Page 813 of 817

As it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not, she

endeavoured in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and

expectation of the kind. Such relief, however, as it was in her

power to afford, by the practice of what might be called economy

in her own private expenses, she frequently sent them. It had

always been evident to her that such an income as theirs, under

the direction of two persons so extravagant in their wants, and

heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to their

support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or

herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance

towards discharging their bills. Their manner of living, even

when the restoration of peace dismissed them to a home, was

unsettled in the extreme. They were always moving from place to

place in quest of a cheap situation, and always spending more

than they ought.