“Oh!but their removing from the chaise into a hackney coach is such a presumption!And,besides,no traces of them were to be found on the Barnet road.”
“Do you really think so?”cried Elizabeth,brightening up for a moment.
“But you see that Jane,”said her aunt,“does not think so very ill of Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt.”
“But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything but love of him as to consent to live with him on any terms other than marriage?”
“But does Lydia know nothing of this?can she be ignorant of what you and Jane seem so well to understand?”
“Not,perhaps,of neglecting his own interest;but of every other neglect I can believe him capable.If,indeed,it should be so!But I dare not hope it.Why should they not go on to Scotland if that had been the case?”
“But why all this secrecy?Why any fear of detection?Why must their marriage be private?Oh,no,no―this is not likely.His most particular friend,you see by Jane's account,was persuaded of his never intending to marry her.Wickham will never marry a woman without some money.He cannot afford it.And what claims has Lydia―what attraction has she beyond youth,health,and good humour that could make him,for her sake,forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well? As to what restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the corps might throw on a dishonourable elopement with her,I am not able to judge;for I know nothing of the effects that such a step might produce.But as to your other objection,I am afraid it will hardly hold good. Lydia has no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine, from my father's behaviour, from his indolence and the little attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going forward in his family,that he would do as little,and think as little about it,as any father could do,in such a matter.”