Chapter 51 301
" Well , and so we breakfasted at ten as usual ; I thought it would never be over ; for , by the bye , you are to understand , that my uncle and aunt were horrid unpleasant all the time I was with them . If you ' ll believe me , I did not once put my foot out of doors , though I was there a fortnight . Not one party , or scheme , or anything . To be sure London was rather thin , but , however , the Little Theatre was open . Well , and so just as the carriage came to the door , my uncle was called away upon business to that horrid man Mr . Stone . And then , you know , when once they get together , there is no end of it . Well , I was so frightened I did not know what to do , for my uncle was to give me away ; and if we were beyond the hour , we could not be married all day . But , luckily , he came back again in ten minutes ' time , and then we all set out . However , I recollected afterwards that if he had been prevented going , the wedding need not be put off , for Mr . Darcy might have done as well ."
" Mr . Darcy !" repeated Elizabeth , in utter amazement .
" Oh , yes ! --he was to come there with Wickham , you know . But gracious me ! I quite forgot ! I ought not to have said a word about it . I promised them so faithfully ! What will Wickham say ? It was to be such a secret !"
" If it was to be secret ," said Jane , " say not another word on the subject . You may depend upon my seeking no further ."
" Oh ! certainly ," said Elizabeth , though burning with curiosity ; " we will ask you no questions ."
" Thank you ," said Lydia , " for if you did , I should certainly tell you all , and then Wickham would be angry ."
On such encouragement to ask , Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her power , by running away .
But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible ; or at least it was impossible not to try for information . Mr . Darcy had been at her sister ' s wedding . It was exactly a scene , and exactly among people , where he had