“She is a great fool for going away,if she liked him.”
“But I hope there is no strong attachment on either side,”said Jane.
“I am sure there is not on his. I will answer for it, he never cared three straws about her―who could about such a nasty little freckled thing?”
“Now I have got some news for you,”said Lydia, as they sat down at table.“What do you think?It is excellent news―capital news―and about a certain person we all like!”
“Yes,”thought Elizabeth,“that would be a delightful scheme indeed,and completely do for us at once.Good Heaven!Brighton, and a whole campful of soldiers, to us, who have been overset already by one poor regiment of militia,and the monthly balls of Meryton!”
“They are going to be encamped near Brighton; and I do so want papa to take us all there for the summer!It would be such a delicious scheme;and I dare say would hardly cost anything at all.Mamma would like to go,too,of all things!Only think what a miserable summer else we shall have!”
“And Mary King is safe!”added Elizabeth;“safe from a connection imprudent as to fortune.”
It was the second week in May,in which the three young ladies set out together from Gracechurch Street for the town of―,in Hertfordshire; and, as they drew near the appointed inn where Mr.Bennet's carriage was to meet them,they quickly perceived, in token of the coachman's punctuality, both Kitty and Lydia looking out of a dining-room upstairs.These two girls had been above an hour in the place, happily employed in visiting an opposite milliner,watching the sentinel on guard,and dressing a salad and cucumber.