Turner from all quarters before they could reach
the open air; and then, strenuously refusing all invitations to take
tea in St. Martin's Street, they happily regained the Vicarage.
Helen and Lucy met them at the door, with hopes that they had had a
pleasant evening.
Elizabeth answered quickly, 'Come, come, say no more about it, it was
a foolish affair altogether;' but the inquiry, after the feelings she
had seen expressed in Elizabeth's face, struck Anne as so excessively
ridiculous, that the moment they were in the drawing-room she sank
down upon the sofa, giving way to the laughter which, long repressed,
now burst forth louder and more merrily upon every fresh remembrance
of the scene; while the other girls, though persisting in declaring
that they had seen nothing diverting, were soon infected by her
joyous merriment, and the room rang again with laughter.
'Well, Lizzie,' said Anne, recovering her breath, 'I hope, as Helen
says, you have had a pleasant evening; I hope you were very much
edified.'
'How can you be so absurd, Anne?' answered Elizabeth, trying to look
serious, but the corners of her mouth relaxing, in spite of her
attempts to control her risible muscles.
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