Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 566 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 566

JANE AUSTEN

Elizabeth would not observe her; and when at last

Kitty did, she very innocently said, “What is the matter

mamma? What do you keep winking at me for? What

am I to do?”

“Nothing child, nothing. I did not wink at you.” She

then sat still five minutes longer; but unable to waste

such a precious occasion, she suddenly got up, and

saying to Kitty, “Come here, my love, I want to speak

to you,” took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave

a look at Elizabeth which spoke her distress at such

premeditation, and her entreaty that she would not give

in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. Bennet half-opened the

door and called out:

“Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you.”

Elizabeth was forced to go.

“We may as well leave them by themselves you

know,” said her mother, as soon as she was in the

hall. “Kitty and I are going upstairs to sit in my

dressing-room.”

Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her

mother, but remained quietly in the hall, till she

and Kitty were out of sight, then returned into the

drawing-room.

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