Chapter 47

           Ihavebeenthinkingitoveragain,Elizabeth,"saidheruncle,astheydrovefromthetown;"andreally,uponseriousconsideration,IammuchmoreinclinedthanIwastojudgeasyoureldestsisterdoesonthematter. Itappearstomesoveryunlikelythatanyyoungmanshouldformsuchadesignagainstagirlwhoisbynomeansunprotectedorfriendless,andwhowasactuallystayinginhiscolonel’sfamily,thatIamstronglyinclinedtohopethebest. Couldheexpectthatherfriendswouldnotstepforward? Couldheexpecttobenoticedagainbytheregiment,aftersuchanaffronttoColonelForster? Histemptationisnotadequatetotherisk!" 

           "Doyoureallythinkso?"criedElizabeth,brighteningupforamoment. 

           "Uponmyword,"saidMrs.Gardiner,"Ibegintobeofyouruncle’sopinion. Itisreallytoogreataviolationofdecency,honour,andinterest,forhimtobeguiltyof. IcannotthinksoveryillofWickham. Canyouyourself,Lizzy,sowhollygivehimup,astobelievehimcapableofit?" 

           "Not,perhaps,ofneglectinghisowninterest; butofeveryotherneglectIcanbelievehimcapable. If,indeed,itshouldbeso! ButIdarenothopeit. WhyshouldtheynotgoontoScotlandifthathadbeenthecase?" 

           "Inthefirstplace,"repliedMr.Gardiner,"thereisnoabsoluteproofthattheyarenotgonetoScotland." 

           "Oh!buttheirremovingfromthechaiseintoahackneycoachissuchapresumption! And,besides,notracesofthemweretobefoundontheBarnetroad." 

           "Well,then—supposingthemtobeinLondon. Theymaybethere,thoughforthepurposeofconcealment,fornomoreexceptionalpurpose.