Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 41

The first week of their return was soon gone. The second began.

It was the last of the regiment's stay in Meryton, and all the

young ladies in the neighbourhood were drooping apace. The

dejection was almost universal. The elder Miss Bennets alone

were still able to eat, drink, and sleep, and pursue the usual

course of their employments. Very frequently were they

reproached for this insensibility by Kitty and Lydia, whose

own misery was extreme, and who could not comprehend such

hard-heartedness in any of the family.

"Good Heaven! what is to become of us? What are we to do?"

would they often exclaim in the bitterness of woe. "How can

you be smiling so, Lizzy?"

Their affectionate mother shared all their grief; she remembered

what she had herself endured on a similar occasion, five-and-twenty

years ago.

"I am sure," said she, "I cried for two days together when

Colonel Miller's regiment went away. I thought I should have

broken my heart."

"I am sure I shall break _mine_," said Lydia.

"If one could but go to Brighton!" observed Mrs. Bennet.

"Oh, yes!--if one could but go to Brighton! But papa is so

disagreeable."

"A little sea-bathing would set me up forever."

"And my aunt Phillips is sure it would do _me_ a great deal of

good," added Kitty.

Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually

through Longbourn House. Elizabeth tried to be diverted by

them; but all sense of pleasure was lost in shame. She felt anew

the justice of Mr. Darcy's objections; and never had she been so

much disposed to pardon his interference in the views of his

friend.

But the gloom of Lydia's prospect was shortly cleared away; for

she received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the wife of the

colonel of the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton. This

invaluable friend was a very young woman, and very lately

married. A resemblance in good humour and good spirits had

recommended her and Lydia to each other, and out of their

_three_ months' acquaintance they had been intimate _two_.

The rapture of Lydia on this occasion, her adoration of Mrs.

Forster, the delight of Mrs. Bennet, and the mortification of

Kitty, are scarcely to be described. Wholly inattentive to her

sister's feelings, Lydia flew about the house in restless ecstasy,

calling for everyone's congratulations, and laughing and talking