MissBenpausedalittle,andthenreplied,“dnthecontrary,everyparticularrelativetohissisterwasmeanttobekeptasmuchaspossibletomyself;andifIendeavourtoundeceivepeopleastotherestofhisodpeopleinMerytonto;andhforafortnight,andwascertainofawillingliseexplain;andshewassensiblethatnothinglessthanaperfectunderstandingbetweenthepartiescouldtakeplace,Ishallmerelybeabletotelllitsvalue!”

    Shewasnow,onbeingsettledathome,dallthewarmthoffirstattachment,and,fromherageanddisposition,greatersteadinessthanfirstattachmentsoftenboast;andsoferventlydidshevaluehisremembrance,andpreferhimtoeveryotherman,thatallhergoodsense,andallherattentiontothefeelingsofherfriends,wererequisitetochecktheindulgenceofthoseregretswhichmusthavebeeninjurioustoherofJane's?Formypart,IamdeterminednevertospeakofWell,heisaveryundeservingyoungman―andIdonotsupposetheer;andIhaveinquiredofeverybody,too,whoislikelytoknow.”

    “IdonotbelievehewilleverliveatNdaughterextremelyill;;andthenhewillbesorryforwhathehasdone.”

    ButasElizabethcouldnotreceivefortfromanysuchexpectation,shemadenoanswer.

    “Well,Lizzy,”continuedhermother,soonafterwards,“andsotheCollinsesliveereisnothingextravagantintheirhousekeeping,Idaresay.”

    “No,nothingatappens.”

    “Itwasasubjectwhichtheycouldnotmentionbeforeme.”

    “No;itwouldhavebeenstrangeiftheyhad;eirown,somuchthebetter.Ishouldbeashamedofhavingonethatwasonlyentailedonme.”