Lucas should ever be mistress of this house, that I should be forced

to make way for her, and live to see her take my place in it!”
“My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for

better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor.”
This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet; and, therefore, instead of

making any answer, she went on as before.
“I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate. If it was

not for the entail, I should not mind it.”
“What should not you mind?”
“I should not mind anything at all.”
“Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such

insensibility.”
“I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for anything about the entail. How

anyone could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one’s own

daughters I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins, too!

Why should he have it more than anybody else?”
“I leave it to yourself to determine,” said Mr. Bennet.{168}

CHAPTER XXIV.

MISS BINGLEY’S letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first

sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for

the winter, and concluded with her brother’s regret at not having had

time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left

the country.
Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of

the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the

writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy’s praise occupied

the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on; and Caroline

boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict

the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former

letter. She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother’s being an

inmate of Mr. Darcy’s house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of

the latter with regard to new furniture.{169}
Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this,