Austen Said:

moderation to her, as well in her hopes as her fear;

there was no real occasion for such a seclusion from the family,

she had not prudence enough to hold her tongue before the servants, while they waited at table,

one only of the household, and the one whom they could most trust should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the subject.

into the measures which her father had intended to pursue, while in town, for the recovery of his daughter.

to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could,

as the only security for her husband's not being killed in a duel.

with the design of cheering and heartening them up

to be in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured with the title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family.

he was the wickedest young man in the world; and everybody began to find out that they had always distrusted the appearance of his goodness.

on his arrival, he had immediately found out his brother, and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch Street;

Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, but without gaining any satisfactory information; and

he was now determined to inquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet thought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first coming to London, before they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner himself did not expect any success from this measure, but as his brother was eager in it, he meant to assist him in pursuing it.

Mr. Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present to leave London and promised to write again very soon.

She had never heard of his having had any relations, except a father and mother, both of whom had been dead many years. It was possible, however, that some of his companions in the ——shire, might be able to give more information;

It was not known that Wickham had a single relationship with whom he kept up any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living. His former acquaintances had been numerous; but since he had been in the militia, it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them. There was no one, therefore, who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his own finances, there was a very powerful motive for secrecy, in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him to a very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that

He owed a good deal in the town, but his debts of honour were still more formidable.

they might expect to see their father at home on the following day,

nothing, therefore, could be fairly conjectured from that,

had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread of Lydia's infamy somewhat better.

It would have spared her,

one sleepless night out of two.

to lose no more time before he wrote.

their mother was in all likelihood perfectly ignorant of what had happened.

whether he would not wish them to make it known to her.

her daughter would be married was enough.

her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. Gardiner's behaviour laid them all under.

to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and cambric,

some very plentiful orders,

to wait till her father was at leisure to be consulted.

One day's delay,

would be of small importance;

her joy.

she might think with freedom.

Poor Lydia's situation must, at best, be bad enough; but that it was no worse, she had need to be thankful.

and though, in looking forward, neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had feared, only two hours ago, she felt all the advantages of what they had gained.

Had he done his duty in that respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of honour or credit could now be purchased for her.

The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place.

He had never before supposed that, could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the hundred that was to be paid them; for, what with her board and pocket allowance, and the continual presents in money which passed to her through her mother's hands, Lydia's expenses had been very little within that sum.

her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his daughter.

she should receive from him no mark of affection whatever on the occasion.

for, at any rate, there seemed a gulf impassable between them. Had Lydia's marriage been concluded on the most honourable terms, it was not to be supposed that Mr. Darcy would connect himself with a family where, to every other objection would now be added an alliance and relationship of the nearest kind with a man whom he so justly scorned.

The wish of procuring her regard,

could not in rational expectation survive such a blow as this.

What a triumph for him,

could he know that the proposals which she had proudly spurned only four months ago, would now have been most gladly and gratefully received! He was as generous, she doubted not, as the most generous of his sex; but while he was mortal, there must be a triumph.

he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance.

But no such happy marriage could now teach the admiring multitude what connubial felicity really was. An union of a different tendency, and precluding the possibility of the other, was soon to be formed in their family.

How Wickham and Lydia were to be supported in tolerable independence,

But how little of permanent happiness could belong to a couple who were only brought together because their passions were stronger than their virtue,