Page 724 of 817

But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be prevailed on to

go down without one of her sisters.

The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in

the evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the library, as was

his custom, and Mary went upstairs to her instrument. Two

obstacles of the five being thus removed, Mrs. Bennet sat looking

and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time,

without making any impression on them. Elizabeth would not

observe her; and when at last Kitty did, she very innocently

said, "What is the matter, mamma? What do you keep winking at me

for? What am I to do?"

"Nothing, child, nothing. I did not wink at you." She then sat

still five minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious

occasion, she suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty,--