{{prxprp235.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 235 ||

never let them know what has been said against him; we must

forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday night about twelve,

as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at

eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they

must have passed within ten miles of us. -- Colonel Forster gives

us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for

his wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for

I cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not

be able to make it out, but I hardly know what I have written.'

Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely

knowing what she felt, Elizabeth, on finishing this letter, instantly

seized the other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read

as follows: it had been written a day later than the conclusion

of the first.

'By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried

letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not con'

fined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for

being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would

write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed.

Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor

Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken

place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone

to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton

the day before, not many hours after the express. Though

Lydia's short letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they

were going to Gretna Green, something was dropped by Denny

expressing his belief that W. never intended to go there, or to

marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to Colonel F. who

instandy taking the alarm, set off from B. intending to trace

their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no

farther; for on entering that place, they removed into a hackney

coach, and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom.

All that is known after this is, that they were seen to continue the

London road. I know not what to think. After making every

possible inquiry on that side London, Colonel F. came on into

Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes, and

at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but without any success, no

 [[235]]