Mary nodded thoughtfully. “More worrying still, Mr Wickham appears eager to encourage her.”
Elizabeth looked at her with renewed interest. “You have observed it as well?”
“I have observed several things,” Mary replied.
Jane looked surprised. “Indeed?”
Mary sat very straight in her chair. “I do not wish to speak uncharitably of anyone,” she said. “But I have long thought that Mr Wickham’s manners, though pleasing, are perhaps too easily admired.”
Elizabeth laughed softly. “That is a delicate way of putting it.”
“I only mean,” Mary continued, “that I do not think any sincere person can be so charming to everyone he meets. Jane, Lizzy, you are popular with our neighbours, but you do not go about playing court to everybody as he does. And — how shall I put this? — he seems particularly attentive where admiration is most easily obtained.”
Jane considered this. “You believe he encourages Lydia intentionally?”
“Everyone enjoyed being admired,” Mary said carefully, “but Mr Wickham takes this too far. Whywould he be so very determined to be charming if he did not mean to take advantage?”
Elizabeth leaned back in her chair. “I think you are right, Mary. I only wish I could disagree, but I cannot.”
“Nor I,” Jane admitted sadly.
For a moment, the three sisters were silent.
“Perhaps we should seek advice,” Mary said quietly.
Elizabeth looked at her. “From whom?”
Mary lowered her eyes briefly, though not before Elizabeth noticed the faint colour rising in her cheeks. “There is one person whose judgement might be trusted,” she said softly.
“I believe you mean Mr Greene,” Jane remarked.
Mary looked startled. “How did you know?”
Jane smiled. “You speak of him whenever moral guidance is required. And also in many other circumstances, ever since he first took over the parish.”
At that, Elizabeth could not resist a small laugh.
Mary looked composed, though the colour in her cheeks deepened slightly. “Mr Greene is a sensible man,” she said with dignity. “And as the parsonof Meryton Church, he is naturally concerned with the welfare of the neighbourhood. It is only natural that I would think of him.”
Elizabeth nodded. “That is very true,” she said solemnly, careful not to injure her sister’s dignity further.
Mary continued eagerly, “If I were to speak with him privately and explain that we have reason to be concerned about a particular officer’s influence in the town, he might advise us how best to proceed.”
Jane looked thoughtful. “He is certainly a kind man.”
“And a very respectable one,” Mary added quickly.
Elizabeth smiled. “Yes, I believe we should all approve of him extremely.”
Mary looked down at the book in her hands. “I only wish to act prudently.”
Elizabeth leaned forward. “No, Mary, you wish to act usefully. And rightly so.”
Mary’s expression softened slightly at that. “Then you approve?”
“I do.”
Jane nodded as well. “Yes. Mr Greene would certainly treat the matter with discretion.”
