第679页 / 共817页

Wickham, indeed, had gone to her on their first arrival in

London; and had she been able to receive them into her house,

they would have taken up their abode with her. At length,

however, our kind friend procured the wished-for direction. They

were in ---- Street. He saw Wickham, and afterwards insisted on

seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he acknowledged, had

been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation,

and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on

to receive her, offering his assistance as far as it would go.

But he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she

was. She cared for none of her friends; she wanted no help of

his; she would not hear of leaving Wickham. She was sure they

should be married some time or other, and it did not much signify

when.