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away； it seems but a fortnight I declare； and yet there have been
things enough happened in the time。 Good gracious！ when I went
away； I am sure I had no more idea of being married till I came
back again！ though I thought it would be very good fun if I was。’
Her father lifted up his eyes。 Jane was distressed。 Elizabeth
looked expressively at Lydia； but she； who never heard nor saw
any thing of which she chose to be insensible； gaily continued； ‘Oh！
mamma； do the people here abouts know I am married to…day？ I
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was afraid they might not； and we overtook William Goulding in
his curricle； so I was determined he should know it； and so I let
down the side glass next to him； and took off my glove； and let my
hand just rest upon the window frame； so that he might see the
ring； and then I bowed and smiled like any thing。’
Elizabeth could bear it no longer。 She got up； and ran out of the
room； and returned no more； till she heard them passing through
the hall to the dining parlour。 She then joined them soon enough
to see Lydia； with anxious parade； walk up to her mother’s right
hand； and hear her say to her eldest sister； ‘Ah！ Jane； I take your
place now； and you must go lower； because I am a married
woman。’
It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that
embarrassment； from which she had been so wholly free at first。
Her ease and good spirits increased。 She longed to see Mrs。
Philips； the Lucases； and all their other neighbours； and to hear
herself called ‘Mrs。 Wickham；’ by each of them； and in the mean
time； she went after dinner to shew her ring and boast of being
married； to Mrs。 Hill and the two housemaids。
‘Well； mamma；’ said she； when they were all returned to the
breakfast room； ‘and what do you think of my husband？ Is not he
a charming man？ I am sure my sisters must all envy me。 I only
hope they may have half my good luck。 They must all go to
Brighton。 That is the place to get husbands。 What a pity it is；
mamma； we did not all go。’
‘Very true； and if I had my will； we should。 But my dear Lydia； I
don’t at all like your going such a way off。 Must it be so？’
‘Oh； lord！ yes；—there is nothing in that。 I shall like it of all
things。 You and papa； and my sisters； must come down and see us。
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We shall be at Newcastle all the winter； and I dare say there will
be some balls； and I will take care to get good partners for them
all。’
‘I should like it beyond any thing！’ said her mother。
‘And then when you go away； you may leave one or two of my
sisters behind you； and I dare say I shall get husbands for them
before the winter is over。’
‘I thank you for my share of the favour；’ said Elizabeth； ‘but I do
not particularly like your way of getting husbands。’
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。
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。
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。
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
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kill more birds on the first of September； than any body else in the
country。
One morning； soon after their arrival； as she was sitting with
her two elder sisters； she said to Elizabeth；
‘Lizzy； I never gave you an account of my wedding； I believe。
You were not by； when I told mamma； and the others； all about it。
Are not you curious to hear how it was managed？’
‘No really；’ replied Elizabeth； ‘I think there cannot be too little
said on the subject。’
‘La！ You are so strange！ But I must tell you how it went off。 We
were married； you know； at St。 Clement’s； because Wickham’s
lodgings were in that parish。 And it was settled that we should all
be there by eleven o’clock。 My uncle and aunt and I were to go
together； and the others were to meet us at the church。 Well；
Monday morning came； and I was in such a fuss！ I was so afraid
you know that something would happen to put it off； and then I
should have gone quite distracted。 And there was my aunt； all the
time I was dressing； preaching and talking away just as if she was
reading a sermon。 However； I did not hear above one word in ten；
for I was thinking； you may suppose； of my dear Wickham。 I
longed to know whether he would be married in his blue coat。
‘Well； and so we breakfasted at ten as usual； I thought it would
never be over； for； by the bye； you are to understand； that my
uncle and aunt were horrid unpleasant all the time I was with
them。 If you’ll believe me； I did not once put my foot out of doors；
though I was there a fortnight。 Not one party； or scheme； or any
thing。 To be sure London was rather thin； but however the Little
Theatre was open。 Well； and so just as the carriage came to the
door； my uncle was called away upon business to that horrid man
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Mr。 Stone。 And then； you know； when once they get together；
there is no end of it。 Well； I was so frightened I did not know what
to do； for my uncle was to give me away； and if we were beyond
the hour； we could not be married all day。 But； luckily； he came
back again in ten minutes time； and then we all set out。 However； I
recollected afterwards； that if he had been prevented going； the
wedding need not be put off； for Mr。 Darcy might have done as
well。’
‘Mr。 Darcy！’ repeated Elizabeth； in utter amazement。
‘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！’
‘If it was to be secret；’ said Jane； ‘say not another word on the
subject。 You may depend upon my seeking no further。’
‘Oh！ certainly；’ said Elizabeth； though burning with curiosity；
‘we will ask you no questions。’
‘Thank you；’ said Lydia； ‘for if you did； I should certainly tell
you all； and then Wickham would he angry。’
On such encouragement to ask； Elizabeth was forced to put it
out of her power； by running away。
But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible； or at
least it was impossible not to try for infor