Jane Austen
Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad
news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the 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. He did trace them easily to Clapham,
but no further; for on entering that place, they removed into a hackney coach, and dismissed
the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is, that they were seen
to continue the London road
annaabi.ee 
