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1In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton.
2The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wandering up the
3street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet, indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop
4window, could recall them. But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen
5before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very
6Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with
7the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way
8across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the
9pavement, when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and
10entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and, he
11was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted
12only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour: he had all the best parts of
13beauty, a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a
14happy readiness of conversation--a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were
15still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley
16were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group the two gentlemen came directly towards
17them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was
18then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was
19beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger;
20and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect
21of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his
22hat--a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to imagine;
23it was impossible not to long to know. In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed,
24took leave and rode on with his friend. Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr.
25Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and
26even in spite of Mrs. Philips's throwing up the parlour window, and loudly seconding the invitation. Mrs. Philips was
27always glad to see her nieces; and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome; and she was
28eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she
29should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shopboy in the street, who had told her that
30they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield, because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was
31claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he
32returned with as much more, apologizing for his intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could
33not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to
34her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was
35soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what
36they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the
37----shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street,--and had Mr. Wickham
38appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation; but unluckily no one passed the windows now
39except a few of the officers, who, in comparison with the stranger, were become "stupid, disagreeable fellows." Some of
40them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and
41give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to; and Mrs.
42Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper
43afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins
44repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured, with unwearying civility, that they were perfectly
45needless. As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though
46Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than
47her sister. Mr. Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He
48protested that, except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only
49received him with the utmost civility, but had even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening,
50although utterly unknown to her before. Something, he supposed, might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet
51he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life. [Illustration] CHAPTER XVI. [Illustration] As
52no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr.
53and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed him and his five
54cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that
55Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in the house. When this information was given, and they
56had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the
57size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer
58breakfast parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification; but when Mrs. Philips
59understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor, when she had listened to the description of only one
60of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all
61the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper's room. In describing to
62her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode,
63and the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs.
64Philips a very attentive listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resolving
65to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who
66had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the
67mantel-piece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. The gentlemen did approach: and
68when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him
69since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the ----shire were in general a very
70creditable, gentlemanlike set and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all
71in person, countenance, air, and walk, as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy uncle Philips, breathing port
72wine, who followed them into the room. [Illustration: "The officers of the ----shire" [Copyright 1894 by George Allen.]]
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