Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 462 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 462

JANE AUSTEN

“Upon my word,” said Mrs. Gardiner, “I begin to be

of your uncle’s opinion. It is really too great a violation

of decency, honour, and interest, for him to be guilty of.

I cannot think so very ill of Wickham. Can you yourself,

Lizzy, so wholly give him up, as to believe him capable

of it?”

“Not, perhaps, of neglecting his own interest; but of

every other neglect I can believe him capable. If, indeed,

it should be so! But I dare not hope it. Why should they

not go on to Scotland if that had been the case?”

“In the first place,” replied Mr. Gardiner, “there is no

absolute proof that they are not gone to Scotland.”

“Oh! but their removing from the chaise into a

hackney coach is such a presumption! And, besides, no

traces of them were to be found on the Barnet road.”

“Well, thensupposing them to be in London. They

may be there, though for the purpose of concealment,

for no more exceptionable purpose. It is not likely

that money should be very abundant on either side;

and it might strike them that they could be more

economically, though less expeditiously, married in

London than in Scotland.”

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