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Pride & Prejudice – page 517

Pride and Prejudice

of an impudent man. She blushed, and Jane blushed;

but the cheeks of the two who caused their confusion

suffered no variation of colour.

There was no want of discourse. The bride and her

mother could neither of them talk fast enough; and

Wickham, who happened to sit near Elizabeth, began

inquiring after his acquaintance in that neighbourhood,

with a good-humoured ease which she felt very unable

to equal in her replies. They seemed each of them

to have the happiest memories in the world. Nothing

of the past was recollected with pain; and Lydia led

voluntarily to subjects which her sisters would not have

alluded to for the world.

“Only think of its being three months,” she cried,

“since I went away; it seems but a fortnight I declare;

and yet there have been things enough happened in the

time. Good gracious! when I went away, I am sure I had

no more idea of being married till I came back again!

though I thought it would be very good fun if I was.”

Her father lifted up his eyes. Jane was distressed.

Elizabeth looked expressively at Lydia; but she, who

never heard nor saw anything of which she chose to be

insensible, gaily continued, “Oh! mamma, do the people

hereabouts know I am married to-day? I was afraid they

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