Lydia had the prejudices of her class, and her judgment went full against Egremont from the outset.

He had encouraged secret meetings, the kind of thing to be expected.

He must have known perfectly what a blow he was preparing for Gilbert, if the fact of these meetings should be discovered.

What did he care for that?
His selfishness was proof against every scruple, no doubt.
She could not argue as an educated person might have done.

Egremont's zeal in his various undertakings made no plea for his character, in her mind.