“I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out,if possible,from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment, whether Wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to know in what part of town he has now concealed himself. If there were anyone that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a clue as that,it might be of essential consequence. At present we have nothing to guide us. Colonel Forster will, I dare say,do everything in his power to satisfy us on this head.But, on second thoughts,perhaps,Lizzy could tell us what relations he has now living,better than any other person.”
When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting, to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could,to the great consolation of his sister,who considered it as the only security for her husband's not being killed in a duel.
“MY DEAR SIR,
All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months before,had been almost an angel of light.He was declared to be in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues, all honoured with the title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family.Everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world; and everybody began to find out that they had always distrusted the appearance of his goodness.Elizabeth,though she did not credit above half of what was said,believed enough to make her former assurance of her sister's ruin more certain;and even Jane,who believed still less of it, became almost hopeless, more especially as the time was now come when,if they had gone to Scotland,which she had never before entirely despaired of, they must in all probability have gained some news of them.