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what you and Jane seem so well to understand？’
‘Oh； yes！—that； that is the worst of all。 Till I was in Kent； and
saw so much both of Mr。 Darcy and his relation； Colonel
Fitzwilliam； I was ignorant of the truth myself。 And when I
returned home； the —shire was to leave Meryton in a week or
fortnight’s time。 As that was the case； neither Jane； to whom I
related the whole； nor I； thought it necessary to make our
knowledge public； for of what use could it apparently be to any
one； that the good opinion which all the neighbourhood had of
him； should then be overthrown？ And even when it was settled
that Lydia should go with Mrs。 Forster； the necessity of opening
her eyes to his character never occurred to me。 That she could be
in any danger from the deception never entered my head。 That
such a consequence as this should ensue； you may easily believe
was far enough from my thoughts。’
‘When they all removed to Brighton； therefore； you had no
reason； I suppose； to believe them fond of each other。’
‘Not the slightest。 I can remember no symptom of affection on
either side； and had any thing of the kind been perceptible； you
must be aware that ours is not a family； on which it could be
thrown away。 When first he entered the corps； she was ready
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enough to admire him； but so we all were。 Every girl in； or near
Meryton； was out of her senses about him for the first two months；
but he never distinguished her by any particular attention； and；
consequently； after a moderate period of extravagant and wild
admiration； her fancy for him gave way； and others of the
regiment； who treated her with more distinction； again became
her favourites。’
———————
It may be easily believed； that however little of novelty could be
added to their fears； hopes； and conjectures； on this interesting
subject； by its repeated discussion； no other could detain them
from it long； during the whole of the journey。 From Elizabeth’s
thoughts it was never absent。 Fixed there by the keenest of all
anguish； self reproach； she could find no interval of ease or
forgetfulness。
They travelled as expeditiously as possible； and sleeping one
night on the road； reached Longbourn by dinner…time the next
day。 It was a comfort to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not
have been wearied by long expectations。
The little Gardiners； attracted by the sight of a chaise； were
standing on the steps of the house； as they entered the paddock；
and when the carriage drove up to the door； the joyful surprise
that lighted up their faces； and displayed itself over their whole
bodies； in a variety of capers and frisks； was the first pleasing
earnest of their welcome。
Elizabeth jumped out； and； after giving each of them an hasty
kiss； hurried into the vestibule； where Jane； who came running
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down stairs from her mother’s apartment； immediately met her。
Elizabeth； as she affectionately embraced her； whilst tears filled
the eyes of both； lost not a moment in asking whether any thing
had been heard of the fugitives。
‘Not yet；’ replied Jane。 ‘But now that my dear uncle is come； I
hope every thing will be well。’
‘Is my father in town？’
‘Yes； he went on Tuesday as I wrote you word。’
‘And have you heard from him often？’
‘We have heard only once。 He wrote me a few lines on
Wednesday； to say that he had arrived in safety； and to give me his
directions； which I particularly begged him to do。 He merely
added； that he should not write again； till he had something of
importance to mention。’
‘And my mother—How is she？ How are you all？’
‘My mother is tolerably well； I trust； though her spirits are
greatly shaken。 She is up stairs； and will have great satisfaction in
seeing you all。 She does not yet leave her dressing…room。 Mary and
Kitty； thank Heaven！ are quite well。’
‘But you—How are you？’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘You look pale。 How
much you must have gone through！’
Her sister； however； assured her； of her being perfectly well；
and their conversation； which had been passing while Mr。 and
Mrs。 Gardiner were engaged with their children； was now put an
end to； by the approach of the whole party。 Jane ran to her uncle
and aunt； and welcomed and thanked them both； with alternate
smiles and tears。
When they were all in the drawing room； the questions which
Elizabeth had already asked； were of course repeated by the
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others； and they soon found that Jane had no intelligence to give。
The sanguine hope of good； however； which the benevolence of
her heart suggested； had not yet deserted her； she still expected
that it would all end well； and that every morning would bring
some letter； either from Lydia or her father； to explain their
proceedings； and perhaps announce the marriage。
Mrs。 Bennet； to whose apartment they all repaired； after a few
minutes conversation together； received them exactly as might be
expected； with tears and lamentations of regret； invectives against
the villanous conduct of Wickham； and complaints of her own
sufferings and ill usage； blaming every body but the person to
whose ill judging indulgence the errors of her daughter must be
principally owin