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Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but

her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by

exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she

could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. 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 appeared, Kitty and Lydia would

certainly have continued the occupation; but unluckily no one

passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who, in

comparison with the stranger, were become "stupid, disagreeable

fellows." Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next

day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr.

Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from

Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to; and Mrs.