第83章[第2頁/共5頁]

But of this answer Lydia heard not a word.She seldom listened to anybody for more than half a minute, and never attended to Mary at all.

“I am glad you are come back,Lizzy.”

Their reception at home was most kind.Mrs.Bennet rejoiced to see Jane in undiminished beauty;and more than once during dinner did Mr.Bennet say voluntarily to Elizabeth:

With such kinds of histories of their parties and good jokes,did Lydia,assisted by Kitty's hints and additions,endeavour to amuse her companions all the way to Longbourn. Elizabeth listened as little as she could, but there was no escaping the frequent mention of Wickham's name.

In the afternoon Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to walk to Meryton, and to see how everybody went on; but Elizabeth steadily opposed the scheme.It should not be said that the Miss Bennets could not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers.There was another reason too for her opposition.She dreaded seeing Mr.Wickham again,and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible.The comfort to her of the regiment's approaching removal was indeed beyond expression. In a fortnight they were to go―and once gone,she hoped there could be nothing more to plague her on his account.