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Chapter XLVII

'I have been thinking it over again, Elizabeth,' said her uncle,

as they drove from the town; 'and really, upon serious consider

tion, I am much more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest

sister does of the matter. It appears to me so very unlikely, that

any young man should form such a design against a girl who is

by no means unprotected or friendless, and who was actually

staying in his Colonel's family, that I am strongly inclined to hope

the best. Could he expect that her friends would not step

forward? Could he expect to be noticed again by the regiment,

after such an affront to Colonel Forster? His temptation is not

adequate to the risk!'

'Do you really think so;' cried Elizabeth, brightening up for

a moment.

'Upon my word,' said Mrs. Gardiner, 'I begin to be of your

uncle's opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency,

honour, and interest, for him to be guilty of it. I cannot think

so very ill of Wickham. Can you yourself, Lizzy, so wholly

give him up, as to believe him capable of it;'

'Not, perhaps, of neglecting his own interest. But of ever)' other

neglect I can believe him capable. If, indeed, it should be so!

But I dare not hope it. Why should they not go on to Scotland,

if that had been the case;'

'In the first place,' replied Mr. Gardiner, 'there is no absolute

proof that they are not gone to Scotland.'

'Oh! but their removing from the chaise into an hackney

coach is such a presumption! And, besides, no traces of them

were to be found on the Barnet road.'

'Well, then -- supposing them to be in London. They may

be there, though for the purpose of concealment, for no more

unexceptionable purpose. It is not likely that money should be

■very abundant on either side; and it might strike them that they

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