It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips,the Lucases,and all their other neighbours,and to hear herself called“Mrs.Wickham”by each of them;and in the mean time,she went after dinner to show her ring,and boast of being married,to Mrs.Hill and the two housemaids.
“Ah!Jane,I take your place now,and you must go lower,because I am a married woman.”
“Very true;and if I had my will,we should.But my dear Lydia,I don't at all like your going such a way off.Must it be so?”
“Only think of its being three months,”she cried,“since I went away;it seems but a fortnight I declare;and yet there have been things enough happened in the time.Good gracious!When I went away,I am sure I had no more idea of being married till I came back again!Though I thought it would be very good fun if I was.”Her father lifted up his eye