mrs.gardinerwentawayinalltheperplexityaboutelizabethandherderbyshirefriendthathadattendedherfromthatpartoftheworld.hisnamehadneverbeenvoluntarilymentionedbeforethembyherniece;andthekindofhalf-expectationwhichmrs.gardinerhadformed,oftheirbeingfollowedbyaletterfromhim,hadendedinnothing.elizabethhadreceivednonesinceherreturn,thatcouldcomefrompemberley.

thepresentunhappystateofthefamily,renderedanyotherexcuseforthelownessofherspiritsunnecessary;nothing,therefore,couldbefairlyconjecturedfromthat,thoughelizabeth,whowasbythistimetolerablywellacquaintedwithherownfeelings,wasperfectlyawarethat,hadsheknownnothingofdarcy,shecouldhavebornethedreadoflydia'sinfamysomewhatbetter.itwouldhavesparedher,shethought,onesleeplessnightoutoftwo.

whenmr.bennetarrived,hehadalltheappearanceofhisusualphilosophiccomposure.hesaidaslittleashehadeverbeeninthehabitofsaying;madenomentionofthebusinessthathadtakenhimaway,anditwassometimebeforehisdaughtershadcouragetospeakofit.

itwasnottilltheafternoon,whenhejoinedthemattea,thatelizabethventuredtointroducethesubject;andthen,onherbrieflyexpressinghersorrowforwhathemusthaveendured,hereplied,"saynothingofthat.whowouldsufferbutmyself?ithasbeenmyowndoing,andioughttofeelit."

"youmustnotbetoosevereuponyourself,"repliedelizabeth.

"youmaywellwarnmeagainstsuchanevil.humannatureissopronetofallintoit!no,lizzy,letmeonceinmylifefeelhowmuchihavebeentoblame.iamnotafraidofbeingoverpoweredbytheimpression.itwillpassawaysoonenough."

"doyousupposethemtobeinlondon?"

"yes;whereelsecantheybesowellconcealed?"

"andlydiausedtowanttogotolondon,"addedkitty.

"sheishappy,then,"saidherfather,drily;"andherresidencetherewillprobablybeofsomeduration."

then,afterashortsilence,hecontinued,"lizzy,ibearyounoill-willforbeingjustifiedinyouradvicetomelastmay,which,consideringtheevent,shewssomegreatnessofmind."

theywereinterruptedbymissbennet,whocametofetchhermother'stea.

"thisisaparade,"criedhe,"whichdoesonegood;itgivessuchanelegancetomisfortune!anotherdayiwilldothesame;iwillsitinmylibrary,inmynightcapandpowderinggown,andgiveasmuchtroubleasican,—or,perhaps,imaydeferittillkittyrunsaway."

"iamnotgoingtorunaway,papa,"saidkitty,fretfully;"ifishouldevergotobrighton,—iwouldbehavebetterthanlydia."

"yougotobrighton!—iwouldnottrustyousonearitaseast-bourne,forfiftypounds!no,kitty,ihaveatlastlearnttobecautious,andyouwillfeeltheeffectsofit.noofficerisevertoentermyhouseagain,noreventopassthroughthevillage.ballswillbeabsolutelyprohibited,unlessyoustandupwithoneofyoursisters.andyouarenevertostiroutofdoorstillyoucanprovethatyouhavespenttenminutesofeverydayinarationalmanner."

kitty,whotookallthesethreatsinaseriouslight,begantocry.

"well,well,"saidhe,"donotmakeyourselfunhappy.ifyouareagoodgirlforthenexttenyears,iwilltakeyoutoareviewattheendofthem."