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and then； till her sister came down； she had to listen to all he had to say of his own happiness； and of Jane's perfections； and in spite of his being a lover； Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity to be rationally founded； because they had for basis the excellent understanding； and super…excellent disposition of Jane； and a general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself。
It was an evening of no common delight to them all； the satisfaction of Miss Bennet's mind gave a glow of such sweet animation to her face； as made her look handsomer than ever。 Kitty simpered and smiled； and hoped her turn was coming soon。 Mrs。 Bennet could not give her consent or speak her approbation in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings； though she talked to Bingley of nothing else for half an hour； and when Mr。 Bennet joined them at supper； his voice and manner plainly shewed how really happy he was。
Not a word； however； passed his lips in allusion to it； till their visitor took his leave for the night； but as soon as he was gone； he turned to his daughter； and said；
‘‘Jane； I congratulate you。 You will be a very happy woman。''
Jane went to him instantly； kissed him； and thanked him for his goodness。
‘‘You are a good girl；'' he replied； ‘‘and I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled。 I have not a doubt of your doing very well together。 Your tempers are by no means unlike。 You are each of you so complying； that nothing will ever be resolved on； so easy； that every servant will cheat you； and so generous； that you will always exceed your income。''
‘‘I hope not so。 Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable in me。''
‘‘Exceed their income！ My dear Mr。 Bennet；'' cried his wife； ‘‘what are you talking of？ Why； he has four or five thousand a year； and very likely more。'' Then addressing her daughter； ‘‘Oh！ my dear； dear Jane； I am so happy！ I am sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night。 I knew how it would be。 I always said it must be so； at last。 I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing！ I remember； as soon as ever I saw him； when he first came into Hertfordshire last year； I thought how likely it was that you should come together。 Oh！ he is the handsomest young man that ever was seen！''
Wickham； Lydia； were all forgotten。 Jane was beyond competition her favourite child。 At that moment； she cared for no other。 Her younger sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness which she might in future be able to dispense。
Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield； and Kitty begged very hard for a few balls there every winter。
Bingley； from this time； was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn； coming frequently before breakfast； and always remaining till after supper； unless when some barbarous neighbour； who could not be enough detested； had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself obliged to accept。
Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister； for while he was present； Jane had no attention to bestow on any one else； but she found herself considerably useful to both of them in those hours of separation that must sometimes occur。 In the absence of Jane； he always attached himself to Elizabeth； for the pleasure of talking of her； and when Bingley was gone； Jane constantly sought the same means of relief。
‘‘He has made me so happy；'' said she； one evening； ‘‘by telling me that he was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring！ I had not believed it possible。''
‘‘I suspected as much；'' replied Elizabeth。 ‘‘But how did he account for it？''
‘‘It must have been his sister's doing。 They were certainly no friends to his acquaintance with me； which I cannot wonder at； since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many respects。 But when they see； as I trust they will； that their brother is happy with me； they will learn to be contented； and we shall be on good terms again； though we can never be what we once were to each other。''
‘‘That is the most unforgiving speech；'' said Elizabeth； ‘‘that I ever heard you utter。 Good girl！ It would vex me； indeed； to see you again the dupe of Miss Bingley's pretended regard。''
‘‘Would you believe it； Lizzy； that when he went to town last November； he really loved me； and nothing but a persuasion of my being indifferent would have prevented his coming down again！''
‘‘He made a little mistake to be sure； but it is to the credit of his modesty。''
This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence； and the little value he put on his own good qualities。 Elizabeth was pleased to find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend； for； though Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world； she knew it was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him。
‘‘I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed！'' cried Jane。 ‘‘Oh！ Lizzy； why am I thus singled from my family； and blessed above them all！ If I could but see you as happy！ If there were but such another man for you！''
‘‘If you were to give me forty such men； I never could be so happy as you。 Till I have your disposition； your goodness； I never can have your happiness。 No； no； let me shift for myself； and； perhaps； if I have very good luck； I may meet with another Mr。 Collins in time。''
The situation of affairs in the Longbourn family could not be long a secret。 Mrs。 Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs。 Philips； and she ventured； without any permission； to do the same by all her neighbours in Meryton。
The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world； though only a few weeks before； when Lydia had first run away； they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune。
这次拜访以后，没有过几天，彬格莱先生又来了，而且只有他一个人来。他的朋友已经 在当天早上动身上伦敦去，不过十天以内就要回来。他在班府上坐了一个多钟头，显然非常 高兴。班纳特太太留他吃饭，他一再道歉，说是别处已经先有了约会。
班纳特太太只得说：“希望你下次来的时候，能够赏赏我们的脸。”
他说他随时都乐意来，只要她不嫌麻烦，他一有机会就来看她们。
“明天能来吗？”
能来，他明天没有约会；于是他爽爽快快地接受了她的邀请。
第二天他果然来了，来得非常早，太太小姐们都还没有打扮好。班纳特太太身穿晨衣， 头发才梳好一半，连忙跑进女儿房间里去大声嚷道：
“亲爱的吉英，快些下楼去。他来了。彬格莱先生来了。他真来了。赶快，赶快。我 说，莎蕾，赶快上大小姐这儿来，帮她穿衣服。你别去管丽萃小姐的头发啦。”
吉英说：“我们马上就下去，也许吉蒂比我们两个都快，因为她上楼有半个钟头了。”
“哦，别去管吉蒂吧！关她什么事？快些，快些！好孩子，你的腰带在哪儿？”母亲走 了以后，吉英再三要一个妹妹陪着她下楼去。
到了下午，显见得班纳特太太又一心要成全他们两人在一起。喝过了茶，班纳特先生照 着他平常的习惯，到书房里去了，曼丽上楼弹琴去了。班太太看见五个障碍去了两个，便立 刻对伊丽莎白和咖苔琳挤眉弄眼，吉蒂终于很天真地说：“怎么啦，妈妈？你为什么老是对 我眨眼？你要我做什么呀？”
“没什么，孩子，没什么。我没有对你眨眼。”于是她又多坐了五分钟，实在不愿意再 错过这大好的机会，她便突然站起来，对吉蒂说：
“来，宝贝，我跟你说句话，”说过这话，她便把吉蒂拉了出去。吉英立刻对伊丽莎白 望了一眼，意思说，她受不住这样的摆布，请求伊丽莎白不要也这样做。一眨眼工夫，只见