Chapter 39

           ItwasthesecondweekinMay,inwhichthethreeyoungladiessetouttogetherfromGracechurchStreetforthetownof——inHertfordshire; and,astheydrewneartheappointedinnwhereMr.Bennet’scarriagewastomeetthem,theyquicklyperceived,intokenofthecoachman’spunctuality,bothKittyandLydialookingoutofadining-roomupstairs. Thesetwogirlshadbeenaboveanhourintheplace,happilyemployedinvisitinganoppositemilliner,watchingthesentinelonguard,anddressingasaladandcucumber. 

           Afterwelcomingtheirsisters,theytriumphantlydisplayedatablesetoutwithsuchcoldmeatasaninnlarderusuallyaffords,exclaiming, "Isnotthisnice?Isnotthisanagreeablesurprise?" 

           "Andwemeantotreatyouall,"addedLydia,"butyoumustlendusthemoney,forwehavejustspentoursattheshopoutthere." Then,showingherpurchases —"Lookhere,Ihaveboughtthisbonnet. Idonotthinkitisverypretty; butIthoughtImightaswellbuyitasnot. IshallpullittopiecesassoonasIgethome,andseeifIcanmakeitupanybetter." 

           Andwhenhersistersabuseditasugly,sheadded,withperfectunconcern, "Oh!butthereweretwoorthreemuchuglierintheshop; andwhenIhaveboughtsomeprettier-colouredsatintotrimitwithfresh,Ithinkitwillbeverytolerable. Besides,itwillnotmuchsignifywhatonewearsthissummer,afterthe——shirehaveleftMeryton,andtheyaregoinginafortnight." 

           "Aretheyindeed!"criedElizabeth,withthegreatestsatisfaction. 

           "TheyaregoingtobeencampednearBrighton; andIdosowantpapatotakeusallthereforthesummer! Itwouldbesuchadeliciousscheme;andIdaresaywouldhardlycostanythingatall. Mammawouldliketogotooofallthings! Onlythinkwhatamiserablesummerelseweshallhave!"