In the afternoon,the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for half an hour by themselves;and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of the opportunity of making many inquiries,which Jane was equally eager to satisfy.After joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel of this event,which Elizabeth considered as all but certain,and Miss Bennet could not assert to be wholly impossible,the former continued the subject by saying,‘But tell me all and every thing about it which I have not already heard.Give me further particulars.What did Colonel Forster say?Had they no apprehension of any thing before the elopement took place?They must have seen them together for ever.’
‘Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality,especially on Lydia's side,but nothing to give him any alarm.I am so grieved for him.His behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost.He was coming to us,in order to assure us of his concern,before he had any idea of their not being gone to Scotland;when that apprehension first got abroad,it hastened his journey.’
‘And was Denny convinced that Wickham would not marry?Did he know of their intending to go off?Had Colonel Forster seen Denny himself?’
‘Yes;but when questioned by him,Denny denied knowing any thing of their plan,and would not give his real opinion about it.He did not repeat his persuasion of their not marrying-and from that,I am inclined to hope,he might have been misunderstood before.’
‘And till Colonel Forster came himself,not one of you entertained a doubt,I suppose,of their being really married?’
‘How was it possible that such an idea should enter our brains!I felt a little uneasy-a little fearful of my sister's happiness with him in marriage,because I knew that his conduct had not been always quite right.My father and mother knew nothing of that,they only felt how imprudent a match it must be.Kitty then owned,with a very natural triumph on knowing more than the rest of us,that in Lydia's last letter she had prepared her for such a step.She had known,it seems,of their being in love with each other,many weeks.’
‘But not before they went to Brighton?’
‘No,I believe not.’
‘And did Colonel Forster appear to think ill of Wickham himself?Does he know his real character?’
‘I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickham as he formerly did.He believed him to be imprudent and extravagant.And since this sad affair has taken place,it is said that he left Meryton greatly in debt;but I hope this may be false.’
‘Oh,Jane,had we been less secret,had we told what we knew of him,this could not have happened!’
‘Perhaps it would have been better,’replied her sister.‘But to expose the former faults of any person,without knowing what their present feelings were,seemed unjustifiable.We acted with the best intentions.’
‘Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia's note to his wife?’
‘He brought it with him for us to see.’
Jane then took it from her pocket book,and gave it to Elizabeth.These were the contents:
My dear Harriet,
You will laugh when you know where I am gone,and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprize 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 surprize 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.
Your affectionate friend,
Lydia Bennet.
‘Oh!thoughtless,thoughtless Lydia!’cried Elizabeth when she had finished it.‘What a letter is this,to be written at such a moment.But at least it shews that she was serious in the object of her journey.Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to,it was not on her side a scheme of infamy.My poor father!how he must have felt it!’
‘I never saw any one so shocked.He could not speak a word for full ten minutes.My mother was taken ill immediately,and the whole house in such confusion!’
‘Oh!Jane!’cried Elizabeth,‘was there a servant belonging to it,who did not know the whole story before the end of the day?’
‘I do not know.-I hope there was.-But to be guarded at such a time,is very difficult.My mother was in hysterics,and though I endeavoured to give her every assistance in my power,I am afraid I did not do so much as I might have done!But the horror of what might possibly happen almost took from me my faculties.’
‘Your attendance upon her has been too much for you.You do not look well.Oh!that I had been with you!you have had every care and anxiety upon yourself alone.’
‘Mary and Kitty have been very kind,and would have shared in every fatigue,I am sure,but I did not think it right for either of them.Kitty is slight and delicate,and Mary studies so much that her hours of repose should not be broken in on.My aunt Philips came to Longbourn on Tuesday,after my father went away;and was so good as to stay till Thursday with me.She was of great use and comfort to us all,and Lady Lucas has been very kind;she walked here on Wednesday morning to condole with us,and offered her services,or any of her daughters,if they could be of use to us.’
