Chapter 41

           Thefirstweekoftheirreturnwassoongone. Thesecondbegan. Itwasthelastoftheregiment’sstayinMeryton,andalltheyoungladiesintheneighbourhoodweredroopingapace. Thedejectionwasalmostuniversal. TheelderMissBennetsalonewerestillabletoeat,drink,andsleep,andpursuetheusualcourseoftheiremployments. VeryfrequentlyweretheyreproachedforthisinsensibilitybyKittyandLydia,whoseownmiserywasextreme,andwhocouldnotcomprehendsuchhard-heartednessinanyofthefamily. 

           "GoodHeaven!whatistobecomeofus?Whatarewetodo?"wouldtheyoftenexclaimingthebitternessofwoe. "Howcanyoubesmilingso,Lizzy?" 

           Theiraffectionatemothersharedalltheirgrief;sherememberedwhatshehadherselfenduredonasimilaroccasion,five-and-twentyyearsago. 

           "Iamsure,"saidshe,"IcriedfortwodaystogetherwhenColonelMiller’sregimentwentaway. IthoughtIshouldhavebrokenmyheart." 

           "IamsureIshallbreakmine,"saidLydia. 

           "IfonecouldbutgotoBrighton!"observedMrs.Bennet. 

           "Oh,yes!—ifonecouldbutgotoBrighton!Butpapaissodisagreeable." 

           "Alittlesea-bathingwouldsetmeupforever." 

           "AndmyauntPhillipsissureitwoulddomeagreatdealofgood,"addedKitty. 

           SuchwerethekindoflamentationsresoundingperpetuallythroughLongbournHouse. Elizabethtriedtobedivertedbythem; butallsenseofpleasurewaslostinshame.