Well, perhaps so. My dear, dear Lydia! How merry we shall all be together! I am so happy! Lydia married. She is Mrs. Wickham. How well it sounds. My dear Jane, I must see about the clothes. We will settle with your father about the money later. Oh, I am in such a flutter! Here comes Hill. [HILL _enters with the bottle_.] My dear Hill, have you heard the news? Miss Lydia is married and is coming home directly.

HILL.

Indeed!

MRS. BENNET.

Yes, you shall all have a bowl of punch, to make merry for her wedding, and I am going into the house to write about the clothes. [_To_ JANE, _who is going with her_.] No, Jane, you stay where you are. I know what I am about. Come, Hill. Think of it--Mrs. Wickham!

[_She goes out leaning on_ HILL'S _arm, leaving_ JANE and ELIZABETH together.]

JANE.

Oh, Lizzy, how relieved and happy we should be. Is not it wonderful?

[_Anxiously._] Are you sure it is true? Have you told us all?

ELIZABETH.

Yes, Jane, it is true. They are really married. And for this we are to be thankful. In spite of Lydia's folly and Wickham's wretched character, we are to rejoice. How strange it is! Heigh-ho!

JANE.

[_Putting out her hand for the letter which_ ELIZABETH _still carries_.]

May not I read the letter, Lizzy?

ELIZABETH.

No, not now, dear. My aunt has some queer notions in her head. Later perhaps. [_After a pause._] I am very sorry now that in my agitation I told Mr. Darcy about this wretched affair. Now that it has come out so well, he need never have known anything about it, and it would have saved me a great deal of mortification.

JANE.

But how would you ever have explained things to Charlotte and Mr.

Collins without his help? Mr. Darcy made everything so smooth and plausible for your sudden departure.

ELIZABETH.

Yes, that is true.

JANE.

Really, Lizzy, I think I shall have to take up the cudgels in Mr.

Darcy's defence. His kindness to you has quite won my heart, and his amazing proposal was certainly a most flattering compliment. Why can you see no good in Mr. Darcy, Lizzy? You were always so full of excuses for Wickham, though it is true his open and delightful manners deceived us all.

ELIZABETH.

Yes, there certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One has all the goodness and the other all the appearance of it.

JANE.

I never thought Mr. Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you did, and he certainly could hardly have had the friends he has if he did not possess some good qualities. [_Shyly._] Lizzy, have you heard that Mr. Bingley is back in Netherfield?

ELIZABETH.

[_Astonished._] Oh, Jane, no. When did he come? Have you seen him?

JANE.

No; I hardly expect to see him.

ELIZABETH.

[_Brightly._] Yes, you will, if he has returned. [_Suddenly clapping her hands._] Oh, I understand. [_Kissing her._] My darling Jane, you are going to be very happy!

JANE.

Lizzy dear--don't, don't. That is all over now, and besides I don't want to be happy unless you can be, too.

ELIZABETH.

Oh, forty Mr. Bingleys wouldn't make me happy. Till I have your disposition, I never can have happiness. No, no, let me shift for myself. Perhaps if I have very good luck I may meet with another Mr.

Collins in time.

HARRIS.

[_Entering._] Mr. Bennet has returned, Madam, and is looking for you.

JANE.

Papa returned!