedidshrughisshoulders，itwasnottillSirWilliamwasoutofsight。

Mrs。Phillipssvulgaritywasanother，andperhaps，agreatertaxonhisforbearance;andthoughMrs。Phillips，aswellashersister，stoodintoomuchaweofhimtospeakwiththefamiliaritywhichBingleysgoodhumourencouraged，yet，whenevershedidspeak，shemustbevulgar。Norwasherrespectforhim，thoughitmadehermorequiet，atalllikelytomakehermoreelegant。Elizabethdidallshecouldtoshieldhimfromthefrequentnoticeofeither，andwaseveranxioustokeephimtoherself，andtothoseofherfamilywithwhomhemightconversewithoutmortification;andthoughtheuncomfortablefeelingsarisingfromallthistookfromtheseasonofcourtshipmuchofitspleasure，itaddedtothehopeofthefuture;andshelookedforwardwithdelighttothetimewhentheyshouldberemovedfromsocietysolittlepleasingtoeither，toallthecomfortandeleganceoftheirfamilypartyatPemberley。

HappyforallhermaternalfeelingswasthedayonwhichMrs。Bennetgotridofhertwomostdeservingdaughters。WithwhatdelightedpridesheafterwardsvisitedMrs。Bingley，andtalkedofMrs。Darcy，maybeguessed。IwishIcouldsay，forthesakeofherfamily，thattheaccomplishmentofherearnestdesireintheestablishmentofsomanyofherchildrenproducedsohappyaneffectastomakeherasensible，amiable，well-informedwomanfortherestofherlife;thoughperhapsitwasluckyforherhusband，whomightnothaverelisheddomesticfelicityinsounusualaform，thatshestillwasoccasionallynervousandinvariablysilly。

Mr。Bennetmissedhisseconddaughterexceedingly;hisaffectionforherdrewhimoftenerfromhomethananythingelsecoulddo。HedelightedingoingtoPemberley，especiallywhenhewasleastexpected。

Mr。BingleyandJaneremainedatNetherfieldonlyatwelvemonth。SonearavicinitytohermotherandMerytonrelationswasnotdesirableeventohiseasytemper，orheraffectionateheart。Thedarlingwishofhissisterswasthengratified;heboughtanestateinaneighbouringcountytoDerbyshire，andJaneandElizabeth，inadditiontoeveryothersourceofhappiness，werewithinthirtymilesofeachother。

Kitty，toherverymaterialadvantage，spentthechiefofhertimewithhertwoeldersisters。Insocietysosuperiortowhatshehadgenerallyknown，herimprovementwasgreat。ShewasnotofsoungovernableatemperasLydia;and，removedfromtheinfluenceofLydiasexample，shebecame，byproperattentionandmanagement，lessirritable，lessignorant，andlessinsipid。FromthefurtherdisadvantageofLydiassocietyshewasofcoursecarefullykept，andthoughMrs。Wickhamfrequentlyinvitedhertocomeandstaywithher，withthepromiseofballsandyoungmen，herfatherwouldneverconsenttohergoing。