They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the

family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman’s conduct;

but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern,

and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen

to go away just as they were all getting so intimate together. After

lamenting it, however, at some length, she had the consolation of

thinking that Mr. Bingley would be soon down again, and soon dining at

Longbourn; and the conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration,

that, though he had been invited only to a family dinner, she would take

care to have two full courses.{154}

CHAPTER XXII.

THE Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases; and again, during the

chief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins.

Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. “It keeps him in good

humour,” said she, “and I am more obliged to you than I can express.”
Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and

that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was

very amiable; but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth

had any conception of:—its object was nothing less than to secure her

from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards

herself. Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme; and appearances were so

favourable, that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost

sure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon.

But here she did injustice to the fire and independence of his

character; for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next

morning with{155} admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw

himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins,

from a conviction that, if they saw him depart, they could not fail to

conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known