She then hastened away to her mother, who had purposely broken up the card party,and was sitting up stairs with Kitty.

“You are a good girl;”he replied,“and I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled.I have not a doubt of your doing very well together.Your tempers are by no means unlike.You are each of you so complying,that nothing will ever be resolved on;so easy,that every servant will cheat you;and so generous,that you will always exceed your income.”

“Where is your sister?”said he hastily,as he opened the door.

“With my mother upstairs. She will be down in a moment, I dare say.”

Jane went to him instantly,kissed him,and thanked him for his goodness.

“Jane,I congratulate you.You will be a very happy woman.”

Elizabeth, who was left by herself, now smiled at the rapidity and ease with which an affair was finally settled,that had given them so many previous months of suspense and vexation.

In a few minutes she was joined by Bingley,whose conference with her father had been short and to the purpose.

“And this,”said she,“is the end of all his friend's anxious circumspection!of all his sister's falsehood and contrivance!the happiest,wisest,most reasonable end!”