AI Classic Books

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"But why all this secrecy? Why any fear of detection? Why must their marriage be private? Oh, no, no--this is not likely. His most particular friend, you see by Jane’s account, was persuaded of his never intending to marry her. Wickham will never marry a woman without some money. He cannot afford it. And what claims has Lydia, what attractions has she beyond youth, health, and good humour, that could make him for her sake forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well? As to what restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the corps might throw on a dishonourable elopement with her, I am not able to judge; for I know nothing of the effects that such a step might produce. But as to your other objection, I am afraid it will hardly hold good. Lydia has no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine, from my father’s behaviour, from his indolence and the little attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going forward in his family, that  he  would do as little and think as little about it, as any father could do, in such a matter."

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"You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help      laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am      missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with      who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the      world I love, and he is an angel. I should never be happy without      him, so think it no harm to be off. You need not send them word at      Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it will make the      surprise the greater when I write to them, and sign my name Lydia      Wickham. What a good joke it will be! I can hardly write for      laughing. Pray make my excuses to Pratt for not keeping my      engagement, and dancing with him to-night. Tell him I hope he will      excuse me when he knows all, and tell him I will dance with him at      the next ball we meet with great pleasure. I shall send for my      clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell Sally to      mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed      up. Good-bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you will      drink to our good journey.

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daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence; though,      at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet,      I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally      bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity, at so early an      age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied; in      which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by      Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair.      They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one      daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others: for      who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect      themselves with such a family? And this consideration leads me,      moreover, to reflect, with augmented satisfaction, on a certain      event of last November; for had it been otherwise, I must have been      involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you, then,      my dear sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off      your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to      reap the fruits of her own heinous offence.

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Mr. Gardiner did not write again, till he had received an answer from Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. It was not known that Wickham had a single relation with whom he kept up any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living. His former acquaintance had been numerous; but since he had been in the militia, it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them. There was no one, therefore, who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his own finances, there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia’s relations; for it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him to a very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton. He owed a good deal in the town, but his debts of honour were still more formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family; Jane heard them with horror.

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