“You cannot be serious,” cried Mrs. Bennet, “that you are to be in the regiment!”
“Indeed, I am,” replied Bingley, with the utmost civility. “I have already obtained my father’s consent.”
“And when are you to go?”
“In a few weeks.”
“And where are you to go?”
“To Newcastle.”
“And is all the regiment to go?”
“No, only a part of it.”
“And you are to be in the part that goes?”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Bennet was so much alarmed, that she was quite unable to make any reply. She sat in silence, with great astonishment.
“Oh, dear!” cried Kitty, “what a delightful thing it would be to be there!”
“Indeed it would,” said Kitty’s sisters; “and we must persuade Mama to let us go and see them.”
Mrs. Bennet was at length able to speak, and said, “I do not know what to do. I wish you had not mentioned it.”
“But why should you wish that?” said Bingley, with a smile. “It is a very good thing for you, as it will make you acquainted with so many genteel families.”
“Oh, it will make me acquainted with so many genteel families!” repeated Mrs. Bennet. “But I am afraid that you will be gone before we have time to get acquainted with them.”
“I shall be very sorry to leave you,” said Bingley; “but I hope that we shall meet again before long.”
“And I hope that we shall meet again before long,” said Mrs. Bennet. “But I am afraid that you will be gone before we have time to get acquainted with them.”
“I shall be very sorry to leave you,” said Bingley; “but I hope that we shall meet again before long.”
“And I hope that we shall meet again before long,” said Mrs. Bennet. “But I am afraid that you will be gone before we have time to get acquainted with them.”