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"You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help

laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I

am missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess

with who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man

in the world I love, and he is an angel. I should never be happy

without him, so think it no harm to be off. You need not send

them word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it

will make the surprise the greater when I write to them, and sign

my name Lydia Wickham. What a good joke it will be! I can hardly

write for laughing. Pray make my excuses to Pratt for not keeping

my engagement, and dancing with him to-night. Tell him I hope he

will excuse me when he knows all, and tell him I will dance with

him at the next ball we meet with great pleasure. I shall send

for my clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell

Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they

are packed up. Good-bye.