“Do not give way to useless alarm,”added he;“though it is right to be prepared for the worst,there is no occasion to look on it as certain.It is not quite a week since they left Brighton.In a few days more,we may gain some news of them;and till we know that they are not married,and have no design of marrying,do not let us give the matter over as lost.As soon as I get to town I shall go to my brother,and make him come home with me to Gracechurch Street;and then we may consult together as to what is to be done.”

In the afternoon,the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for half-an-hour by themselves; and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of the opportunity of making any inquiries, which Jane was equally eager to satisfy.After joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel of this event,which Elizabeth considered as all but certain,and Miss Bennet could not assert to be wholly impossible,the former continued the subject,by saying,“But tell me all and everything about it which I have not already heard. Give me further particulars.What did Colonel Forster say?Had they no apprehension of anything before the elopement took place?They must have seen them together for ever.”