第304页 / 共817页

Mr. Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been

quitted by the Gardiners and Jane; but, as he took up his abode

with the Lucases, his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs.

Bennet. His marriage was now fast approaching; and she was at

length so far resigned as to think it inevitable, and even

repeatedly to say, in an ill-natured tone, that she "wished they

might be happy." Thursday was to be the wedding-day, and on

Wednesday Miss Lucas paid her farewell visit; and when she rose

to take leave, Elizabeth, ashamed of her mother's ungracious and

reluctant good wishes, and sincerely affected herself,

accompanied her out of the room. As they went down stairs

together, Charlotte said,--

"I shall depend on hearing from you very often, Eliza."

"That you certainly shall."

"And I have another favour to ask. Will you come and see me?"

"We shall often meet, I hope, in Hertfordshire."

"I am not likely to leave Kent for some time. Promise me,

therefore, to come to Hunsford."