"I havebeenthinkingitoveragain, Elizabeth," saidheruncle, astheydrovefromthetown; "andreally, uponseriousconsideration, I ammuchmoreinclinedthan I wastojudgeasyoureldestsisterdoesonthematter. Itappearstomesoveryunlikelythatanyyoungmanshouldformsuch a designagainst a girlwhoisbynomeansunprotectedorfriendless, andwhowasactuallystayinginhiscolonel's family, that I amstronglyinclinedtohopethebest. Couldheexpectthatherfriendswouldnotstepforward? Couldheexpecttobenoticedagainbytheregiment, aftersuchanaffronttoColonelForster? Histemptationisnotadequatetotherisk!"
1
"Doyoureallythinkso?" criedElizabeth, brighteningupfor a moment.
2
"Uponmyword," saidMrs. Gardiner, "I begintobeofyouruncle's opinion. Itisreallytoogreat a violationofdecency, honour, andinterest, forhimtobeguiltyof. I cannotthinksoveryillofWickham. Canyouyourself, Lizzy, sowhollygivehimup, astobelievehimcapableofit?"
3
"Not, perhaps, ofneglectinghisowninterest; butofeveryotherneglect I canbelievehimcapable. If, indeed, itshouldbeso! But I darenothopeit. WhyshouldtheynotgoontoScotlandifthathadbeenthecase?"
"Butwhyallthissecrecy? Whyanyfearofdetection? Whymusttheirmarriagebeprivate? Oh, no, no—thisisnotlikely. Hismostparticularfriend, youseebyJane's account, waspersuadedofhisneverintendingtomarryher. Wickhamwillnevermarry a womanwithoutsomemoney. Hecannotaffordit. AndwhatclaimshasLydia—whatattractionhasshebeyondyouth, health, andgoodhumourthatcouldmakehim, forhersake, foregoeverychanceofbenefitinghimselfbymarryingwell? Astowhatrestrainttheapprehensionsofdisgraceinthecorpsmightthrowon a dishonourableelopementwithher, I amnotabletojudge; for I knownothingoftheeffectsthatsuch a stepmightproduce. Butastoyourotherobjection, I amafraiditwillhardlyholdgood. Lydiahasnobrotherstostepforward; andhemightimagine, frommyfather's behaviour, fromhisindolenceandthelittleattentionhehaseverseemedtogivetowhatwasgoingforwardinhisfamily, thathewoulddoaslittle, andthinkaslittleaboutit, asanyfathercoulddo, insuch a matter."
"Itdoesseem, anditismostshockingindeed," repliedElizabeth, withtearsinhereyes, "that a sister's senseofdecencyandvirtueinsuch a pointshouldadmitofdoubt. But, really, I knownotwhattosay. Perhaps I amnotdoingherjustice. Butsheisveryyoung; shehasneverbeentaughttothinkonserioussubjects; andforthelasthalf-year, nay, for a twelvemonth—shehasbeengivenuptonothingbutamusementandvanity. Shehasbeenallowedtodisposeofhertimeinthemostidleandfrivolousmanner, andtoadoptanyopinionsthatcameinherway. Sincethe ——shirewerefirstquarteredinMeryton, nothingbutlove, flirtation, andofficershavebeeninherhead. Shehasbeendoingeverythinginherpowerbythinkingandtalkingonthesubject, togivegreater—whatshall I callit? susceptibilitytoherfeelings; whicharenaturallylivelyenough. AndweallknowthatWickhamhaseverycharmofpersonandaddressthatcancaptivate a woman."
"I doindeed," repliedElizabeth, colouring. "I toldyou, theotherday, ofhisinfamousbehaviourtoMr. Darcy; andyouyourself, whenlastatLongbourn, heardinwhatmannerhespokeofthemanwhohadbehavedwithsuchforbearanceandliberalitytowardshim. Andthereareothercircumstanceswhich I amnotatliberty—whichitisnotworthwhiletorelate; buthisliesaboutthewholePemberleyfamilyareendless. FromwhathesaidofMissDarcy I wasthoroughlypreparedtosee a proud, reserved, disagreeablegirl. Yetheknewtothecontraryhimself. Hemustknowthatshewasasamiableandunpretendingaswehavefoundher."
"Oh, yes!—that, thatistheworstofall. Till I wasinKent, andsawsomuchbothofMr. DarcyandhisrelationColonelFitzwilliam, I wasignorantofthetruthmyself. Andwhen I returnedhome, the ——shirewastoleaveMerytonin a weekorfortnight's time. Asthatwasthecase, neitherJane, towhom I relatedthewhole, nor I, thoughtitnecessarytomakeourknowledgepublic; forofwhatusecoulditapparentlybetoanyone, thatthegoodopinionwhichalltheneighbourhoodhadofhimshouldthenbeoverthrown? AndevenwhenitwassettledthatLydiashouldgowithMrs. Forster, thenecessityofopeninghereyestohischaracterneveroccurredtome. Thatshecouldbeinanydangerfromthedeceptionneverenteredmyhead. Thatsuch a consequenceasthiscouldensue, youmayeasilybelieve, wasfarenoughfrommythoughts."
16
"WhentheyallremovedtoBrighton, therefore, youhadnoreason, I suppose, tobelievethemfondofeachother?"
17
"Nottheslightest. I canremembernosymptomofaffectiononeitherside; andhadanythingofthekindbeenperceptible, youmustbeawarethatoursisnot a familyonwhichitcouldbethrownaway. Whenfirstheenteredthecorps, shewasreadyenoughtoadmirehim; butsoweallwere. EverygirlinornearMerytonwasoutofhersensesabouthimforthefirsttwomonths; butheneverdistinguishedherbyanyparticularattention; and, consequently, after a moderateperiodofextravagantandwildadmiration, herfancyforhimgaveway, andothersoftheregiment, whotreatedherwithmoredistinction, againbecameherfavourites."
Theytravelledasexpeditiouslyaspossible, and, sleepingonenightontheroad, reachedLongbournbydinnertimethenextday. Itwas a comforttoElizabethtoconsiderthatJanecouldnothavebeenweariedbylongexpectations.
21
ThelittleGardiners, attractedbythesightof a chaise, werestandingonthestepsofthehouseastheyenteredthepaddock; and, whenthecarriagedroveuptothedoor, thejoyfulsurprisethatlighteduptheirfaces, anddisplayeditselfovertheirwholebodies, in a varietyofcapersandfrisks, wasthefirstpleasingearnestoftheirwelcome.
22
Elizabethjumpedout; and, aftergivingeachofthem a hastykiss, hurriedintothevestibule, whereJane, whocamerunningdownfromhermother's apartment, immediatelymether.
23
Elizabeth, assheaffectionatelyembracedher, whilsttearsfilledtheeyesofboth, lostnot a momentinaskingwhetheranythinghadbeenheardofthefugitives.
24
"Notyet," repliedJane. "Butnowthatmydearuncleiscome, I hopeeverythingwillbewell."
25
"Ismyfatherintown?"
26
"Yes, hewentonTuesday, as I wroteyouword."
27
"Andhaveyouheardfromhimoften?"
28
"Wehaveheardonlytwice. Hewroteme a fewlinesonWednesdaytosaythathehadarrivedinsafety, andtogivemehisdirections, which I particularlybeggedhimtodo. Hemerelyaddedthatheshouldnotwriteagaintillhehadsomethingofimportancetomention."
29
"Andmymother—howisshe? Howareyouall?"
30
"Mymotheristolerablywell, I trust; thoughherspiritsaregreatlyshaken. Sheisupstairsandwillhavegreatsatisfactioninseeingyouall. Shedoesnotyetleaveherdressing-room. MaryandKitty, thankHeaven, arequitewell."
Mrs. Bennet, towhoseapartmenttheyallrepaired, after a fewminutes' conversationtogether, receivedthemexactlyasmightbeexpected; withtearsandlamentationsofregret, invectivesagainstthevillainousconductofWickham, andcomplaintsofherownsufferingsandill-usage; blamingeverybodybutthepersontowhoseill-judgingindulgencetheerrorsofherdaughtermustprincipallybeowing.
35
"If I hadbeenable," saidshe, "tocarrymypointingoingtoBrighton, withallmyfamily, thiswouldnothavehappened; butpoordearLydiahadnobodytotakecareofher. WhydidtheForsterseverlethergooutoftheirsight? I amsuretherewassomegreatneglectorotherontheirside, forsheisnotthekindofgirltodosuch a thingifshehadbeenwelllookedafter. I alwaysthoughttheywereveryunfittohavethechargeofher; but I wasoverruled, as I alwaysam. Poordearchild! Andnowhere's Mr. Bennetgoneaway, and I knowhewillfightWickham, whereverhemeetshimandthenhewillbekilled, andwhatistobecomeofusall? TheCollinseswillturnusoutbeforeheiscoldinhisgrave, andifyouarenotkindtous, brother, I donotknowwhatweshalldo."
"Donotgivewaytouselessalarm," addedhe; "thoughitisrighttobepreparedfortheworst, thereisnooccasiontolookonitascertain. Itisnotquite a weeksincetheyleftBrighton. In a fewdaysmorewemaygainsomenewsofthem; andtillweknowthattheyarenotmarried, andhavenodesignofmarrying, donotletusgivethematteroveraslost. Assoonas I gettotown I shallgotomybrother, andmakehimcomehomewithmetoGracechurchStreet; andthenwemayconsulttogetherastowhatistobedone."
38
"Oh! mydearbrother," repliedMrs. Bennet, "thatisexactlywhat I couldmostwishfor. Andnowdo, whenyougettotown, findthemout, wherevertheymaybe; andiftheyarenotmarriedalready, makethemmarry. Andasforweddingclothes, donotletthemwaitforthat, buttellLydiasheshallhaveasmuchmoneyasshechoosestobuythem, aftertheyaremarried. And, aboveall, keepMr. Bennetfromfighting. Tellhimwhat a dreadfulstate I amin, that I amfrightedoutofmywits—andhavesuchtremblings, suchflutterings, alloverme—suchspasmsinmysideandpainsinmyhead, andsuchbeatingsatheart, that I cangetnorestbynightnorbyday. AndtellmydearLydianottogiveanydirectionsaboutherclothestillshehasseenme, forshedoesnotknowwhicharethebestwarehouses. Oh, brother, howkindyouare! I knowyouwillcontriveitall."
Elizabethlifteduphereyesinamazement, butwastoomuchoppressedtomakeanyreply. Mary, however, continuedtoconsoleherselfwithsuchkindofmoralextractionsfromtheevilbeforethem.
"Yes; but, whenquestionedbyhim, Dennydeniedknowinganythingoftheirplans, andwouldnotgivehisrealopinionaboutit. Hedidnotrepeathispersuasionoftheirnotmarrying—andfromthat, I aminclinedtohope, hemighthavebeenmisunderstoodbefore."
49
"AndtillColonelForstercamehimself, notoneofyouentertained a doubt, I suppose, oftheirbeingreallymarried?"
50
"Howwasitpossiblethatsuchanideashouldenterourbrains? I felt a littleuneasy—a littlefearfulofmysister's happinesswithhiminmarriage, because I knewthathisconducthadnotbeenalwaysquiteright. Myfatherandmotherknewnothingofthat; theyonlyfelthowimprudent a matchitmustbe. Kittythenowned, with a verynaturaltriumphonknowingmorethantherestofus, thatinLydia's lastlettershehadpreparedherforsuch a step. Shehadknown, itseems, oftheirbeinginlovewitheachother, manyweeks."
"I mustconfessthathedidnotspeaksowellofWickhamasheformerlydid. Hebelievedhimtobeimprudentandextravagant. Andsincethissadaffairhastakenplace, itissaidthatheleftMerytongreatlyindebt; but I hopethismaybefalse."
"Youwilllaughwhenyouknowwhere I amgone, and I cannothelplaughingmyselfatyoursurpriseto-morrowmorning, assoonas I ammissed. I amgoingtoGretnaGreen, andifyoucannotguesswithwho, I shallthinkyou a simpleton, forthereisbutonemanintheworld I love, andheisanangel. I shouldneverbehappywithouthim, sothinkitnoharmtobeoff. YouneednotsendthemwordatLongbournofmygoing, ifyoudonotlikeit, foritwillmakethesurprisethegreater, when I writetothemandsignmyname 'LydiaWickham.' What a goodjokeitwillbe! I canhardlywriteforlaughing. PraymakemyexcusestoPrattfornotkeepingmyengagement, anddancingwithhimto-night. Tellhim I hopehewillexcusemewhenheknowsall; andtellhim I willdancewithhimatthenextballwemeet, withgreatpleasure. I shallsendformyclotheswhen I gettoLongbourn; but I wishyouwouldtellSallytomend a greatslitinmyworkedmuslingownbeforetheyarepackedup. Good-bye. GivemylovetoColonelForster. I hopeyouwilldrinktoourgoodjourney.
62
"Youraffectionatefriend,
63
"LYDIABENNET."
64
"Oh! thoughtless, thoughtlessLydia!" criedElizabethwhenshehadfinishedit. "What a letteristhis, tobewrittenatsuch a moment! Butatleastitshowsthatshewasseriousonthesubjectoftheirjourney. Whateverhemightafterwardspersuadeherto, itwasnotonherside a schemeofinfamy. Mypoorfather! howhemusthavefeltit!"
65
"I neversawanyonesoshocked. Hecouldnotspeak a wordforfulltenminutes. Mymotherwastakenillimmediately, andthewholehouseinsuchconfusion!"
66
"Oh! Jane," criedElizabeth, "wasthere a servantbelongingtoitwhodidnotknowthewholestorybeforetheendoftheday?"
67
"I donotknow. I hopetherewas. Buttobeguardedatsuch a timeisverydifficult. Mymotherwasinhysterics, andthough I endeavouredtogivehereveryassistanceinmypower, I amafraid I didnotdosomuchas I mighthavedone! Butthehorrorofwhatmightpossiblyhappenalmosttookfrommemyfaculties."
68
"Yourattendanceuponherhasbeentoomuchforyou. Youdonotlookwell. Ohthat I hadbeenwithyou! youhavehadeverycareandanxietyuponyourselfalone."
69
"MaryandKittyhavebeenverykind, andwouldhavesharedineveryfatigue, I amsure; but I didnotthinkitrightforeitherofthem. Kittyisslightanddelicate; andMarystudiessomuch, thatherhoursofreposeshouldnotbebrokeninon. MyauntPhillipscametoLongbournonTuesday, aftermyfatherwentaway; andwassogoodastostaytillThursdaywithme. Shewasofgreatuseandcomforttousall. AndLadyLucashasbeenverykind; shewalkedhereonWednesdaymorningtocondolewithus, andofferedherservices, oranyofherdaughters', iftheyshouldbeofusetous."
70
"Shehadbetterhavestayedathome," criedElizabeth; "perhapsshemeantwell, but, undersuch a misfortuneasthis, onecannotseetoolittleofone's neighbours. Assistanceisimpossible; condolenceinsufferable. Letthemtriumphoverusat a distance, andbesatisfied."