Jane Austen
should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the subject.
In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who had been too busily
engaged in their separate apartments to make their appearance before. One came from her
books, and the other from her toilette. The faces of both, however, were tolerably calm; and
no change was visible in either, except that the loss of her favourite sister, or the anger
which she had herself incurred in this business, had given more of fretfulness than usual to
the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was mistress enough of herself to whisper to
Elizabeth, with a countenance of grave reflection, soon after they were seated at table:
"This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of. But we must stem
the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly
consolation."
Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, "Unhappy as the
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