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Elizabeth had been disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane on their first arrival at Lambton. This disappointment had been renewed on each of the mornings that had been spent there. On the third her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the receipt of two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that it had been missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as Jane had written the direction remarkably ill.
They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in. Her uncle and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by themselves.
The one missent must first be attended to; it had been written five days ago. The beginning contained an account of all their little parties and engagements, with such news as the country afforded. But the latter half, which was dated a day later, and written in evident agitation, gave more important intelligence. It was to this effect:
"Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature. I am afraid of alarming you—be assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers. To own the truth, with Wickham! Imagine our surprise. To Kitty, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! But I am willing to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step (and let us rejoice over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it better. How thankful am I that we never let them know what has been said against him; we must forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday night about twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly know what I have written."
On finishing this letter, without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing what she felt, Elizabeth instantly seized the other. She opened it with the utmost impatience; it had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first.
"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter. I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place. There is too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, Denny expressed his belief that W. never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all. It was repeated to Colonel F., who, instantly taking the alarm, set off from B. intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no further. On entering that place, they had removed into a hackney coach and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is, that they were seen to continue the London road. I know not what to think. After making every possible inquiry, Colonel F. came on here. Inquiries after them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield were without any success; no such couple had been seen passing through. With the kindest concern, he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved for him and Mrs. F., but no one can throw any blame on them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the worst, but I cannot think so ill of him. Many circumstances might make it more eligible for them to be married privately in town than to pursue their first plan. Even if he could form such a design against a young woman of Lydia's connections, which is not likely, can I suppose her so lost to everything? Impossible! I grieve to find that Colonel F. is not disposed to depend upon their marriage. He shook his head when I expressed my hopes and said he feared W. was not a man to be trusted. My poor mother is really ill and keeps her room. Could she exert herself, it would be better, but this is not to be expected. And as to my father, I never in my life saw him so affected. Poor Kitty concealed their attachment, but as it was a matter of confidence, one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you have been spared something of these distressing scenes. But now, as the first shock is over, will I own that I long for your return? I am not so selfish to press for it, if inconvenient. Adieu! I take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not. Circumstances are such that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well that I am not afraid of requesting it, though I have still something more to ask of the former. My father is going to London with Colonel Forster instantly, to try to discover her. What he means to do I am sure I know not. His excessive distress will not allow him to pursue any measure in the best and safest way. Colonel Forster is obliged to be at Brighton again tomorrow evening. In such an urgent crisis, my uncle's advice and help would be everything in the world. He will immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely upon his goodness."
"Oh! Where, where is my uncle?" cried Elizabeth, darting from her seat as she finished the letter, in eagerness to follow him, without losing a moment of the time so precious. As she reached the door, it was opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared.
Her pale face and impetuous manner made him start. Before he could recover himself, she hastily exclaimed, "I beg your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find Mr. Gardiner this moment, on business that cannot be delayed; I have not an instant to lose."
"Good God! what is the matter?" cried he, with more feeling than politeness. Then recollecting himself, "I will not detain you a minute, but let the servant go after Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not well enough; you cannot go yourself."
Elizabeth hesitated, but her knees trembled under her, and she felt how little would be gained by her attempting to pursue them. Calling back the servant she commissioned him to fetch his master and mistress home.
On his quitting the room she sat down, unable to support herself. She must have looked so miserably ill, that it was impossible for Darcy to leave her.
In a tone of gentleness and commiseration, he said, "Let me call your maid. Is there nothing you could take to give you present relief? A glass of wine; shall I get you one? You are very ill."
"No, I thank you," she replied, endeavouring to recover herself. "There is nothing the matter with me. I am quite well; I am only distressed by some dreadful news which I have received from Longbourn."
She burst into tears as she alluded to it, and for a few minutes could not speak another word. Darcy, in wretched suspense, could only say something indistinctly of his concern and observe her in compassionate silence.
At length, she spoke again. "I have just had a letter from Jane, with such dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from anyone. My younger sister has left all her friends—has eloped; has thrown herself into the power of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together from Brighton. You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him to—she is lost for ever."
Darcy was fixed in astonishment. "When I consider that I might have prevented it! I, who knew what he was," she added in a yet more agitated voice. "Had I but explained some part of it only—some part of what I learnt, to my own family! Had his character been known, this could not have happened. But it is all—all too late now."
"I am grieved indeed," cried Darcy; "grieved—shocked. But is it certain—absolutely certain?"
"Oh, yes! They left Brighton together on Sunday night, and were traced almost to London, but not beyond. They are certainly not gone to Scotland."
"And what has been done, what has been attempted, to recover her?"
"My father is gone to London, and Jane has written to beg my uncle's immediate assistance. We shall be off, I hope, in half-an-hour. But nothing can be done—I know very well that nothing can be done. How is such a man to be worked on? How are they even to be discovered? I have not the smallest hope. It is every way horrible!"
Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence.
"When my eyes were opened to his real character—Oh! Had I known what I ought, what I dared to do! But I knew not—I was afraid of doing too much. Wretched, wretched mistake!"
Darcy made no answer. He seemed scarcely to hear her. He walked up and down the room in earnest meditation, his brow contracted, his air gloomy. Elizabeth soon observed, and instantly understood it. Her power was sinking. Everything must sink under such a proof of family weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace.
She could neither wonder nor condemn, but the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing consolatory to her bosom, afforded no palliation of her distress. It was, on the contrary, exactly calculated to make her understand her wishes.
Never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him, as now, when all love must be vain.
But self, though it would intrude, could not engross her.
Lydia—the humiliation, the misery she was bringing on them all, soon swallowed up every private care. Covering her face with her handkerchief, Elizabeth was soon lost to everything else. After a pause of several minutes was only recalled to a sense of her situation by the voice of her companion.
In a manner which, though it spoke compassion, spoke likewise restraint, he said, "I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence. Nor have I anything to plead in excuse of my stay, but real, though unavailing concern. Would to Heaven that anything could be either said or done on my part that might offer consolation to such distress! But I will not torment you with vain wishes, which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks. This unfortunate affair will, I fear, prevent my sister's having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley to-day."
"Oh, yes. Be so kind as to apologise for us to Miss Darcy. Say that urgent business calls us home immediately. Conceal the unhappy truth as long as it is possible; I know it cannot be long."
He readily assured her of his secrecy. Again expressed his sorrow for her distress and wished the matter a happier conclusion than there was reason to hope. After leaving his compliments for her relations, with only one serious, parting look, he went away.
As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt it improbable that they should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as had marked their meetings in Derbyshire. A retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance, showed it full of contradictions and varieties. She sighed at the perverseness of feelings which would now have promoted its continuance and would formerly have rejoiced in its termination.
If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection, Elizabeth's change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty. Alternatively, affectionate regard arising on a first interview and even before two words have been exchanged had been tried by Elizabeth in her partiality for Wickham.
Be that as it may, Elizabeth saw Darcy go with regret. In this early example of what Lydia's infamy must produce, found additional anguish as she reflected on that wretched business.
Never, since reading Jane's second letter, had she entertained a hope of Wickham's meaning to marry her.
No one but Jane, she thought, could flatter herself with such an expectation. Surprise was the least of her feelings on this development. While the contents of the first letter remained in her mind, she was all surprise, all astonishment that Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry for money. How Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared incomprehensible. But now it was all too natural. For such an attachment as this, she might have enough charm. She did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention of marriage. Elizabeth believed that neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey.
She had never perceived, while the regiment was in Hertfordshire, that Lydia had any partiality for him. But she was convinced that Lydia wanted only encouragement to attach herself to anybody. Sometimes one officer, sometimes another, had been her favourite, as their attentions raised them in her opinion. Her affections had continually been fluctuating but never without an object. The mischief of neglect and mistaken indulgence towards such a girl—oh! How acutely did she now feel it!
She was wild to be at home—to hear, to see, to be upon the spot to share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her, in a family so deranged. A father absent, a mother incapable of exertion, and requiring constant attendance.
Though almost persuaded that nothing could be done for Lydia, her uncle's interference seemed of the utmost importance. Till he entered the room, her impatience was severe.
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing by the servant's account that their niece was taken suddenly ill. Satisfying them instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the cause of their summons. Reading the two letters aloud, and dwelling on the postscript of the last with trembling energy, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not but be deeply afflicted.
Not Lydia only, but all were concerned in it. After the first exclamations of surprise and horror, Mr. Gardiner promised every assistance in his power. Elizabeth, though expecting no less, thanked him with tears of gratitude; and all three being actuated by one spirit, everything relating to their journey was speedily settled. They were to be off as soon as possible. "But what is to be done about Pemberley?" cried Mrs. Gardiner. "John told us Mr. Darcy was here when you sent for us; was it so?"
"Yes; and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement. That is all settled."
"What is all settled?" repeated the other, as she ran into her room to prepare. "And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real truth? Oh, that I knew how it was!"
But wishes were vain, or at least could only serve to amuse her in the hurry and confusion of the following hour.
Had Elizabeth been at leisure to be idle, she would have remained certain that all employment was impossible to one so wretched as herself. She had her share of business as well as her aunt, and amongst the rest, there were notes to be written to all their friends at Lambton, with false excuses for their sudden departure.
Mr. Gardiner meanwhile settled his account at the inn.
An hour saw the whole completed. Nothing remained to be done but to go.
After all the misery of the morning, Elizabeth found herself, in a shorter space of time than she could have supposed, seated in the carriage, and on the road to Longbourn.