"Sincewritingtheabove, dearestLizzy, somethinghasoccurredof a mostunexpectedandseriousnature; but I amafraidofalarmingyou—beassuredthatweareallwell. What I havetosayrelatestopoorLydia. Anexpresscameattwelvelastnight, justaswewereallgonetobed, fromColonelForster, toinformusthatshewasgoneofftoScotlandwithoneofhisofficers; toownthetruth, withWickham! Imagineoursurprise. ToKitty, however, itdoesnotseemsowhollyunexpected. I amvery, verysorry. Soimprudent a matchonbothsides! But I amwillingtohopethebest, andthathischaracterhasbeenmisunderstood. Thoughtlessandindiscreet I caneasilybelievehim, butthisstep (andletusrejoiceoverit) marksnothingbadatheart. Hischoiceisdisinterestedatleast, forhemustknowmyfathercangivehernothing. Ourpoormotherissadlygrieved. Myfatherbearsitbetter. Howthankfulam I thatweneverletthemknowwhathasbeensaidagainsthim; wemustforgetitourselves. TheywereoffSaturdaynightabouttwelve, asisconjectured, butwerenotmissedtillyesterdaymorningateight. Theexpresswassentoffdirectly. MydearLizzy, theymusthavepassedwithintenmilesofus. ColonelForstergivesusreasontoexpecthimheresoon. Lydialeft a fewlinesforhiswife, informingheroftheirintention. I mustconclude, for I cannotbelongfrommypoormother. I amafraidyouwillnotbeabletomakeitout, but I hardlyknowwhat I havewritten."
3
Withoutallowingherselftimeforconsideration, andscarcelyknowingwhatshefelt, Elizabethonfinishingthisletterinstantlyseizedtheother, andopeningitwiththeutmostimpatience, readasfollows: ithadbeenwritten a daylaterthantheconclusionofthefirst.
4
"Bythistime, mydearestsister, youhavereceivedmyhurriedletter; I wishthismaybemoreintelligible, butthoughnotconfinedfortime, myheadissobewilderedthat I cannotanswerforbeingcoherent. DearestLizzy, I hardlyknowwhat I wouldwrite, but I havebadnewsforyou, anditcannotbedelayed. ImprudentasthemarriagebetweenMr. WickhamandourpoorLydiawouldbe, wearenowanxioustobeassuredithastakenplace, forthereisbuttoomuchreasontofeartheyarenotgonetoScotland. ColonelForstercameyesterday, havingleftBrightonthedaybefore, notmanyhoursaftertheexpress. ThoughLydia's shortlettertoMrs. F. gavethemtounderstandthattheyweregoingtoGretnaGreen, somethingwasdroppedbyDennyexpressinghisbeliefthat W. neverintendedtogothere, ortomarryLydiaatall, whichwasrepeatedtoColonel F., who, instantlytakingthealarm, setofffrom B. intendingtotracetheirroute. HedidtracethemeasilytoClapham, butnofurther; foronenteringthatplace, theyremovedinto a hackneycoach, anddismissedthechaisethatbroughtthemfromEpsom. Allthatisknownafterthisis, thattheywereseentocontinuetheLondonroad. I knownotwhattothink. AftermakingeverypossibleinquiryonthatsideLondon, Colonel F. cameonintoHertfordshire, anxiouslyrenewingthematalltheturnpikes, andattheinnsinBarnetandHatfield, butwithoutanysuccess—nosuchpeoplehadbeenseentopassthrough. WiththekindestconcernhecameontoLongbourn, andbrokehisapprehensionstousin a mannermostcreditabletohisheart. I amsincerelygrievedforhimandMrs. F., butnoonecanthrowanyblameonthem. Ourdistress, mydearLizzy, isverygreat. Myfatherandmotherbelievetheworst, but I cannotthinksoillofhim. Manycircumstancesmightmakeitmoreeligibleforthemtobemarriedprivatelyintownthantopursuetheirfirstplan; andevenifhecouldformsuch a designagainst a youngwomanofLydia's connections, whichisnotlikely, can I supposehersolosttoeverything? Impossible! I grievetofind, however, thatColonel F. isnotdisposedtodependupontheirmarriage; heshookhisheadwhen I expressedmyhopes, andsaidhefeared W. wasnot a mantobetrusted. Mypoormotherisreallyill, andkeepsherroom. Couldsheexertherself, itwouldbebetter; butthisisnottobeexpected. Andastomyfather, I neverinmylifesawhimsoaffected. PoorKittyhasangerforhavingconcealedtheirattachment; butasitwas a matterofconfidence, onecannotwonder. I amtrulyglad, dearestLizzy, thatyouhavebeensparedsomethingofthesedistressingscenes; butnow, asthefirstshockisover, shall I ownthat I longforyourreturn? I amnotsoselfish, however, astopressforit, ifinconvenient. Adieu! I takeupmypenagaintodowhat I havejusttoldyou I wouldnot; butcircumstancesaresuchthat I cannothelpearnestlybeggingyoualltocomehereassoonaspossible. I knowmydearuncleandauntsowell, that I amnotafraidofrequestingit, though I havestillsomethingmoretoaskoftheformer. MyfatherisgoingtoLondonwithColonelForsterinstantly, totrytodiscoverher. Whathemeanstodo I amsure I knownot; buthisexcessivedistresswillnotallowhimtopursueanymeasureinthebestandsafestway, andColonelForsterisobligedtobeatBrightonagainto-morrowevening. Insuchanexigence, myuncle's adviceandassistancewouldbeeverythingintheworld; hewillimmediatelycomprehendwhat I mustfeel, and I relyuponhisgoodness."
5
"Oh! where, whereismyuncle?" criedElizabeth, dartingfromherseatasshefinishedtheletter, ineagernesstofollowhim, withoutlosing a momentofthetimesoprecious; butasshereachedthedooritwasopenedby a servant, andMr. Darcyappeared. Herpalefaceandimpetuousmannermadehimstart, andbeforehecouldrecoverhimselftospeak, she, inwhosemindeveryideawassupersededbyLydia's situation, hastilyexclaimed, "I begyourpardon, but I mustleaveyou. I mustfindMr. Gardinerthismoment, onbusinessthatcannotbedelayed; I havenotaninstanttolose."
6
"GoodGod! whatisthematter?" criedhe, withmorefeelingthanpoliteness; thenrecollectinghimself, "I willnotdetainyou a minute; butletme, orlettheservantgoafterMr. andMrs. Gardiner. Youarenotwellenough; youcannotgoyourself."
Onhisquittingtheroomshesatdown, unabletosupportherself, andlookingsomiserablyill, thatitwasimpossibleforDarcytoleaveher, ortorefrainfromsaying, in a toneofgentlenessandcommiseration, "Letmecallyourmaid. Istherenothingyoucouldtaketogiveyoupresentrelief? A glassofwine; shall I getyouone? Youareveryill."
9
"No, I thankyou," shereplied, endeavouringtorecoverherself. "Thereisnothingthematterwithme. I amquitewell; I amonlydistressedbysomedreadfulnewswhich I havejustreceivedfromLongbourn."
10
Sheburstintotearsasshealludedtoit, andfor a fewminutescouldnotspeakanotherword. Darcy, inwretchedsuspense, couldonlysaysomethingindistinctlyofhisconcern, andobserveherincompassionatesilence. Atlengthshespokeagain. "I havejusthad a letterfromJane, withsuchdreadfulnews. Itcannotbeconcealedfromanyone. Myyoungersisterhasleftallherfriends—haseloped; hasthrownherselfintothepowerof—ofMr. Wickham. TheyaregoneofftogetherfromBrighton. Youknowhimtoowelltodoubttherest. Shehasnomoney, noconnections, nothingthatcantempthimto—sheislostforever."
11
Darcywasfixedinastonishment. "When I consider," sheaddedin a yetmoreagitatedvoice, "that I mighthavepreventedit! I, whoknewwhathewas. Had I butexplainedsomepartofitonly—somepartofwhat I learnt, tomyownfamily! Hadhischaracterbeenknown, thiscouldnothavehappened. Butitisall—alltoolatenow."
12
"I amgrievedindeed," criedDarcy; "grieved—shocked. Butisitcertain—absolutelycertain?"
"MyfatherisgonetoLondon, andJanehaswrittentobegmyuncle's immediateassistance; andweshallbeoff, I hope, inhalf-an-hour. Butnothingcanbedone—I knowverywellthatnothingcanbedone. Howissuch a mantobeworkedon? Howaretheyeventobediscovered? I havenotthesmallesthope. Itiseverywayhorrible!"
16
Darcyshookhisheadinsilentacquiescence.
17
"Whenmyeyeswereopenedtohisrealcharacter—Oh! had I knownwhat I ought, what I daredtodo! But I knewnot—I wasafraidofdoingtoomuch. Wretched, wretchedmistake!"
Butself, thoughitwouldintrude, couldnotengrossher. Lydia—thehumiliation, themiseryshewasbringingonthemall, soonswallowedupeveryprivatecare; andcoveringherfacewithherhandkerchief, Elizabethwassoonlosttoeverythingelse; and, after a pauseofseveralminutes, wasonlyrecalledto a senseofhersituationbythevoiceofhercompanion, who, in a mannerwhich, thoughitspokecompassion, spokelikewiserestraint, said, "I amafraidyouhavebeenlongdesiringmyabsence, norhave I anythingtopleadinexcuseofmystay, butreal, thoughunavailingconcern. WouldtoHeaventhatanythingcouldbeeithersaidordoneonmypartthatmightofferconsolationtosuchdistress! But I willnottormentyouwithvainwishes, whichmayseempurposelytoaskforyourthanks. Thisunfortunateaffairwill, I fear, preventmysister's havingthepleasureofseeingyouatPemberleyto-day."
20
"Oh, yes. BesokindastoapologiseforustoMissDarcy. Saythaturgentbusinesscallsushomeimmediately. Concealtheunhappytruthaslongasitispossible, I knowitcannotbelong."
21
Hereadilyassuredherofhissecrecy; againexpressedhissorrowforherdistress, wishedit a happierconclusionthantherewasatpresentreasontohope, andleavinghiscomplimentsforherrelations, withonlyoneserious, partinglook, wentaway.
22
Ashequittedtheroom, ElizabethfelthowimprobableitwasthattheyshouldeverseeeachotheragainonsuchtermsofcordialityashadmarkedtheirseveralmeetingsinDerbyshire; andasshethrew a retrospectiveglanceoverthewholeoftheiracquaintance, sofullofcontradictionsandvarieties, sighedattheperversenessofthosefeelingswhichwouldnowhavepromoteditscontinuance, andwouldformerlyhaverejoicedinitstermination.
23
Ifgratitudeandesteemaregoodfoundationsofaffection, Elizabeth's changeofsentimentwillbeneitherimprobablenorfaulty. Butifotherwise—ifregardspringingfromsuchsourcesisunreasonableorunnatural, incomparisonofwhatissooftendescribedasarisingon a firstinterviewwithitsobject, andevenbeforetwowordshavebeenexchanged, nothingcanbesaidinherdefence, exceptthatshehadgivensomewhatof a trialtothelattermethodinherpartialityforWickham, andthatitsillsuccessmight, perhaps, authorisehertoseektheotherlessinterestingmodeofattachment. Bethatasitmay, shesawhimgowithregret; andinthisearlyexampleofwhatLydia's infamymustproduce, foundadditionalanguishasshereflectedonthatwretchedbusiness. Never, sincereadingJane's secondletter, hadsheentertained a hopeofWickham's meaningtomarryher. NoonebutJane, shethought, couldflatterherselfwithsuchanexpectation. Surprisewastheleastofherfeelingsonthisdevelopment. Whilethecontentsofthefirstletterremainedinhermind, shewasallsurprise—allastonishmentthatWickhamshouldmarry a girlwhomitwasimpossiblehecouldmarryformoney; andhowLydiacouldeverhaveattachedhimhadappearedincomprehensible. Butnowitwasalltoonatural. Forsuchanattachmentasthisshemighthavesufficientcharms; andthoughshedidnotsupposeLydiatobedeliberatelyengaginginanelopementwithouttheintentionofmarriage, shehadnodifficultyinbelievingthatneitherhervirtuenorherunderstandingwouldpreserveherfromfallinganeasyprey.