Page 465 of 817

But of this answer Lydia heard not a word. She seldom listened to

anybody for more than half a minute, and never attended to Mary

at all.

In the afternoon Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to

walk to Meryton, and see how everybody went on; but Elizabeth

steadily opposed the scheme. It should not be said, that the Miss

Bennets could not be at home half a day before they were in

pursuit of the officers. There was another reason, too, for her

opposition. She dreaded seeing Wickham again, and was resolved to

avoid it as long as possible. The comfort to her, of the

regiment's approaching removal, was indeed beyond expression. In

a fortnight they were to go, and once gone, she hoped there could

be nothing more to plague her on his account.