第118章[第1页/共5页]

No one but Mrs.Bennet regretted that their stay would be so short;and she made the most of the time by visiting about with her daughter, and having very frequent parties at home.These parties were acceptable to all; to avoid a family circle was even more desirable to such as did think,than such as did not.

“No really,”replied Elizabeth;“I think there cannot be too little said on the subject.”

On such encouragement to ask,Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her power,by running away.

“Thank you,”said Lydia,“for if you did,I should certainly tell you all,and then Wickham would be angry.”

“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 promised them so faithfully!What will Wickham say?It was to be such a secret!”

Lydia was exceedingly fond of him.He was her dear Wickham on every occasion;no one was to be put in competition with him. He did every thing best in the world;and she was sure he would kill more birds on the first of September,than any body else in the country.

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.