e,norI,thoughtitnecessarytomakeourknowledgepublic;forofwhatusecoulditapparentlybetoanyone,thatthegoodopinionwhichalltheneighbourhoodhadofhimshouldthenbeoverthrrdieve,wasfarenoughfrommythoughts.”

    “WhentheyallremovedtoBrighton,therefore,youhadnoreason,Isuppose,tobelievethemfondofeachother?”

    “Nottheslightest.Icanremembernosymptomofaffectiononeitherside;andhadanythingofthekindbeenperceptible,youmustbeawhim;orthefirsttwomonths;butheneverdistinguishedherbyanyparticularattention;and,consequently,afteramoderateperiodofextravagantandwildadmiration,herfancyforhimgaveway,andothersoftheregiment,whotreatedherwithmoredistinction,againbecameherfavourites.”

    Itmaybeeasilybelieved,thathoweverlittleofnoveltycouldbeaddedtotheirfears,hopes,andconjectures,onthisinterestingsubject,byitsrepeateddiscussion,noothercthekeenestofallanguish,self-reproach,shecouldfindnointervalofeaseorfetfulness.

    Theytravelledasexpeditiouslyaspossible,and,sleepingoneniavebeenweariedbylongexpectations.

    ThelittleGardiners,attractedbythesightofachaise,werestandingonthestepsofthehouseastheyenteredthepaddock;and,whenthecarriagedroveuptothedoor,thejoyfulsurprisethatlighteduptheirfaces,anddisplayeditselfovertheirwholebodies,inavarietyofcapersandfrisks,wasthefirstpleasingearnestoftheirwele.

    Elizabethjumpedout;and,aftergivingeachofthemahastykiss,hurriedintothevestibule,whereJane,whocamerunningdownfromhermother'sapartment,immediatelymether.

    Elizabeth,assheaffectionatelyembracedher,whilsttearsfilledtheeyesofboth,lostnotamomentinaskingwhetheranythingell.”

    “Ismyfatherintown?”

    “Yes,hewentonTuesday,asIwroteyouword.”

    “Andhinsafety,andtothingofimportancetomention.”

    “Andmymother―howisshe?Howareyouall?”

    “Mymotheristolerablywell,Itrust;w,assuredherofherbeingperfectlywell;th,withalternatesmilesandtears.

    Whentheywereallinthedrawing-room,thequestionswhichElizabethhadalreadyaskedwereofcourserepeatedbytheotheartsuggestedhadnotyetdesertedher;shestillexpectedthatitwouldallendwell,andthateverymorningwouldbringsomeletter,eitherfromLydiaorherfather,toexplainthes'conversationtogether,receivedthemexactlyasmightbeexpected;withtearsandlamentationsofregret,invectivesagainstthevillainousconductofWickham,andplaintsofherownsufferingsandill-usage;blamingeverybodybutthepersontowhoseill-judgingindulgencetheerrorsofherdaughtermustprincipallybeowing.

    “IfIhadbeenable,”saidshe,“tocarrymypointingoingtoBrighton,withallmyfamily,thiswouldnothavehappened;suretherewassomegreatneglectorotherontheirside,forsheisnotthekindr;hewillfightWickham,whereverhemeetshimandthenhewillbekilled,andwhatistobeeofusall?TheCollinseswillturnusoutbeforeheiscoldinhisgrave,andifyouarenotkindtous,brother,Idonotknowwhatweshalldo.”

    Theyallexclaimedagainstsuchterrificideas;allherfamily,toldherthathe