Iamverysensible,madam,ofthehardshiptomyfaircousins,--andcouldsaymuchonthesubject,butthatIamcautiousofappearingforwardandprecipitate.ButIcanassuretheyoungladiesthatIcomepreparedtoadmirethem.AtpresentIwillnotsaymore,butperhapswhenwearebetteracquainted--" andthegirlssmiledoneachother.TheywerenottheonlyobjectsofMr.Collins&39;sadmiration.Thehall,thedining-room,andallitsfurniturewereexaminedandpraised;andhiscommendationofeverythingwouldhavetouchedMrs.Bennet&39;sheart,butforthemortifyingsuppositionofhisviewingitallashisownfutureproperty.Thedinnertoo,initsturn,washighlyadmired;andhebeggedtoknowtowhichofhisfaircousins,theexcellenceofitscookerywasowing.ButherehewassetrightbyMrs.Bennet,whoassuredhimwithsomeasperitythattheywereverywellabletokeepagoodcook,andthatherdaughtershadnothingtodointhekitchen.Hebeggedpardonforhavingdispleasedher.Inasoftenedtoneshedeclaredherselfnotatalloffended;buthecontinuedtoapologiseforaboutaquarterofanhour. TheywerenotwelcomedhomeverycordiallybytheirmotherTheyouthremainedawholeyearwiththethirdmasteralso,andwhenhe.Mrs.Bennetwonderedattheircoming,andthoughtthemverywrongtogivesomuchtrouble,andwassureJanewouldhavecaughtcoldagain.--Buttheirfather,thoughverylaconicinhisexpressionsofpleasure,wasreallygladtoseethem;hehadfelttheirimportanceinthefamilycircle.Theeveningconversation,whentheywereallassembled,hadlostmuchofitsanimation,andalmostallitssense,bytheabsenceofJaneandElizabeth.TheyfoundMary,asusual,deepinthestudyofthoroughbassandhumannature;andhadsomenewextractstoadmire,andsomenewobservationsofthread-baremoralitytolistento.CatherineandLydiahadinformationforthemofadifferentsort.MuchhadbeendoneandmuchhadbeensaidintheregimentsincetheprecedingWednesday;severaloftheofficershaddinedlatelywiththeiruncle,aprivatehadbeenflogged,andithadactuallybeenhintedthatColonelForsterwasgoingtobemarried.
