第122章[第2页/共5页]

“No,no.You forced me into visiting him last year,and promised, if I went to see him,he should marry one of my daughters.But it ended in nothing,and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again.”

Mr.Wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's.He smiled,looked handsome,and said many pretty things.

“I saw you look at me to-day, Lizzy, when my aunt told us of the present report;and I know I appeared distressed.But don't imagine it was from any silly cause.I was only confused for the moment,because I felt that I should be looked at.I do assure you that the news does not affect me either with pleasure or pain.I am glad of one thing,that he comes alone;because we shall see the less of him.Not that I am afraid of myself,but I dread other people's remarks.”

“As often as I can. But you know married women have never much time for writing.My sisters may write to me.They will have nothing else to do.”

“I often think,”said she,“that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends.One seems so forlorn without them.”

But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into was shortly relieved, and her mind opened again to the agitation of hope,by an article of news which then began to be in circulation. The housekeeper at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her master,who was coming down in a day or two,to shoot there for several weeks.Mrs.Bennet was quite in the fidgets.She looked at Jane,and smiled and shook her head by turns.