apparently be to anyone, that the good opinion, which all the

neighbourhood had of him, should then be overthrown? And even when it

was settled that Lydia should go with Mrs. Forster, the necessity of

opening her eyes to his character never occurred to me. That she could

be in any danger from the deception never entered my head. That such a

consequence as this should ensue, you may easily believe was far

enough from my thoughts.”
“When they all removed to Brighton, therefore, you had no reason, I

suppose, to believe them fond of each other?”
“Not the slightest. I can remember no symptom of affection on either

side; and had anything of the kind been perceptible, you must be aware

that ours is not a family on which it could be thrown away. When first

he entered the corps, she was ready enough to admire him; but so we all

were. Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about him for

the first two months: but he never distinguished her by any particular

attention; and, consequently, after a moderate period of extravagant and

wild admiration, her fancy for him gave way, and others of the regiment,

who treated her with more distinction, again became her favourites.”
It may be easily believed, that however little of novelty could be added

to their fears, hopes, and conjectures, on this interesting subject by

its repeated discussion, no other could detain them from it long, during

the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth’s thoughts it was never absent.

Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish,{350} self-reproach, she could

find no interval of ease or forgetfulness.
They travelled as expeditiously as possible; and sleeping one night on

the road, reached Longbourn by dinnertime the next day. It was a comfort

to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not have been wearied by long

expectations.
The little Gardiners, attracted by the sight of a chaise, were standing

on the steps of the house, as they entered the paddock; and when the