Chapter 7 30
an answer. Mrs. Bennet ' s eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,
" Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love."
" It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud. " MY DEAR FRIEND,--
" If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day ' s tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers.--Yours ever,
" CAROLINE BINGLEY " " With the officers!" cried Lydia. " I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that." " Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, " that is very unlucky." " Can I have the carriage?" said Jane.
" No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night."
" That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, " if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home."
" Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley ' s chaise to go to Meryton, and the Hursts have no horses to theirs."
" I had much rather go in the coach."