Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 528 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 528

JANE AUSTEN

first object with her, he acknowledged, had been to

persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation,

and return to her friends as soon as they could be

prevailed on to receive her, offering his assistance, as far

as it would go. But he found Lydia absolutely resolved

on remaining where she was. She cared for none of

her friends; she wanted no help of his; she would not

hear of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be

married some time or other, and it did not much signify

when. Since such were her feelings, it only remained,

he thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which,

in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily

learnt had never been his design. He confessed himself

obliged to leave the regiment, on account of some debts

of honour, which were very pressing; and scrupled not

to lay all the ill-consequences of Lydia’s flight on her

own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission

immediately; and as to his future situation, he could

conjecture very little about it. He must go somewhere,

but he did not know where, and he knew he should have

nothing to live on.

“Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married your

sister at once. Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined to

be very rich, he would have been able to do something

for him, and his situation must have been benefited by

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