Pagina 665 de 817

There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother could

neither of them talk fast enough; and Wickham, who happened to

sit near Elizabeth, began inquiring after his acquaintance in

that neighbourhood, with a good-humoured ease, which she felt

very unable to equal in her replies. They seemed each of them to

have the happiest memories in the world. Nothing of the past was

recollected with pain; and Lydia led voluntarily to subjects

which her sisters would not have alluded to for the world.

"Only think of its being three months," she cried, "since I went

away: it seems but a fortnight, I declare; and yet there have

been things enough happened in the time. Good gracious! when I

went away, I am sure I had no more idea of being married till I

came back again! though I thought it would be very good fun if I

was."