第108章[第1页/共5页]

“She had better have stayed at home,”cried Elizabeth;“perhaps she meant well,but,under such a misfortune as this,one cannot see too little of one's neighbours. Assistance is impossible;condolence insufferable.Let them triumph over us at a distance, and be satisfied.”

“No,I believe not.”

“Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia's note to his wife?”

Jane then took it from her pocket-book,and gave it to Elizabeth. These were the contents:

“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.”

“I never saw anyone so shocked.He could not speak a word for full ten minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house in such confusion!”

“And did Colonel Forster appear to think ill of Wickham himself?Does he know his real character?”

“Your affectionate friend,

“You will laugh when you know where I am gone,and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning,as soon as 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 surprise 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 laughing.Pray make my excuses to Pratt for not keeping my engagement,and dancing with him to-night.Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he knows all;and tell him I will dance with him at the next ball we meet,with great pleasure.I shall send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn;but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed up. Good-bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster.I hope you will drink to our good journey.