第143章[第1页/共4页]

Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth's sake,he assisted him further in his profession.Lydia was occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequently stayed so long,that even Bingley's good humour was overcome,and he proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone.

“My Dear Lizzy,

As it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not, she endeavoured in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind.Such relief,however,as it was in her power to afford,by the practice of what might be called economy in her own private expences,she frequently sent them.It had always been evident to her that such an income as theirs,under the direction of two persons so extravagant in their wants,and heedless of the future,must be very insufficient to their support;and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance towards discharging their bills.Their manner of living,even when the restoration of peace dismissed them to a home,was unsettled in the extreme.They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheap situation,and always spending more than they ought.His affection for her soon sunk into indifference;hers lasted a little longer;and in spite of her youth and her manners,she retained all the claims to reputation which her marriage had given her.