“But does Lydia know nothing of this?can she be ignorant of what you and Jane seem so well to understand?”
“Upon my word,”said Mrs. Gardiner,“I begin to be of your uncle's opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency, honour,and interest,for him to be guilty of it.I cannot think so very ill of Wickham.Can you yourself,Lizzy,so wholly give him up,as to believe him capable of it?”
“I do indeed,”replied Elizabeth, colouring.“I told you, the other day, of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you yourself,when last at Longbourn,heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved with such forbearance and liberality towards him.And there are other circumstances which I am not at liberty―which it is not worth while to relate;but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From what he said of Miss Darcy I was thoroughly prepared to see a proud,reserved, disagreeable girl.Yet he knew to the contrary himself.He must know that she was as amiable and unpretending as we have found her.”
“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.”