PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 46

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ELIZABETH had been
a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane on their first
arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had been renewed on each of
the mornings that had now been spent there; but 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; and her uncle
and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by themselves. The
one missent must be first 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; but 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, however, 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."

Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing
  what she felt, Elizabeth, on finishing this letter, instantly seized
  the other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows
  -- 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 a marriage between Mr. Wickham
  and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has
  taken place, for there is but 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,
  something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. never intended
  to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which 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 farther; for
  on entering that place they 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 enquiry on that side London, Colonel
  F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes,
  and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but without any success; no
  such people had been seen to pass 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; and 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 every thing? -- Impossible. I grieve to find, however, 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
  has anger for having 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, shall I own that I long for your return?
  I am not so selfish, however, as to press for it, if inconvenient. Adieu.
  I take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not,
  but 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; but his excessive distress will not allow him to pursue
  any measure in the best and safest way, and Colonel Forster is obliged
  to be at Brighton again to-morrow evening. In such an exigence my uncle's
  advice and assistance would be every thing 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; but as she reached the door,
  it was opened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and
  impetuous manner made him start, and before he could recover himself
  enough to speak, she, in whose mind every idea was superseded by Lydia's
  situation, 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 a moment 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 me, or 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, therefore, she commissioned him, though in so breathless
  an accent as made her almost unintelligible, to fetch his master and
  mistress home instantly.

On his quitting the room, she sat down, unable to support herself,
  and looking so miserably ill that it was impossible for Darcy to leave
  her, or to refrain from saying, in a tone of gentleness and commiseration,
  "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 just 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 any one.
  My youngest sister has left all her friends -- has eloped; -- has thrown
  herself into the power of -- 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," she added, in
  a yet more agitated voice, "that I might have prevented it! -- I who
  knew what he was. 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, and 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, and was walking
  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; every thing must sink under such a proof of family
  weakness, such an assurance of the deepest disgrace. She should 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
  own wishes; and 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; and covering her face with her handkerchief,
  Elizabeth was soon lost to every thing else; and, after a pause of several
  minutes, was only recalled to a sense of her situation by the voice
  of her companion, who, in a manner, which though it spoke compassion,
  spoke likewise restraint, said, "I am afraid you have been long desiring
  my absence, nor have I any thing to plead in excuse of my stay, but
  real, though unavailing, concern. Would to heaven that any thing 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 apologize 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, wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present
  reason to hope, and, leaving his compliments for her relations, with
  only one serious, parting, look, went away.

As he quitted the room, Elizabeth felt how improbable it was that
  they should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as
  had marked their several meetings in Derbyshire; and as she threw a
  retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance, so full of
  contradictions and varieties, sighed at the perverseness of those 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. But if otherwise,
  if the regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or unnatural,
  in comparison of what is so often described as arising on a first interview
  with its object, and even before two words have been exchanged, nothing
  can be said in her defence, except that she had given somewhat of a
  trial to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham, and that its
  ill-success might perhaps authorise her to seek the other less interesting
  mode of attachment. Be that as it may, she saw him go with regret; and
  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
  developement. While the contents of the first letter remained on her
  mind, she was all surprise -- all astonishment that Wickham should marry
  a girl whom it was impossible he could marry for money; and 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
  sufficient charms; and though she did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately
  engaging in an elopement, without the intention of marriage, she had
  no difficulty in believing 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
  had wanted only encouragement to attach herself to any body. Sometimes
  one officer, sometimes another had been her favourite, as their attentions
  raised them in her opinion. Her affections had been continually 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; and though almost persuaded that
  nothing could be done for Lydia, her uncle's interference seemed of
  the utmost importance, and till he entered the room, the misery of 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; -- but 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. -- Though Lydia
  had never been a favourite with them, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not
  but be deeply affected. Not Lydia only, but all were concerned in it;
  and after the first exclamations of surprise and horror, Mr. Gardiner
  readily 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, every thing 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."

"That 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 best could serve only 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; but 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 in Lambton, with false excuses for
  their sudden departure. An hour, however, saw the whole completed; and
  Mr. Gardiner meanwhile having settled his account at the inn, nothing
  remained to be done but to go; and Elizabeth, after all the misery of
  the morning, found herself, in a shorter space of time than she could
  have supposed, seated in the carriage, and on the road to Longbourn.

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1. Ebooks list page : 81
2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 58
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 44
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 42
5. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 41
6. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 40
7. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 39
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 38
9. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 11
10. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 12
11. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 45
12. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 49
13. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 57
14. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 56
15. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 55
16. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 54