Mr.Wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this conversation that he never again distressed himself,or provoked his dear sister Elizabeth,by introducing the subject of it;and she was pleased to find that she had said enough to keep him quiet.
“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.”
“No,no.You forced me into visiting him last year,and promised, if I went to see him,he should marry one of my daughters.But it ended in nothing,and I will not be sent on a fool's errand again.”
“As soon as ever Mr.Bingley comes,my dear,”said Mrs.Bennet,“you will wait on him of course.”
“Oh!my dear Lydia,”she cried,“when shall we meet again?”
“'Tis an etiquette I despise,”said he.“If he wants our society,let him seek it.He knows where we live.I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back again.'”