{{prxprp254.jpg}} || 254 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

of his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit above half

of what was said, believed enough to make her former assurance

of her sister's ruin still more certain; and even Jane, who believed

still less of it, became almost hopeless, more especially as the time

was now come, when, if they had gone to Scotland, which she

had never before entirely despaired of, they must in all probability

have gained some news of them.

Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday, his

wife received a letter from him; it told them, that on his arrival,

he had immediately found out his brother, and persuaded him

to come to Gracechurclvstreet. That Mr. Bennet had been to

Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, but without gaining

any satisfactory information; and that he was now determined to

inquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet thought

it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first

coming to London, before they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner

himself did not expect any success from this measure, but as his

brother was eager in it, he meant to assist him in pursuing it.

He added, that Mr. Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present

to leave London, and promised to write again very soon. There

was also a postscript to this effect:

T have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out, if

possible, from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment,

whether Wickham has any relations or connections, who would

be likely to know in what part of the town he has now concealed

himself. If there were any one, that one could apply to, with a

probability of gaining such a clue as that, it might be of essential

consequence. At present we have nothing to guide us. Colonel

Forster will, I dare say, do everything in his power to satisfy us on

this head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps Lizzy could tell us,

what relations he has now living, better than any other person.'

Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference

for her authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any

information of so satisfactory a nature, as the compliment deserved.

She had never heard of his having had any relations, except

a father and mother, both of whom had been dead many years.

It was possible, however, that some of his companions in the

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