Page 572 of 817

"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried

letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not

confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer

for being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would

write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed.

Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia

would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place,

for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to

Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton

the day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's

short letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were

going to Gretna Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing

his belief that W. never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia

at all, which was repeated to Colonel F., who, instantly taking

the alarm, set off from B., intending to trace their route.