The loss of her daughter made Mrs.Bennet very dull for several days.
“This is the consequence, you see, Madam, of marrying a daughter,”said Elizabeth.“It must make you better satisfied that your other four are single.”
“It is no such thing. Lydia does not leave me because she is married,but only because her husband's regiment happens to be so far off. If that had been nearer, she would not have gone so soon.”
In spite of what her sister declared,and really believed to be her feelings in the expectation of his arrival, Elizabeth could easily perceive that her spirits were affected by it.They were more disturbed,more unequal,than she had often seen them.
“Oh,lord!I don't know.Not these two or three years,perhaps.”
“'Tis an etiquette I despise,”said he.“If he wants our society,let him seek it.He knows where we live.I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back again.'”
His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen,on his returning to Netherfield.
Mr.Wickham's adieus were much more affectionate than his wife's.He smiled,looked handsome,and said many pretty things.