Chapter 47 266
" But why all this secrecy ? Why any fear of detection ? Why must their marriage be private ? Oh , no , no--this is not likely . His most particular friend , you see by Jane ' s account , was persuaded of his never intending to marry her . Wickham will never marry a woman without some money . He cannot afford it . And what claims has Lydia--what attraction has she beyond youth , health , and good humour that could make him , for her sake , forego every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well ? As to what restraint the apprehensions of disgrace in the corps might throw on a dishonourable elopement with her , I am not able to judge ; for I know nothing of the effects that such a step might produce . But as to your other objection , I am afraid it will hardly hold good . Lydia has no brothers to step forward ; and he might imagine , from my father ' s behaviour , from his indolence and the little attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going forward in his family , that he would do as little , and think as little about it , as any father could do , in such a matter ."
" But can you think that Lydia is so lost to everything but love of him as to consent to live with him on any terms other than marriage ?"
" It does seem , and it is most shocking indeed ," replied Elizabeth , with tears in her eyes , " that a sister ' s sense of decency and virtue in such a point should admit of doubt . But , really , I know not what to say . Perhaps I am not doing her justice . But she is very young ; she has never been taught to think on serious subjects ; and for the last half-year , nay , for a twelvemonth--she has been given up to nothing but amusement and vanity . She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle and frivolous manner , and to adopt any opinions that came in her way . Since the ----shire were first quartered in Meryton , nothing but love , flirtation , and officers have been in her head . She has been doing everything in her power by thinking and talking on the subject , to give greater--what shall I call it ? susceptibility to her feelings ; which are naturally lively enough . And we all know that Wickham has every charm of person and address that can captivate a woman ."
" But you see that Jane ," said her aunt , " does not think so very ill of Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt ."