in nothing. Elizabeth had received none since her return, that could
come from Pemberley.

The present unhappy state of the family, rendered any other
excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore,
could be fairly conjectured from that, though Elizabeth, who was by
this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was per-
fectly aware, that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have
borne the dread of Lydia's infamy somewhat better. It would have
spared her, she thought, one sleepless night out of two.

When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usual
philosophic composure. He said as little as he had ever been in the
habit of saying; made no mention of the business that had taken him
away, and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak
of it.

It was not till the afternoon, when he joined them at tea, that
Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject; and then, on her briefly
expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied,
'Say nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my
own doing, and I ought to feel it.'

'You must not be too severe upon yourself,' replied Elizabeth.

'You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so
prone to fall into it! No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I
have been to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the
impression. It will pass away soon enough.'

'Do you suppose them to be in London?'

'Yes; where else can they be so well concealed?'

'And Lydia used to want to go to London,' added Kitty.

'She is happy, then,' said her father, drily; 'and her residence there
will probably be of some duration.'

Then, after a short silence, he continued, 'Lizzy, I bear you no ill-
will for being justified in your advice to me last May, which, con-
sidering the event, shews some greatness of mind.'

They were interrupted by Miss Bennet, who came to fetch her
mother's tea.

'This is a parade,' cried he, 'which does one good; it gives such
an elegance to misfortune! Another day I will do the same; I will sit
in my library, in my night cap and powdering gown, and give as
much trouble as I can,--or, perhaps, I may defer it, till Kitty runs
away.'

-227-