Pagina 139 van 817

In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his

cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The

attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by

him. Their eyes were immediately wandering up the street in quest

of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet,

indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall

them.

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man,

whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike

appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way.

The officer was the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from

London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All

were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could

be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led

the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in

an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement,

when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot.

Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to

introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the

day before from town, and, he was happy to say, had accepted a

commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for

the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely

charming.