{{prxprp250.jpg}} || 250 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

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 extra'

vagant. 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, ihis 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 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

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