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.”
“Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality,especially on Lydia's side,but nothing to give him any alarm.I am so grieved for him!His behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost.He was coming to us,in order to assure us of his concern,before he had any idea of their not being gone to Scotland:when that apprehension first got abroad,it hastened his journey.”
Elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement,but was too much oppressed to make any reply.Mary,however,continued to console herself with such kind of moral extractions from the evil before them.
“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.”