Pagina 584 van 817

Surprise was the least of all her feelings on this development.

While the contents of the first letter remained on her mind, she

was all surprise, all astonishment, that Wickham should marry a

girl whom it was impossible he could marry for money; and how

Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared incomprehensible.

But now it was all too natural. For such an attachment as this,

she might have sufficient charms; and though she did not suppose

Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement, without the

intention of marriage, she had no difficulty in believing that

neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from

falling an easy prey.