Pride and Prejudice

s entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life

clerk to their father and succeeded him in the business, an

ne and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the count

ere not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Phillips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a store of felicity unknown before. They could

their effusions on this subje

you must be two of the silliest girls in the country.

rence, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of s

o ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slig

lly, I must hope to be

ens, they are all o

hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far

y more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well-and, indeed, so I do still at my heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thous

Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they fi

Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's

about? What does he say? Well, Jane, mak

gley," said Jane, an

EAR F

r for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a quarrel. Co

INE BI

d Lydia. "I wonder my aun

Mrs. Bennet, "tha

the carriage

rseback, because it seems likely to r

Elizabeth, "if you were sure that th

Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton, an

rather go in

the horses, I am sure. They are wanted

he farm much oftener

ay," said Elizabeth, "my mothe

ttended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her s

in were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contriva

AREST

s will not hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones-therefore do not be alarmed if you sh

daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness-if she should die, it would be a

colds. She will be taken good care of. As long as she stays there, it

hough the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horsewoma

to think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You

it to see Jane-whi

izzy," said her father,

The distance is nothing when one has a motive;

very impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opi

therine and Lydia. Elizabeth accepted their comp

walked along, "perhaps we may see some

alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and fin

. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there was good humour and kindness. Mr. Darcy

iately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, how

nt, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed readily, f

o accept it, when Jane testified such concern in parting with her, that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise to an invitation to remain at Netherfi