their father and mother. When they get to our age, I dare say they will

not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I

liked a red coat myself very well—and, indeed, so I do still at my

heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year,

should want one of my girls, I shall not say nay to him; and I thought

Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William’s in

his regimentals.{39}”
“Mamma,” cried Lydia, “my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain

Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson’s as they did when they first

came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke’s library.”
Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a

note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited

for an answer. Mrs. Bennet’s eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was

eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,—
“Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well,

Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love.”
“It is from Miss Bingley,” said Jane, and then read it aloud.
 “My dear friend,
“If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and

me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our

lives; for a whole day’s tête-à-tête between two women can never

end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of

this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.

Yours ever,


“Caroline Bingley.”

“With the officers!” cried Lydia: “I wonder my aunt did not tell us of

that.”
“Dining out,” said Mrs. Bennet; “that is very unlucky.”
“Can I have the carriage?” said Jane.
“No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to

rain; and then you must stay all night.”
“That would be a good scheme,” said Elizabeth, “if you were sure that

they would not offer to send her home.{40}”
“Oh, but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley’s chaise to go to Meryton;