hewastojoin;andshemadethemostofthetimebyvisitingabo;toavoidafamilycirclewasevenmoredesirabletosuchasdidthink,thansuchasdidnot.

    Wickham'saffectionforLydiawasjustwhatElizabethhadexpectedtofindit;,fromthereasonofthings,thattheirelopementhadbeenbroughtonbythestrengthofherlove,ratherthanbyhis;andshewouldhavewonderedwhy,withoutviolentlycaringforher,hechosetoelopewithheratall,hadshenotfeltcertainthathisflightwasrenderednecessarybydistressofcircumstances;andifthatwerethecase,hewasnottheyoungmantoresistanopportunityof;;andshewassurehewouldkillmorebirdsonthefirstofSeptember,thananybodyelseinthecountry.

    Onemorning,soonaftertheirarrival,asshewassittingwithhertwoeldersisters,shesaidtoElizabeth:

    Arenotyoucurioustohearhowitwasmanaged?”

    “Noreally,”repliedElizabeth;“Ithinktherecannotbetoolittlesaidonthesubject.”

    k.MyuncleandauntandIweretogotogether;andtheothersweretomeetusatthechurch.

    Well,Mondaymorningcame,andIwasinsuchafuss!Iwassoafraid,youknow,thatsomethingwouldhapd,youmaysuppose,ofmydearWickham.Ilongedtoknowwhetherhewouldbemarriedinhisbluecoat.”

    “Well,andsowebreakfastedattenasusual;Ithoughtitwouldneverbeover;for,bythebye,youaretounderstand,thatmyuncleerthin,but,however,theLittleTheatrewasopen.

    Well,andsojustasthecarriagecametothedoor,wastogivemeaway;abeth,inutteramazemeaboutit.Ipromisedthemsofaithfully!WhatwillWickhamsay?Itwastobesuchasecret!”

    “Ifitwasy,”saidElizabeth,thoughburningwithcuriosity;“wewillaskyounoquestions.”

    “Thankyou,”saidLydia,“forifyoudid,Ishouldcertainlytellyouall,andthenWickhamwouldbeangry.”

    Onsuchencouragementtoask,Elizabethwasforcedtoputitoutofherpower,byrunningaway.

    Buttoliveinignoranceonsuchapointwasimpossible;ndexactlyamongpeople,woherbrain;;andhastilyseizingasheetofpaper,wroteashortlettertoheraunt,torequestanexplanationofwhatLydiahaddropped,ifitwerepatiblewiththesecrecywhichhadbeenintended.

    “Youmayreadilyprehend,”sheadded,“whatmycuriositymustbetoknowhowapersonunconnectedwithanyofus,and(parativelyspeaking)astranverycogentreasons,toremaininthesecrecywhichLydiaseemstothinknecessary;andthenImustendeavourtobesatisfiedwithignorance.”

    “NotthatIshall,though,”sheaddedtoherself,asshefinishedtheletter;“andmydearaunt,ifyoudonottellmeinanhonourablemanner,Ishallcertainlybereducedtotricksandstratagemstofinditout.”

    Jane'sdelicatesenseofhonourwouldnotallowhertospeaktoElizabethprivatelyofwhatLydiahadletfall;Elizabethwasgladofit;―tillitappearedwhetherherinquirieswouldreceiveanysatisfaction,shehadratherbewithoutaconfidante.