Chapter 51

by Jane Austen

　　Their sister's wedding day arrived; and Jane and Elizabeth feltfor her probably more than she felt for herself. The carriagewas sent to meet them at ----, and they were to return in it bydinner-time. Their arrival was dreaded by the elder MissBennets, and Jane more especially, who gave Lydia the feelingswhich would have attended herself, had she been the culprit,and was wretched in the thought of what her sister must endure.They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room toreceive them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as thecarriage drove up to the door; her husband looked impenetrablygrave; her daughters, alarmed, anxious, uneasy.Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrownopen, and she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards,embraced her, and welcomed her with rapture; gave her hand,with an affectionate smile, to Wickham, who followed his lady;and wished them both joy with an alacrity which shewed no doubtof their happiness.Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned,was not quite so cordial. His countenance rather gained inausterity; and he scarcely opened his lips. The easyassurance of the young couple, indeed, was enough to provokehim. Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet wasshocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild,noisy, and fearless. She turned from sister to sister,demanding their congratulations; and when at length they allsat down, looked eagerly round the room, took notice of somelittle alteration in it, and observed, with a laugh, that itwas a great while since she had been there.Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself, but hismanners were always so pleasing, that had his character and hismarriage been exactly what they ought, his smiles and his easyaddress, while he claimed their relationship, would havedelighted them all. Elizabeth had not before believed himquite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, resolvingwithin herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence ofan impudent man. She blushed, and Jane blushed; but thecheeks of the two who caused their confusion suffered novariation of colour.There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother couldneither of them talk fast enough; and Wickham, who happened tosit near Elizabeth, began enquiring after his acquaintance inthat neighbourhood, with a good humoured ease which she feltvery unable to equal in her replies. They seemed each of themto have the happiest memories in the world. Nothing of thepast was recollected with pain; and Lydia led voluntarily tosubjects which her sisters would not have alluded to for theworld."Only think of its being three months," she cried, "since Iwent away; it seems but a fortnight I declare; and yet therehave been things enough happened in the time. Good gracious!when I went away, I am sure I had no more idea of being marriedtill I came back again! though I thought it would be very goodfun if I was."Her father lifted up his eyes. Jane was distressed. Elizabethlooked expressively at Lydia; but she, who never heard nor sawany thing of which she chose to be insensible, gaily continued,"Oh! mamma, do the people here abouts know I am marriedto-day? I was afraid they might not; and we overtook WilliamGoulding in his curricle, so I was determined he should knowit, and so I let down the side-glass next to him, and took offmy glove, and let my hand just rest upon the window frame, sothat he might see the ring, and then I bowed and smiled likeany thing."Elizabeth could bear it no longer. She got up, and ran out ofthe room; and returned no more, till she heard them passingthrough the hall to the dining parlour. She then joined themsoon enough to see Lydia, with anxious parade, walk up to hermother's right hand, and hear her say to her eldest sister,"Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower,because I am a married woman."It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia thatembarrassment from which she had been so wholly free at first.Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs.Phillips, the Lucases, and all their other neighbours, and tohear herself called "Mrs. Wickham" by each of them; and in themean time, she went after dinner to shew her ring, and boast ofbeing married, to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids."Well, mamma," said she, when they were all returned to thebreakfast room, "and what do you think of my husband? Is nothe a charming man? I am sure my sisters must all envy me. Ionly hope they may have half my good luck. They must all go toBrighton. That is the place to get husbands. What a pity itis, mamma, we did not all go.""Very true; and if I had my will, we should. But my dearLydia, I don't at all like your going such a way off. Must itbe so?""Oh, lord! yes; -- there is nothing in that. I shall like itof all things. You and papa, and my sisters, must come downand see us. We shall be at Newcastle all the winter, and Idare say there will be some balls, and I will take care to getgood partners for them all.""I should like it beyond any thing!" said her mother."And then when you go away, you may leave one or two of mysisters behind you; and I dare say I shall get husbands forthem before the winter is over.""I thank you for my share of the favour," said Elizabeth;"but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands."Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them.Mr. Wickham had received his commission before he left London,and he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight.No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be soshort; and she made the most of the time by visiting about withher daughter, and having very frequent parties at home. Theseparties were acceptable to all; to avoid a family circle waseven more desirable to such as did think, than such as did not.Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth hadexpected to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She hadscarcely needed her present observation to be satisfied, fromthe reason of things, that their elopement had been brought onby the strength of her love, rather than by his; and she wouldhave wondered why, without violently caring for her, he choseto elope with her at all, had she not felt certain that hisflight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances; andif that were the case, he was not the young man to resist anopportunity of having a companion.Lydia was exceedingly fond of him. He was her dear Wickham onevery occasion; no one was to be put in competition with him.He did every thing best in the world; and she was sure he wouldkill more birds on the first of September, than any body elsein the country.One morning, soon after their arrival, as she was sitting withher two elder sisters, she said to Elizabeth,"Lizzy, I never gave you an account of my wedding, I believe.You were not by, when I told mamma and the others all about it.Are not you curious to hear how it was managed?""No really," replied Elizabeth; "I think there cannot be toolittle said on the subject.""La! You are so strange! But I must tell you how it went off.We were married, you know, at St. Clement's, because Wickham'slodgings were in that parish. And it was settled that weshould all be there by eleven o'clock. My uncle and aunt and Iwere to go together; and the others were to meet us at thechurch. Well, Monday morning came, and I was in such a fuss!I was so afraid, you know, that something would happen to putit off, and then I should have gone quite distracted. Andthere was my aunt, all the time I was dressing, preaching andtalking away just as if she was reading a sermon. However, Idid not hear above one word in ten, for I was thinking, you maysuppose, of my dear Wickham. I longed to know whether he wouldbe married in his blue coat.""Well, and so we breakfasted at ten as usual; I thought itwould never be over; for, by the bye, you are to understand,that my uncle and aunt were horrid unpleasant all the time Iwas with them. If you'll believe me, I did not once put myfoot out of doors, though I was there a fortnight. Not oneparty, or scheme, or any thing. To be sure London was ratherthin, but, however, the Little Theatre was open. Well, and sojust as the carriage came to the door, my uncle was called awayupon business to that horrid man Mr. Stone. And then, youknow, when once they get together, there is no end of it.Well, I was so frightened I did not know what to do, for myuncle was to give me away; and if we were beyond the hour, wecould not be married all day. But, luckily, he came back againin ten minutes' time, and then we all set out. However, Irecollected afterwards that if he had been prevented going,the wedding need not be put off, for Mr. Darcy might have doneas well.""Mr. Darcy!" repeated Elizabeth, in utter amazement."Oh, yes! -- he was to come there with Wickham, you know, Butgracious me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a wordabout it. I promised them so faithfully! What will Wickhamsay? It was to be such a secret!""If it was to be secret," said Jane, "say not another word onthe subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further.""Oh! certainly," said Elizabeth, though burning withcuriosity; "we will ask you no questions.""Thank you," said Lydia, "for if you did, I should certainlytell you all, and then Wickham would be angry."On such encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put itout of her power, by running away.But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or atleast it was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcyhad been at her sister's wedding. It was exactly a scene, andexactly among people, where he had apparently least to do, andleast temptation to go. Conjectures as to the meaning of it,rapid and wild, hurried into her brain; but she was satisfiedwith none. Those that best pleased her, as placing his conductin the noblest light, seemed most improbable. She could notbear such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, wrotea short letter to her aunt, to request an explanation of whatLydia had dropt, if it were compatible with the secrecy whichhad been intended."You may readily comprehend," she added, "what my curiositymust be to know how a person unconnected with any of us, and(comparatively speaking) a stranger to our family, should havebeen amongst you at such a time. Pray write instantly, and letme understand it -- unless it is, for very cogent reasons, toremain in the secrecy which Lydia seems to think necessary; andthen I must endeavour to be satisfied with ignorance.""Not that I shall, though," she added to herself, as shefinished the letter; "and my dear aunt, if you do not tell mein an honourable manner, I shall certainly be reduced to tricksand stratagems to find it out."Jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak toElizabeth privately of what Lydia had let fall; Elizabeth wasglad of it; -- till it appeared whether her inquiries wouldreceive any satisfaction, she had rather be without aconfidante.