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It was the second week in May,in which the three young ladies set out together from Gracechurch Street for the town of—,in Hertfordshire; and, as they drew near the appointed inn where Mr.Bennet's carriage was to meet them,they quickly perceived, in token of the coachman's punctuality, both Kitty and Lydia looking out of a dining-room upstairs.These two girls had been above an hour in the place, happily employed in visiting an opposite milliner,watching the sentinel on guard,and dressing a salad and cucumber.

After welcoming their sisters, they triumphantly displayed a table set out with such cold meat as an inn larder usually affords, exclaiming,“Is not this nice?Is not this an agreeable surprise?”

“And we mean to treat you all,”added Lydia,“but you must lend us the money,for we have just spent ours at the shop out there.”Then, showing her purchases—“Look here, I have bought this bonnet.I do not think it is very pretty;but I thought I might as well buy it as not.I shall pull it to pieces as soon as I get home, and see if I can make it up any better.”

And when her sisters abused it as ugly,she added,with perfect unconcern,“Oh!but there were two or three much uglier in the shop; and when I have bought some prettier-coloured satin to trim it with fresh,I think it will be very tolerable.Besides,it will not much signify what one wears this summer, after the—shire have left Meryton,and they are going in a fortnight.”

“Are they indeed!”cried Elizabeth,with the greatest satisfaction.

“They are going to be encamped near Brighton; and I do so want papa to take us all there for the summer!It would be such a delicious scheme;and I dare say would hardly cost anything at all.Mamma would like to go,too,of all things!Only think what a miserable summer else we shall have!”

“Yes,”thought Elizabeth,“that would be a delightful scheme indeed,and completely do for us at once.Good Heaven!Brighton, and a whole campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor regiment of militia,and the monthly balls of Meryton!”

“Now I have got some news for you,”said Lydia, as they sat down at table.“What do you think?It is excellent news—capital news—and about a certain person we all like!”

Jane and Elizabeth looked at each other,and the waiter was told he need not stay.Lydia laughed,and said:

“Aye,that is just like your formality and discretion.You thought the waiter must not hear,as if he cared!I dare say he often hears worse things said than I am going to say.But he is an ugly fellow! I am glad he is gone.I never saw such a long chin in my life.Well, but now for my news;it is about dear Wickham;too good for the waiter,is it not?There is no danger of Wickham's marrying Mary King.There's for you!She is gone down to her uncle at Liverpool:gone to stay.Wickham is safe.”

“And Mary King is safe!”added Elizabeth;“safe from a connection imprudent as to fortune.”

“She is a great fool for going away,if she liked him.”

“But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side,”said Jane.

“I am sure there is not on his. I will answer for it, he never cared three straws about her—who could about such a nasty little freckled thing?”

Elizabeth was shocked to think that,however incapable of such coarseness of expression herself, the coarseness of the sentiment was little other than her own breast had harboured and fancied liberal!

As soon as all had ate,and the elder ones paid,the carriage was ordered; and after some contrivance, the whole party, with all their boxes,work-bags,and parcels,and the unwelcome addition of Kitty's and Lydia's purchases,were seated in it.