Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added,“Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable; that one false step involves her in endless ruin;that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful;and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex.”

“This is a most unfortunate affair, and will probably be much talked of.But we must stem the tide of malice,and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation.”

In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who had been too busily engaged in their separate apartments to make their appearance before.One came from her books,and the other from her toilette.The faces of both,however,were tolerably calm;and no change was visible in either,except that the loss of her favourite sister,or the anger which she had herself incurred in this business,had given more of fretfulness than usual to the accents of Kitty.As for Mary,she was mistress enough of herself to whisper to Elizabeth,with a countenance of grave reflection, soon after they were seated at table: