Elizabeth, equally
next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course
Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have
two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of
the day before, was now high in her good graces
Lydia’s intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten: every sister
except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr
Collins was to attend them,
at the request of Mr
Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him,
and have his library to himself; for thither Mr
Collins had followed
him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with
one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr
Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford
Collins to join his daughters in their
walk; and Mr
Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker
than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his large book, and
go
In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his
cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton
The attention of
the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by _him_
Their eyes
were immediately wandering up the street in quest of the officers, and
nothing less than a very smart bonnet, indeed, or a really new muslin in
a shop window, could recall them
But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom
they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking
with an officer on the other side of the way
Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and
he bowed as they passed
Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to
introduce his friend, Mr
Wickham, who had returned with him the day
before from town, and, he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in
their corps
This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted
only regimentals to make him completely charming
His appearance was
greatly in his favour: he had all the best parts of beauty, a fine
countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address
On distinguishing the ladies of the group
the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual
civilities
Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the
principal object
He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on
purpose to inquire after her
Both changed colour,
one looked white, the other red
Wickham, after a few moments,
touched his hat--a salutation which Mr
What could be the meaning of it
It was impossible to imagine; it was
impossible not to long to know
Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what
passed, took leave and rode on with his friend
Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of
Mr
Philips’s house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia’s
pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs
Philips’s throwing up the parlour window, and loudly seconding the
invitation
Jones’s shopboy in the street, who had
told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield,
because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed
towards Mr
Collins by Jane’s introduction of him
Denny had
brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant’s
commission in the ----shire
She had been watching him the last hour,
she said, as he walked up and down the street,--and had Mr
Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn
would come in the evening
Philips
protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery
tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards
The prospect of such
delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits
Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured,
with unwearying civility, that they were perfectly needless
Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs
Philips’s manners and politeness
Something, he supposed, might be
attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so
much attention in the whole course of his life
[Illustration]

As no objection was made to the young people’s engagement with their
aunt, and all Mr
Collins’s scruples of leaving Mr
Wickham had accepted their uncle’s invitation, and was then in
the house
When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr
Philips a very attentive
listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she
heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as
soon as she could
The gentlemen did approach: and when Mr
Wickham walked into the room,
Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking
of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration
[Illustration:

“The officers of the ----shire”

[_Copyright 1894 by George Allen._]]

Mr
With such rivals for the notice of the fair as Mr
Collins seemed to sink into insignificance; to the young
ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind
listener in Mrs