第106章[第1页/共5页]

It may be easily believed,that however little of novelty could be added to their fears,hopes,and conjectures,on this interesting subject, by its repeated discussion, no other could detain them from it long, during the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent. Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish, self-reproach, she could find no interval of ease or forgetfulness.

They all exclaimed against such terrific ideas;and Mr.Gardiner, after general assurances of his affection for her and all her family, told her that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr.Bennet in every endeavour for recovering Lydia.

“My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are greatly shaken.She is upstairs and will have great satisfaction in seeing you all.She does not yet leave her dressing-room.Mary and Kitty,thank Heaven,are quite well.”

“We have heard only once.He wrote me a few lines on Wednesday to say that he had arrived in safety,and to give me his directions, which I particularly begged him to do.He merely added that he should not write again till he had something of importance to mention.”

When they were all in the drawing-room,the questions which Elizabeth had already asked were of course repeated by the others,and they soon found that Jane had no intelligence to give. The sanguine hope of good,however,which the benevolence of her heart suggested had not yet deserted her;she still expected that it would all end well, and that every morning would bring some letter, either from Lydia or her father, to explain their proceedings,and,perhaps,announce their marriage.