Austen Said:

— A short pause followed this speech, and Mrs. Hurst began again:

“I have an excessive regard for Miss Jane Bennet, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well settled. But with such a father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of it.”

“I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.”

“Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near Cheapside.”

“That is capital,”

added her sister, and they both laughed heartily.

“If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside,”

cried Bingley,

“it would not make them one jot less agreeable.”

“But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any consideration in the world,”

replied Darcy.

To this speech Bingley made no answer; but his sisters gave it their hearty assent, and indulged their mirth for some time at the expense of their dear friend's vulgar relations.

With a renewal of tenderness, however, they returned to her room on leaving the dining-parlour, and sat with her till summoned to coffee. She was still very poorly, and Elizabeth would not quit her at all, till late in the evening, when she had the comfort of seeing her sleep, and when it seemed to her rather right than pleasant that she should go downstairs herself. On entering the drawing-room she found the whole party at loo, and was immediately invited to join them; but suspecting them to be playing high

she

declined it, and making her sister the excuse,

said

she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below, with a book.

Mr. Hurst looked at her with astonishment.

“Do you prefer reading to cards?”

said he;

“that is rather singular.”

“Miss Eliza Bennet,”

said Miss Bingley,

“despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.”

“I deserve neither such praise nor such censure,”

cried Elizabeth;

“I am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things.”

“In nursing your sister I am sure you have pleasure,”

said Bingley;

“and I hope it will be soon increased by seeing her quite well.”

Elizabeth thanked him from her heart, and then walked towards the table where a few books were lying.

He immediately offered

to fetch her others — all that his library afforded.

“And I wish my collection were larger for your benefit and my own credit; but I am an idle fellow, and though I have not many, I have more than I ever looked into.”

Elizabeth assured him that

she could suit herself perfectly with those in the room.

“I am astonished,”

said Miss Bingley,

“that my father should have left so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!”

“It ought to be good,”

he replied,

“it has been the work of many generations.”

“And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying books.”

“I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.”

“Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley.”

“I wish it may.”

“But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire.”

“With all my heart; I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it.”

“I am talking of possibilities, Charles.”

“Upon my word, Caroline, I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imitation.”