, before he was able to
        discover them; but he had something to direct his search, which was more
        than we had; and the consciousness of this, was another reason for his
        resolving to follow us. There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who
        was some time ago governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her
        charge on some cause of disapprobation, though he did not say what. She
        then took a large house in Edward- street, and has since maintained
        herself by letting lodgings. This Mrs. Younge was, he knew, intimately
        acquainted with Wickham; and he went to her for intelligence of him, as
        soon as he got to town. But it was two or three days before he could get
        from her what he wanted. She would not betray her trust, I suppose,
        without bribery and corruption, for she really did know where her friend
        was to be found. Wickham indeed had gone to her, on their first arrival
        in London, and had she been able to receive them into her house, they
        would have taken up their abode with her. At length, however, our kind
        friend procured the wished-for direction. They were in -- street. He saw
        Wickham, and afterwards insisted on seeing Lydia. His first object with
        her, he acknowledged, had been to persuade her to quit her present
        disgraceful situation, and return to her friends as soon as they could
        be prevailed on to receive her, offering his assistance, as far as it
        would go. But he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she
        was. She cared for none of her friends, she wanted no help of his, she
        would not hear of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be married
        some time or other, and it did not much signify when. Since such were
        her feelings, it only remained, he thought, to secure and expedite a
        marriage, which, in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily
        learnt, had never been his design. He confessed himself obliged to leave
        the regiment, on account of some debts of honour, which were very
        pressing; and scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences of Lydia's
        flight, on her own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission
        immediately; and as to his future situation, he could conjecture very
        little about it. He must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he
        knew he should have nothing to live on. Mr. Darcy asked him why he had
        not married your sister at once. Though Mr
