“Mr.Darcy!”repeated Elizabeth,in utter amazement.
Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected to find it;not equal to Lydia's for him.She had scarcely needed her present observation to be satisfied,from the reason of things,that their elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love,rather than by his;and she would have wondered why, without violently caring for her,he chose to elope with her at all, had she not felt certain that his flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances; and if that were the case, he was not the young man to resist an opportunity of having a companion.
“You may readily comprehend,”she added,“what my curiosity must be to know how a person unconnected with any of us,and (comparatively speaking) a stranger to our family, should have been amongst you at such a time.Pray write instantly,and let me understand it―unless it is, for very cogent reasons, to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems to think necessary;and then I must endeavour to be satisfied with ignorance.”
Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them.Mr. Wickham had received his commission before he left London, and he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight.
Jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to Elizabeth privately of what Lydia had let fall;Elizabeth was glad of it;―till it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any satisfaction,she had rather be without a confidante.