Chapter 55 327
The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the evening . After tea , Mr . Bennet retired to the library , as was his custom , and Mary went up stairs to her instrument . Two obstacles of the five being thus removed , Mrs . Bennet sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time , without making any impression on them . 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 .
Mrs . Bennet ' s schemes for this day were ineffectual . Bingley was every thing that was charming , except the professed lover of her daughter . His ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most agreeable addition to their evening party ; and he bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the mother , and heard all her silly remarks with a forbearance and command of countenance particularly grateful to the daughter .