Chapter 53 313 single ."
" It is no such thing . Lydia does not leave me because she is married , but only because her husband ' s regiment happens to be so far off . If that had been nearer , she would not have gone so soon ."
But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into was shortly relieved , and her mind opened again to the agitation of hope , by an article of news which then began to be in circulation . The housekeeper at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her master , who was coming down in a day or two , to shoot there for several weeks . Mrs . Bennet was quite in the fidgets . She looked at Jane , and smiled and shook her head by turns .
" Well , well , and so Mr . Bingley is coming down , sister ," ( for Mrs . Phillips first brought her the news ). " Well , so much the better . Not that I care about it , though . He is nothing to us , you know , and I am sure I never want to see him again . But , however , he is very welcome to come to Netherfield , if he likes it . And who knows what may happen ? But that is nothing to us . You know , sister , we agreed long ago never to mention a word about it . And so , is it quite certain he is coming ?"
" You may depend on it ," replied the other , " for Mrs . Nicholls was in Meryton last night ; I saw her passing by , and went out myself on purpose to know the truth of it ; and she told me that it was certain true . He comes down on Thursday at the latest , very likely on Wednesday . She was going to the butcher ' s , she told me , on purpose to order in some meat on Wednesday , and she has got three couple of ducks just fit to be killed ."
Miss Bennet had not been able to hear of his coming without changing colour . It was many months since she had mentioned his name to Elizabeth ; but now , as soon as they were alone together , she said :
" I saw you look at me to-day , Lizzy , when my aunt told us of the present report ; and I know I appeared distressed . But don ' t imagine it was from any silly cause . I was only confused for the moment , because I felt that I should