{{prxprp275.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 275 ||

however the Little Theatre was open. Well, and so just as the

carriage came to the door, my uncle was called away upon busi"

ness to that horrid man Mr. Stone. And then, you know, when

once they get together, there is no end of it. Well, I was so

frightened I did not know what to do, for my uncle was to give

me away; and if we were beyond the hour, we could not be

married all day. But, luckily, he came back again in ten minutes

time, and then we all set out. However, I recollected afterwards,

that if he bad been prevented going, the wedding need not be put

off, for Air. Darcy might have done as well.'

'Mr. Darcy!' repeated Elizabeth, in utter amazement.

'Oh, yes! -- he was to come there with Wickham, you know.

But gracious me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a

word about it. I premised them so faithfully! What will

Wickham say? It was to be such a secret!'

'If it was to be a secret,' said Jane, 'say not another word on

the subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further.'

'Oh! certainly,' said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity;

'we will ask you no questions.'

'Thank you,' said Lydia, 'for if you did, I should certainly

tell you all, and then Wickham would be so angry.'

On such encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put

it out of her power, by running away.

But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or

at least it was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcy

had been at her sister's wedding. It was exactly a scene, and

exactly among people, where he had apparently least to do, and

least temptation to go. Conjectures as to the meaning of it,

rapid and wild, hurried into her brain; but she was satisfied with

none. Those that best pleased her, as placing his conduct in

the noblest light, seemed most improbable. She could not bear

such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, wrote a short

letter to her aunt, to request an explanation of what Lydia had

dropped, if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been

intended.

'You may readily comprehend,' she added, 'what my curiosity

must be to know how a person unconnected with any of us, and

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