第117章[第2页/共5页]

“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.”

It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips,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.

Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned,was not quite so cordial. His countenance rather gained in austerity;and he scarcely opened his lips.The easy assurance of the young couple,indeed,was enough to provoke him.

“Ah!Jane,I take your place now,and you must go lower,because I am a married woman.”

“I thank you for my share of the favour,”said Elizabeth;“but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands.”

They came.The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to the door;her husband looked impenetrably grave;her daughters,alarmed,anxious,uneasy.