Elizabeth could bear it no longer.She got up,and ran out of the room;and returned no more,till she heard them passing through the hall to the dining parlour.She then joined them soon enough to see Lydia,with anxious parade,walk up to her mother's right hand,and hear her say to her eldest sister,
“Ah!Jane,I take your place now,and you must go lower,because I am a married woman.”
It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips,the Lucases,and all their other neighbours,and to hear herself called“Mrs.Wickham”by each of them;and in the mean time,she went after dinner to show her ring,and boast of being married,to Mrs.Hill and the two housemaids.
“Well, mamma,”said she, when they were all returned to the breakfast room,“and what do you think of my husband? Is not he a charming man? I am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half my good luck.They must all go to Brighton.That is the place to get husbands.What a pity it is, mamma,we did not all go.”
“Very true;and if I had my will,we should.But my dear Lydia,I don't at all like your going such a way off.Must it be so?”
“Oh, lord! yes; —there is nothing in that. I shall like it of all things.You and papa,and my sisters,must come down and see us. We shall be at Newcastle all the winter,and I dare say there will be some balls,and I will take care to get good partners for them all.”
“I should like it beyond anything!”said her mother.
“And then when you go away,you may leave one or two of my sisters behind you;and I dare say I shall get husbands for them before the winter is over.”
“I thank you for my share of the favour,”said Elizabeth;“but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands.”