Гордість і упередження

           Elizabeth,thoughshedidnotcreditabovehalfofwhatwassaid,believedenoughtomakeherformerassuranceofhersister’sruinmorecertain; andevenJane,whobelievedstilllessofit,becamealmosthopeless,moreespeciallyasthetimewasnowcomewhen,iftheyhadgonetoScotland,whichshehadneverbeforeentirelydespairedof,theymustinallprobabilityhavegainedsomenewsofthem. 

           Mr.GardinerleftLongbournonSunday; onTuesdayhiswifereceivedaletterfromhim;ittoldthemthat,onhisarrival,hehadimmediatelyfoundouthisbrother,andpersuadedhimtocometoGracechurchStreet; thatMr.BennethadbeentoEpsomandClapham,beforehisarrival,butwithoutgaininganysatisfactoryinformation; andthathewasnowdeterminedtoinquireatalltheprincipalhotelsintown,asMr.Bennetthoughtitpossibletheymighthavegonetooneofthem,ontheirfirstcomingtoLondon,beforetheyprocuredlodgings. Mr.Gardinerhimselfdidnotexpectanysuccessfromthismeasure,butashisbrotherwaseagerinit,hemeanttoassisthiminpursuingit. HeaddedthatMr.BennetseemedwhollydisinclinedatpresenttoleaveLondonandpromisedtowriteagainverysoon. Therewasalsoapostscripttothiseffect: 

           "IhavewrittentoColonelForstertodesirehimtofindout,ifpossible,fromsomeoftheyoungman’sintimatesintheregiment,whetherWickhamhasanyrelationsorconnectionswhowouldbelikelytoknowinwhatpartoftownhehasnowconcealedhimself. Iftherewereanyonethatonecouldapplytowithaprobabilityofgainingsuchaclueasthat,itmightbeofessentialconsequence. Atpresentwehavenothingtoguideus. ColonelForsterwill,Idaresay,doeverythinginhispowertosatisfyusonthishead. But,onsecondthoughts,perhaps,Lizzycouldtelluswhatrelationshehasnowliving,betterthananyotherperson."