Pagina 761 de 817

"Something very much to the purpose, of course. He begins with

congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest

daughter, of which, it seems, he has been told by some of the

good-natured, gossiping Lucases. I shall not sport with your

impatience by reading what he says on that point. What relates to

yourself is as follows:--'Having thus offered you the sincere

congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on this happy event,

let me now add a short hint on the subject of another, of which

we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter

Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet,

after her eldest sister has resigned it; and the chosen partner

of her fate may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most

illustrious personages in this land.' Can you possibly guess,

Lizzy, who is meant by this?