elizabethhadbeenagooddealdisappointedinnotfindingaletterfromjaneontheirfirstarrivalatlambton;andthisdisappointmenthadbeenrenewedoneachofthemorningsthathadnowbeenspentthere;butonthethird,herrepiningwasover,andhersisterjustified,bythereceiptoftwolettersfromheratonce,ononeofwhichwasmarkedthatithadbeenmissentelsewhere.elizabethwasnotsurprisedatit,asjanehadwrittenthedirectionremarkablyill.

theyhadjustbeenpreparingtowalkastheletterscamein;andheruncleandaunt,leavinghertoenjoytheminquiet,setoffbythemselves.theonemissentmustbefirstattendedto;ithadbeenwrittenfivedaysago.thebeginningcontainedanaccountofalltheirlittlepartiesandengagements,withsuchnewsasthecountryafforded;butthelatterhalf,whichwasdatedadaylater,andwritteninevidentagitation,gavemoreimportantintelligence.itwastothiseffect:

"sincewritingtheabove,dearestlizzy,somethinghasoccurredofamostunexpectedandseriousnature;butiamafraidofalarmingyou—beassuredthatweareallwell.whatihavetosayrelatestopoorlydia.anexpresscameattwelvelastnight,justaswewereallgonetobed,fromcolonelforster,toinformusthatshewasgoneofftoscotlandwithoneofhisofficers;toownthetruth,withwickham!—imagineoursurprise.tokitty,however,itdoesnotseemsowhollyunexpected.iamvery,verysorry.soimprudentamatchonbothsides!—butiamwillingtohopethebest,andthathischaracterhasbeenmisunderstood.thoughtlessandindiscreeticaneasilybelievehim,butthisstep(andletusrejoiceoverit)marksnothingbadatheart.hischoiceisdisinterestedatleast,forhemustknowmyfathercangivehernothing.ourpoormotherissadlygrieved.myfatherbearsitbetter.howthankfulami,thatweneverletthemknowwhathasbeensaidagainsthim;wemustforgetitourselves.theywereoffsaturdaynightabouttwelve,asisconjectured,butwerenotmissedtillyesterdaymorningateight.theexpresswassentoffdirectly.mydearlizzy,theymusthavepassedwithintenmilesofus.colonelforstergivesusreasontoexpecthimheresoon.lydialeftafewlinesforhiswife,informingheroftheirintention.imustconclude,foricannotbelongfrommypoormother.iamafraidyouwillnotbeabletomakeitout,butihardlyknowwhatihavewritten."

withoutallowingherselftimeforconsideration,andscarcelyknowingwhatshefelt,elizabeth,onfinishingthisletter,instantlyseizedtheother,andopeningitwiththeutmostimpatience,readasfollows—ithadbeenwrittenadaylaterthantheconclusionofthefirst:

"bythistime,mydearestsister,youhavereceivedmyhurriedletter;iwishthismaybemoreintelligible,butthoughnotconfinedfortime,myheadissobewilderedthaticannotanswerforbeingcoherent.dearestlizzy,ihardlyknowwhatiwouldwrite,butihavebadnewsforyou,anditcannotbedelayed.imprudentasamarriagebetweenmr.wickhamandourpoorlydiawouldbe,wearenowanxioustobeassuredithastakenplace,forthereisbuttoomuchreasontofeartheyarenotgonetoscotland.colonelforstercameyesterday,havingleftbrightonthedaybefore,notmanyhoursaftertheexpress.thoughlydia'sshortlettertomrs.vethemtounderstandthattheyweregoingtogretnagreen,somethingwasdroppedbydennyexpressinghisbeliefthatw.neverintendedtogothere,ortomarrylydiaatall,whichwasrepeatedtocolonelf.,who,instantlytakingthealarm,setofffromb.intendingtotracetheirroute.hedidtracethemeasilytoclapham,butnofarther;foronenteringthatplacetheyremovedintoahackney-coachanddismissedthechaisethatbroughtthemfromepsom.allthatisknownafterthisisthattheywereseentocontinuethelondonroad.iknownotwhattothink.aftermakingeverypossibleenquiryonthatsidelondon,colonelf.cameonintohertfordshire,anxiouslyrenewingthematalltheturnpikes,andattheinnsinbarnetandhatfield,butwithoutanysuccess;nosuchpeoplehadbeenseentopassthrough.withthekindestconcernhecameontolongbourn,andbrokehisapprehensionstousinamannermostcreditabletohisheart.iamsincerelygrievedforhimandmrs.f.,butnoonecanthrowanyblameonthem.ourdistress,mydearlizzy,isverygreat.myfatherandmotherbelievetheworst,buticannotthinksoillofhim.manycircumstancesmightmakeitmoreeligibleforthemtobemarriedprivatelyintownthantopursuetheirfirstplan;andevenifhecouldformsuchadesignagainstayoungwomanoflydia'sconnections,whichisnotlikely,canisupposehersolosttoeverything?—impossible.igrievetofind,however,thatcolonelf.isnotdisposedtodependupontheirmarriage;heshookhisheadwheniexpressedmyhopes,andsaidhefearedw.wasnotamantobetrusted.mypoormotherisreallyillandkeepsherroom.couldsheexertherselfitwouldbebetter,butthisisnottobeexpected;andastomyfather,ineverinmylifesawhimsoaffected.poorkittyhasangerforhavingconcealedtheirattachment;butasitwasamatterofconfidence,onecannotwonder.iamtrulyglad,dearestlizzy,thatyouhavebeensparedsomethingofthesedistressingscenes;butnow,asthefirstshockisover,shalliownthatilongforyourreturn?iamnotsoselfish,however,astopressforit,ifinconvenient.adieu.itakeupmypenagaintodowhatihavejusttoldyouiwouldnot,butcircumstancesaresuch,thaticannothelpearnestlybeggingyoualltocomehereassoonaspossible.iknowmydearuncleandauntsowellthatiamnotafraidofrequestingit,thoughihavestillsomethingmoretoaskoftheformer.myfatherisgoingtolondonwithcolonelforsterinstantly,totrytodiscoverher.whathemeanstodo,iamsureiknownot;buthisexcessivedistresswillnotallowhimtopursueanymeasureinthebestandsafestway,andcolonelforsterisobligedtobeatbrightonagaintomorrowevening.insuchanexigencemyuncle'sadviceandassistancewouldbeeverythingintheworld;hewillimmediatelycomprehendwhatimustfeel,andirelyuponhisgoodness."

"oh!where,whereismyuncle?"criedelizabeth,dartingfromherseatasshefinishedtheletter,ineagernesstofollowhimwithoutlosingamomentofthetimesoprecious;butasshereachedthedoor,itwasopenedbyaservant,andmr.darcyappeared.herpalefaceandimpetuousmannermadehimstart,andbeforehecouldrecoverhimselfenoughtospeak,she,inwhosemindeveryideawassupersededbylydia'ssituation,hastilyexclaimed,"ibegyourpardon,butimustleaveyou.imustfindmr.gardinerthismoment,onbusinessthatcannotbedelayed;ihavenotamomenttolose."

"goodgod!whatisthematter?"criedhe,withmorefeelingthanpoliteness;thenrecollectinghimself,"iwillnotdetainyouaminute,butletme,orlettheservant,goaftermr.andmrs.gardiner.youarenotwellenough;—youcannotgoyourself."

elizabethhesitated,butherkneestrembledunderher,andshefelthowlittlewouldbegainedbyherattemptingtopursuethem.callingbacktheservant,therefore,shecommissionedhim,thoughinsobreathlessanaccentasmadeheralmostunintelligible,tofetchhismasterandmistresshomeinstantly.

onhisquittingtheroom,shesatdown,unabletosupportherself,andlookingsomiserablyillthatitwasimpossiblefordarcytoleaveher,ortorefrainfromsaying,inatoneofgentlenessandcommiseration,"letmecallyourmaid.istherenothingyoucouldtake,togiveyoupresentrelief?—aglassofwine;—shalligetyouone?—youareveryill."

"no,ithankyou;"shereplied,endeavouringtorecoverherself."thereisnothingthematterwithme.iamquitewell.iamonlydistressedbysomedreadfulnewswhichihavejustreceivedfromlongbourn."

sheburstintotearsasshealludedtoit,andforafewminutescouldnotspeakanotherword.darcy,inwretchedsuspense,couldonlysaysomethingindistinctlyofhisconcern,andobserveherincompassionatesilence.atlength,shespokeagain."ihavejusthadaletterfromjane,withsuchdreadfulnews.itcannotbeconcealedfromanyone.myyoungestsisterhasleftallherfriends—haseloped;—hasthrownherselfintothepowerof—ofmr.wickham.theyaregoneofftogetherfrombrighton.youknowhimtoowelltodoubttherest.shehasnomoney,noconnections,nothingthatcantempthimto—sheislostforever."

darcywasfixedinastonishment."wheniconsider,"sheadded,inayetmoreagitatedvoice,"thatimighthavepreventedit!—iwhoknewwhathewas.hadibutexplainedsomepartofitonly—somepartofwhatilearnt—tomyownfamily!hadhischaracterbeenknown,thiscouldnothavehappened.butitisall,alltoolatenow."

"iamgrieved,indeed,"crieddarcy;"grieved-shocked.butisitcertain,absolutelycertain?"

"ohyes!—theyleftbrightontogetheronsundaynight,andweretracedalmosttolondon,butnotbeyond;theyarecertainlynotgonetoscotland."

"andwhathasbeendone,whathasbeenattempted,torecoverher?"

"myfatherisgonetolondon,andjanehaswrittentobegmyuncle'simmediateassistance,andweshallbeoff,ihope,inhalfanhour.butnothingcanbedone;iknowverywellthatnothingcanbedone.howissuchamantobeworkedon?howaretheyeventobediscovered?ihavenotthesmallesthope.itiseverywayhorrible!"

darcyshookhisheadinsilentacquiescence.

"whenmyeyeswereopenedtohisrealcharacter.—oh!hadiknownwhatiought,whatidared,todo!butiknewnot—iwasafraidofdoingtoomuch.wretched,wretched,mistake!"

darcymadenoanswer.heseemedscarcelytohearher,andwaswalkingupanddowntheroominearnestmeditation;hisbrowcontracted,hisairgloomy.elizabethsoonobservedandinstantlyunderstoodit.herpowerwassinking;everythingmustsinkundersuchaproofoffamilyweakness,suchanassuranceofthedeepestdisgrace.sheshouldneitherwondernorcondemn,butthebeliefofhisself-conquestbroughtnothingconsolatorytoherbosom,affordednopalliationofherdistress.itwas,onthecontrary,exactlycalculatedtomakeherunderstandherownwishes;andneverhadshesohonestlyfeltthatshecouldhavelovedhim,asnow,whenalllovemustbevain.

butself,thoughitwouldintrude,couldnotengrossher.lydia—thehumiliation,themisery,shewasbringingonthemall—soonswallowedupeveryprivatecare;andcoveringherfacewithherhandkerchief,elizabethwassoonlosttoeverythingelse;and,afterapauseofseveralminutes,wasonlyrecalledtoasenseofhersituationbythevoiceofhercompanion,who,inamanner,whichthoughitspokecompassion,spokelikewiserestraint,said,"iamafraidyouhavebeenlongdesiringmyabsence,norhaveianythingtopleadinexcuseofmystay,butreal,thoughunavailing,concern.wouldtoheaventhatanythingcouldbeeithersaidordoneonmypart,thatmightofferconsolationtosuchdistress!—butiwillnottormentyouwithvainwishes,whichmayseempurposelytoaskforyourthanks.thisunfortunateaffairwill,ifear,preventmysister'shavingthepleasureofseeingyouatpemberleytoday."

"oh,yes.besokindastoapologizeforustomissdarcy.saythaturgentbusinesscallsushomeimmediately.concealtheunhappytruthaslongasitispossible.—iknowitcannotbelong."

hereadilyassuredherofhissecrecy—againexpressedhissorrowforherdistress,wisheditahappierconclusionthantherewasatpresentreasontohope,and,leavinghiscomplimentsforherrelations,withonlyoneserious,parting,look,wentaway.

ashequittedtheroom,elizabethfelthowimprobableitwasthattheyshouldeverseeeachotheragainonsuchtermsofcordialityashadmarkedtheirseveralmeetingsinderbyshire;andasshethrewaretrospectiveglanceoverthewholeoftheiracquaintance,sofullofcontradictionsandvarieties,sighedattheperversenessofthosefeelingswhichwouldnowhavepromoteditscontinuance,andwouldformerlyhaverejoicedinitstermination.

ifgratitudeandesteemaregoodfoundationsofaffection,elizabeth'schangeofsentimentwillbeneitherimprobablenorfaulty.butifotherwise,iftheregardspringingfromsuchsourcesisunreasonableorunnatural,incomparisonofwhatissooftendescribedasarisingonafirstinterviewwithitsobject,andevenbeforetwowordshavebeenexchanged,nothingcanbesaidinherdefence,exceptthatshehadgivensomewhatofatrialtothelattermethodinherpartialityforwickham,andthatitsill-successmightperhapsauthorisehertoseektheotherlessinterestingmodeofattachment.bethatasitmay,shesawhimgowithregret;andinthisearlyexampleofwhatlydia'sinfamymustproduce,foundadditionalanguishasshereflectedonthatwretchedbusiness.never,sincereadingjane'ssecondletter,hadsheentertainedahopeofwickham'smeaningtomarryher.noonebutjane,shethought,couldflatterherselfwithsuchanexpectation.surprisewastheleastofherfeelingsonthisdevelopement.whilethecontentsofthefirstletterremainedonhermind,shewasallsurprise—allastonishmentthatwickhamshouldmarryagirlwhomitwasimpossiblehecouldmarryformoney;andhowlydiacouldeverhaveattachedhimhadappearedincomprehensible.butnowitwasalltoonatural.forsuchanattachmentasthis,shemighthavesufficientcharms;andthoughshedidnotsupposelydiatobedeliberatelyengaginginanelopement,withouttheintentionofmarriage,shehadnodifficultyinbelievingthatneitherhervirtuenorherunderstandingwouldpreserveherfromfallinganeasyprey.

shehadneverperceived,whiletheregimentwasinhertfordshire,thatlydiahadanypartialityforhim,butshewasconvincedthatlydiahadwantedonlyencouragementtoattachherselftoanybody.sometimesoneofficer,sometimesanotherhadbeenherfavourite,astheirattentionsraisedtheminheropinion.heraffectionshadbeencontinuallyfluctuating,butneverwithoutanobject.themischiefofneglectandmistakenindulgencetowardssuchagirl.—oh!howacutelydidshenowfeelit.

shewaswildtobeathome—tohear,tosee,tobeuponthespot,tosharewithjaneinthecaresthatmustnowfallwhollyuponher,inafamilysoderanged;afatherabsent,amotherincapableofexertionandrequiringconstantattendance;andthoughalmostpersuadedthatnothingcouldbedoneforlydia,heruncle'sinterferenceseemedoftheutmostimportance,andtillheenteredtheroom,themiseryofherimpatiencewassevere.mr.andmrs.gardinerhadhurriedbackinalarm,supposing,bytheservant'saccount,thattheirniecewastakensuddenlyill;—butsatisfyingtheminstantlyonthathead,sheeagerlycommunicatedthecauseoftheirsummons,readingthetwolettersaloud,anddwellingonthepostscriptofthelastwithtremblingenergy.—thoughlydiahadneverbeenafavouritewiththem,mr.andmrs.gardinercouldnotbutbedeeplyaffected.notlydiaonly,butallwereconcernedinit;andafterthefirstexclamationsofsurpriseandhorror,mr.gardinerreadilypromisedeveryassistanceinhispower.—elizabeth,thoughexpectingnoless,thankedhimwithtearsofgratitude;andallthreebeingactuatedbyonespirit,everythingrelatingtotheirjourneywasspeedilysettled.theyweretobeoffassoonaspossible."butwhatistobedoneaboutpemberley?"criedmrs.gardiner."johntoldusmr.darcywasherewhenyousentforus;—wasitso?"

"yes;anditoldhimweshouldnotbeabletokeepourengagement.thatisallsettled."

"thatisallsettled!"repeatedtheother,assheranintoherroomtoprepare."andaretheyuponsuchtermsasforhertodisclosetherealtruth!oh,thatiknewhowitwas!"

butwisheswerevain;oratbestcouldserveonlytoamuseherinthehurryandconfusionofthefollowinghour.hadelizabethbeenatleisuretobeidle,shewouldhaveremainedcertainthatallemploymentwasimpossibletoonesowretchedasherself;butshehadhershareofbusinessaswellasheraunt,andamongsttheresttherewerenotestobewrittentoalltheirfriendsinlambton,withfalseexcusesfortheirsuddendeparture.anhour,however,sawthewholecompleted;andmr.gardinermeanwhilehavingsettledhisaccountattheinn,nothingremainedtobedonebuttogo;andelizabeth,afterallthemiseryofthemorning,foundherself,inashorterspaceoftimethanshecouldhavesupposed,seatedinthecarriage,andontheroadtolongbourn.