Pagina 441 de 817

"I am much obliged to your Ladyship for your kind invitation,"

replied Elizabeth; "but it is not in my power to accept it. I

must be in town next Saturday."

"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I

expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before

you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs.

Bennet could certainly spare you for another fortnight."

"But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return."

]

"Oh, your father, of course, may spare you, if your mother can.

Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if

you will stay another month complete, it will be in my power to

take one of you as far as London, for I am going there early in

June, for a week; and as Dawson does not object to the

barouche-box, there will be very good room for one of you--and,

indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should not

object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large."