Their party in the dining-room was large, for almost all the Lucases came to meet Maria and hear the news; and various were the subjects that occupied them:Lady Lucas was inquiring of Maria, across the table, after the welfare and poultry of her eldest daughter;Mrs.Bennet was doubly engaged,on one hand collecting an account of the present fashions from Jane,who sat some way below her,and,on the other,retailing them all to the younger Miss Lucases; and Lydia, in a voice rather louder than any other person's,was enumerating the various pleasures of the morning to anybody who would hear her.
With such kinds of histories of their parties and good jokes,did Lydia,assisted by Kitty's hints and additions,endeavour to amuse her companions all the way to Longbourn. Elizabeth listened as little as she could, but there was no escaping the frequent mention of Wickham's name.
But of this answer Lydia heard not a word.She seldom listened to anybody for more than half a minute, and never attended to Mary at all.