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frightened, turning back to listen attentively to the elderly vicar of Lambton. Kitty looked at her aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were deep in conversation with Mr. Darcy, a circumstance she found impossible to understand. Sensing her gaze, Mrs. Gardiner looked up and nodded subtly towards Kitty’s dinner partner, the ugly one. ‘What is his name? Oh, yes, Mr. Turner,’ thought Kitty. She turned to find that Elizabeth had finished her conversation with him and was speaking to Georgiana and the old vicar. Kitty took a deep breath.
    â€œMr. Turner,” she said, prettily, “what can you tell me about Kympton?”
    â€œNot a great deal. It is a pleasant little place.”
    â€œIs it as big as Lambton?”
    â€œNo, it is a small village. Why do you not tell me something about your home?”
    Kitty livened at this interesting change of topic from another to herself.
    â€œLongbourn? The village is the smallest ever seen, and my father’s house is as dull as the grave since all my sisters went away.”
    Mr. Turner laughed. “And how numerous are your sisters?”
    â€œThere are five of us. Jane is the eldest. She is very beautiful, and very good, and very kind.”
    â€œA paragon?”
    â€œOh, yes, everyone says so. She married in the same ceremony asLizzy. Jane is married to Bingley, who is nearly as beautiful and kind and good as she is.”
    â€œAre you recounting a fairy tale, Miss Bennet?”
    â€œIt is the absolute truth.”
    â€œSo they are perfectly matched? Who is next in the list?”
    â€œLizzy, who married Mr. Darcy, as you know.”
    â€œTwo sisters well-matched.”
    â€œWell-matched, you say? You cannot mean it.” She looked into his grey eyes. She lowered her voice to say, “Unless you mean that Mr. Darcy is so rich.”
    He laughed again, and Kitty blushed at her blunder.
    He said: “I meant that they seem suited in temperament.”
    â€œLizzy? Mr. Darcy?” she whispered. “You do say the strangest things.”
    â€œDo I? Who is next in the tale of the princesses of Longbourn?”
    â€œI am, Miss Catherine Bennet,” she said, with an unconsciously flirtatious air. “I shall not tell you anything of myself, lest I shock you with my immodesty.”
    He laughed again, and Kitty could not help laughing too, at her own success, although she tried not to.
    â€œThen, there is the youngest of my sisters, Lydia. She was married in August to a lieutenant in the militia, Mr. Wickham. He has now joined the regulars, and they are living very far from home in the north.” She took a sip of watered wine.
    â€œAnd that is the end of the tale,” she said.
    â€œI think not.”
    â€œIndeed, it is.”
    â€œYou told me of Princess Jane, Mrs. Bingley? Then, Princess Elizabeth, now Mrs. Darcy, and Princess Lydia, Mrs. Wickham, and the Fairy Princess Catherine. That is four. What of the mysterious fifth?”
    â€œOh, I quite forgot Mary,” said Kitty, and added with mock gravity, “Miss Bennet, who is not with us because she feared that Mama and Papa could not survive for three weeks without her care.”
    â€œShe sounds thoughtful.”
    â€œThoughtful? You know her already! Mary never stops thinking, even for a moment.”
    The young vicar thought he picked up a flash of mischief in her blue eyes. She seemed about to speak, but changed her mind. Kitty said nothing more on the subject of the missing sister.
    Later, Kitty came out on the steps with Elizabeth and Darcy. They watched Mr. Turner’s carriage carry their guests away in the moonlight. Elizabeth put her arm around Kitty’s waist as they went back indoors.
    â€œYou seemed to enjoy talking to Mr. Turner, Kitty.”
    â€œLord, no, Lizzy. I never met so hideous a man in my life. However, I rather fancy he enjoyed my society.”
    â€œKitty!”
    â€œLizzy, why are there no handsome young officers