Pagina 729 de 817

"'Tis too much!" she added, "by far too much. I do not deserve

it. Oh, why is not everybody as happy?"

Elizabeth's congratulations were given with a sincerity, a

warmth, a delight, which words could but poorly express. Every

sentence of kindness was a fresh source of happiness to Jane. But

she would not allow herself to stay with her sister, or say half

that remained to be said, for the present.

"I must go instantly to my mother," she cried. "I would not on

any account trifle with her affectionate solicitude, or allow her

to hear it from anyone but myself. He is gone to my father

already. Oh, Lizzy, to know that what I have to relate will give

such pleasure to all my dear family! how shall I bear so much

happiness?"

She then hastened away to her mother, who had purposely broken up

the card-party, and was sitting upstairs with Kitty.