hope of Wickham’s meaning to marry her. No one but Jane, she thought,

could flatter herself with such an expectation. Surprise was the least

of all her feelings on this development. While the contents of the first

letter remained on her mind, she was all surprise,{343} all astonishment,

that Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry

for money; and how Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared

incomprehensible. But now it was all too natural. For such an attachment

as this, she might have sufficient charms; and though she did not

suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement, without the

intention of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that neither

her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy

prey.
She had never perceived, while the regiment was in Hertfordshire, that

Lydia had any partiality for him; but she was convinced that Lydia had

wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody. Sometimes one

officer, sometimes another, had been her favourite, as their attentions

raised them in her opinion. Her affections had been continually

fluctuating, but never without an object. The mischief of neglect and

mistaken indulgence towards such a girl—oh! how acutely did she now

feel it!
She was wild to be at home—to hear, to see, to be upon the spot to

share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her, in a

family so deranged; a father absent, a mother incapable of exertion, and

requiring constant attendance; and though almost persuaded that nothing

could be done for Lydia, her uncle’s interference seemed of the utmost

importance, and till he entered the room the misery of her impatience

was severe. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing,

by the servant’s account, that their niece was taken suddenly ill; but

satisfying them instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the