Ch.49:

- "I will go to Meryton," said (Mrs. Bennet), "as soon as I am dressed, and tell the good, good news to my sister Phillips. And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long... Oh! here comes Hill! My dear Hill, have you heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married..."

Ch.50:

- The good news quickly spread through the house, and with proportionate speed through the neighbourhood. It was borne in the latter with decent philosophy. To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant farm house. But there was much to be talked of in marrying her; and the good-natured wishes of her well-doing which had proceeded before from all the spiteful old ladies in Meryton, lost but little of their spirit in this change of circumstances, because with such an husband her misery was considered certain. (This shows the nasty side of gossip, doesn't it, even while being funny! - L.)

Ch.51:

- Lydia: "Oh! mamma, do the people here abouts know I am married to-day? I was afraid they might not; and we overtook William Goulding in his curricle, so I was determined he should know it, and so I let down the side-glass next to him, and took off my glove and let my hand just rest upon the window-frame, so that he might see the ring; and then I bowed and smiled like anything."

- (Lydia) went after dinner to shew her ring, and boast of being married, to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids. (These two examples are not gossip as such, but we know what's going to happen next, and why Lydia made sure that William Goulding saw her ring! - L.)

- Lydia: "...if (Uncle Gardiner) had been prevented going, the wedding need not be put off, for Mr. Darcy might have done as well."

Ch.52:

- Elizabeth to Wickham: "(Mrs. Reynolds said) that you were gone into the army, and, she was afraid, had -- not turned out well. At such a distance as that, you know, things are strangely misrepresented."

- Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot.

She had *no fear* of its spreading farther through his means. There were few people on whose secrecy she would have more confidently depended.