To complete the favourable impression,she then told him what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment.
This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted;and Elizabeth,rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room,her mother followed her.
When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night,she followed her,and made the important communication.Its effect was most extraordinary;for on first hearing it,Mrs.Bennet sat quite still,and unable to utter a syllable.Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard;though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get up, sit down again,wonder,and bless herself.
“I admire all my three sons-in-law highly,”said he.“Wickham, perhaps, is my favourite; but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane's.”