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"Upon my word," said Mrs. Gardiner, "I begin to be of your

uncle's opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency,

honour, and interest, for him to be guilty of it. I cannot think

so very ill of Wickham. Can you, yourself, Lizzie, so wholly give

him up, as to believe him capable of it?"

"Not perhaps of neglecting his own interest. But of every other

neglect I can believe him capable. If, indeed, it should be so!

But I dare not hope it. Why should they not go on to Scotland, if

that had been the case?"

"In the first place," replied Mr. Gardiner, "there is no absolute

proof that they are not gone to Scotland."

"Oh, but their removing from the chaise into a hackney coach is

such a presumption! And, besides, no traces of them were to be

found on the Barnet road."