theirsister'sweddingdayarrived;andjaneandelizabethfeltforherprobablymorethanshefeltforherself.thecarriagewassenttomeetthemat—,andtheyweretoreturninitbydinnertime.theirarrivalwasdreadedbytheeldermissbennets,andjanemoreespecially,whogavelydiathefeelingswhichwouldhaveattendedherself,hadshebeentheculprit,andwaswretchedinthethoughtofwhathersistermustendure.

theycame.thefamilywereassembledinthebreakfastroomtoreceivethem.smilesdeckedthefaceofmrs.bennetasthecarriagedroveuptothedoor;herhusbandlookedimpenetrablygrave;herdaughters,alarmed,anxious,uneasy.

lydia'svoicewasheardinthevestibule;thedoorwasthrownopen,andsheranintotheroom.hermothersteppedforwards,embracedher,andwelcomedherwithrapture;gaveherhand,withanaffectionatesmile,towickham,whofollowedhislady;andwishedthembothjoywithanalacritywhichshewednodoubtoftheirhappiness.

theirreceptionfrommr.bennet,towhomtheythenturned,wasnotquitesocordial.hiscountenancerathergainedinausterity;andhescarcelyopenedhislips.theeasyassuranceoftheyoungcouple,indeed,wasenoughtoprovokehim.elizabethwasdisgusted,andevenmissbennetwasshocked.lydiawaslydiastill;untamed,unabashed,wild,noisy,andfearless.sheturnedfromsistertosister,demandingtheircongratulations;andwhenatlengththeyallsatdown,lookedeagerlyroundtheroom,tooknoticeofsomelittlealterationinit,andobserved,withalaugh,thatitwasagreatwhilesinceshehadbeenthere.

wickhamwasnotatallmoredistressedthanherself,buthismannerswerealwayssopleasing,thathadhischaracterandhismarriagebeenexactlywhattheyought,hissmilesandhiseasyaddress,whileheclaimedtheirrelationship,wouldhavedelightedthemall.elizabethhadnotbeforebelievedhimquiteequaltosuchassurance;butshesatdown,resolvingwithinherselftodrawnolimitsinfuturetotheimpudenceofanimpudentman.sheblushed,andjaneblushed;butthecheeksofthetwowhocausedtheirconfusionsufferednovariationofcolour.

therewasnowantofdiscourse.thebrideandhermothercouldneitherofthemtalkfastenough;andwickham,whohappenedtositnearelizabeth,beganenquiringafterhisacquaintanceinthatneighbourhood,withagoodhumouredeasewhichshefeltveryunabletoequalinherreplies.theyseemedeachofthemtohavethehappiestmemoriesintheworld.nothingofthepastwasrecollectedwithpain;andlydialedvoluntarilytosubjectswhichhersisterswouldnothavealludedtofortheworld.

"onlythinkofitsbeingthreemonths,"shecried,"sinceiwentaway;itseemsbutafortnightideclare;andyettherehavebeenthingsenoughhappenedinthetime.goodgracious!wheniwentaway,iamsureihadnomoreideaofbeingmarriedtillicamebackagain!thoughithoughtitwouldbeverygoodfunifiwas."

herfatherlifteduphiseyes.janewasdistressed.elizabethlookedexpressivelyatlydia;butshe,whoneverheardnorsawanythingofwhichshechosetobeinsensible,gailycontinued,"oh!mamma,dothepeoplehereaboutsknowiammarriedtoday?iwasafraidtheymightnot;andweovertookwilliamgouldinginhiscurricle,soiwasdeterminedheshouldknowit,andsoiletdownthesideglassnexttohim,andtookoffmyglove,andletmyhandjustrestuponthewindowframe,sothathemightseethering,andthenibowedandsmiledlikeanything."

elizabethcouldbearitnolonger.shegotup,andranoutoftheroom;andreturnednomore,tillsheheardthempassingthroughthehalltothediningparlour.shethenjoinedthemsoonenoughtoseelydia,withanxiousparade,walkuptohermother'srighthand,andhearhersaytohereldestsister,"ah!jane,itakeyourplacenow,andyoumustgolower,becauseiamamarriedwoman."

itwasnottobesupposedthattimewouldgivelydiathatembarrassmentfromwhichshehadbeensowhollyfreeatfirst.hereaseandgoodspiritsincreased.shelongedtoseemrs.phillips,thelucases,andalltheirotherneighbours,andtohearherselfcalled"mrs.wickham"byeachofthem;andinthemeantime,shewentafterdinnertoshewherring,andboastofbeingmarried,tomrs.hillandthetwohousemaids.

"well,mamma,"saidshe,whentheywereallreturnedtothebreakfastroom,"andwhatdoyouthinkofmyhusband?isnotheacharmingman?iamsuremysistersmustallenvyme.ionlyhopetheymayhavehalfmygoodluck.theymustallgotobrighton.thatistheplacetogethusbands.whatapityitis,mamma,wedidnotallgo."

"verytrue;andifihadmywill,weshould.butmydearlydia,idon'tatalllikeyourgoingsuchawayoff.mustitbeso?"

"oh,lord!yes;—thereisnothinginthat.ishalllikeitofallthings.youandpapa,andmysisters,mustcomedownandseeus.weshallbeatnewcastleallthewinter,andidaresaytherewillbesomeballs,andiwilltakecaretogetgoodpartnersforthemall."

"ishouldlikeitbeyondanything!"saidhermother.

"andthenwhenyougoaway,youmayleaveoneortwoofmysistersbehindyou;andidaresayishallgethusbandsforthembeforethewinterisover."

"ithankyouformyshareofthefavour,"saidelizabeth;"butidonotparticularlylikeyourwayofgettinghusbands."

theirvisitorswerenottoremainabovetendayswiththem.mr.wickhamhadreceivedhiscommissionbeforeheleftlondon,andhewastojoinhisregimentattheendofafortnight.

noonebutmrs.bennetregrettedthattheirstaywouldbesoshort;andshemadethemostofthetimebyvisitingaboutwithherdaughter,andhavingveryfrequentpartiesathome.thesepartieswereacceptabletoall;toavoidafamilycirclewasevenmoredesirabletosuchasdidthink,thansuchasdidnot.