第85章

fer him to every other man, that all her good sense,and all her attention to the feelings of her friends, were requisite to check the indulgence of those regrets which must have been injurious to her own health and their tranquillity.

    “Well,Lizzy,”said Mrs.Bennet one day,“what is your opinion now of this sad business of Jane's?For my part,I am determined never to speak of it again to anybody.I told my sister Phillips so the other day. But I cannot find out that Jane saw anything of him in London.Well,he is a very undeserving young man—and I do not suppose there's the least chance in the world of her ever getting him now.There is no talk of his coming to Netherfield again in the summer;and I have inquired of everybody,too,who is likely to know.”

    “I do not believe he will ever live at Netherfield any more.”

    “Oh well!it is just as he chooses.Nobody wants him to come. Though I shall always say he used my daughter extremely ill;and if I was her,I would not have put up with it.Well,my comfort is, I am sure Jane will die of a broken heart;and then he will be sorry for what he has done.”

    But as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such expectation,she made no answer.

    “Well, Lizzy,”continued her mother,soon afterwards,“and so the Collinses live very comfortable, do they? Well,well,I only hope it will last.And what sort of table do they keep?Charlotte is an excellent manager,I dare say. If she is half as sharp as her mother,she is saving enough. There is nothing extravagant in their housekeeping,I dare say.”

    “No,nothing at all.”

    “A great deal of good management, depend upon it.Yes, yes.They will take care not to outrun their income. They will never be distressed for money.Well, much good may it do them!And so, I suppose, they often talk of having Longbourn when your father is dead.They look upon it as quite their own,I dare say,whenever that happens.”

    “It was a subject which they could not mention before me.”

    “No; it would have been strange if they had; but I make no doubt they often talk of it between themselves.Well,if they can be easy with an estate that is not lawfully their own,so much the better.I should be ashamed of having one that was only entailed on me.”