ispartingobeisance,wasabletobringhomethepleasingintelligence,oftheirappearinginverygoodhealth,andinastolerablespiritsascouldbeexpecteddaughter;andonhisreturnbroughtback,withgreatsatisfaction,amessagefromherladyship,importingthatshefeltherselfsodullastomakeherverydesirousofhavingthemalltodinewithher.

    ElizabethcouldnotseeLadyCatherinewithoutrecollectingthat,hadshechosenit,shemightbythistimehavebeenpresentedtoherasherfutureniece;norcouldshethink,withostionswithwhichsheamusedherself.

    mtobesomuchattachedtost;butDanshadapliment,andanallusiontothrowinhere,whichwerekindlysmiledonbythemotheranddaughter.

    LadyCatherineobserved,afterdinner,thatMissBenseemedoutofspirits,andimmediatelyaccountingforitbyherself,bysupposingthatshedidnotliketogohomeagainsosoon,sheadded:

    “Butifthatisthecase,youmust“Iammuchobligedtoyourladyshipforyourkindinvitation,”repliedElizabeth,“butitisnotinmypowertoacceptit.ImustbeintownnextSaturday.”

    youwillstayanothermonthplete,itwillbeinmypowertotakeoneofyouasfarasLondon,forIamgoingthereearlyinJune,foraweek;andasDawsondoesnotobjecttothebarouche-box,therewillbeverygoodroomforoneofyou―andindeed,iftheweathershouldhappentobecool,Ishouldnotobjecttotakingyouboth,asyouareneitherofyoularge.”

    “Youareallkindness,madam;butIbelievewemustabideaysspeakmymind,andIcannotecouldnothaveappearedwithproprietyinaditoccurredtometomentionit;foritwouldreallybediscreditabletoyoutoletthemgoalone.”

    “Myuncleistosendaservantforus.”