had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.{78}

CHAPTER XIII


“I

hope, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at

breakfast the next morning, “that you have ordered a good dinner to-day,

because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.”
“Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure,

unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in; and I hope my dinners

are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home.”
“The person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger.”
Mrs. Bennet’s eyes sparkled. “A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr.

Bingley, I am sure. Why, Jane—you never dropped a word of this—you sly

thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley.

But—good Lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got

to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill this

moment.”
“It is not Mr. Bingley,” said her husband; “it is a person whom I

never saw in the whole course of my life.”
This roused a general astonishment; and he had the{79} pleasure of being

eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus

explained:—“About a month ago I received this letter, and about a

fortnight ago I answered it; for I thought it a case of some delicacy,

and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who,

when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he

pleases.”
“Oh, my dear,” cried his wife, “I cannot bear to hear that mentioned.

Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing

in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own

children; and I am sure, if I had been you, I should have tried long ago

to do something or other about it.”
Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail.

They had often attempted it before: but it was a subject on which Mrs.