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But wishes were vain; or, at best, could serve only to amuse her

in the hurry and confusion of the following hour. Had Elizabeth

been at leisure to be idle, she would have remained certain that

all employment was impossible to one so wretched as herself; but

she had her share of business as well as her aunt, and amongst

the rest there were notes to be written to all their friends at

Lambton, with false excuses for their sudden departure. An hour,

however, saw the whole completed; and Mr. Gardiner, meanwhile,

having settled his account at the inn, nothing remained to be

done but to go; and Elizabeth, after all the misery of the

morning, found herself, in a shorter space of time than she could

have supposed, seated in the carriage, and on the road to

Longbourn.

CHAPTER XLVII.