affair has taken place, it is said that he left Meryton greatly in debt:

but I hope this may be false.”
“Oh, Jane, had we been less secret, had we told what we knew of him,

this could not have happened!”
“Perhaps it would have been better,” replied her sister.
“But to expose the former faults of any person, without knowing what

their present feelings were, seemed unjustifiable.”
“We acted with the best intentions.”
“Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia’s note to his

wife?”
“He brought it with him for us to see.”
Jane then took it from her pocket-book, and gave it to Elizabeth. These

were the contents:—
“My dear Harriet,
“You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help

laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am

missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with

who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the

world I love, and he is an angel. I should never be happy without

him, so think it no harm to be off. You need not send them word at

Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it will make the

surprise the greater when I write to them, and sign my name Lydia

Wickham. What a good joke it will be! I can hardly write for

laughing. Pray make my excuses to Pratt for not keeping my

engagement, and dancing with him to-night.{357} Tell him I hope he will

excuse me when he knows all, and tell him I will dance with him at

the next ball we meet with great pleasure. I shall send for my

clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell Sally to

mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed

up. Good-bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you will

drink to our good journey.


“Your affectionate friend,


“Lydia Bennet.”

“Oh, thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!” cried Elizabeth when she had

finished it. “What a letter is this, to be written at such a moment! But