Chapter 46

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 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; 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 the 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 further; 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 inquiry 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 everything? 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 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; 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 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

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 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 anyone. My younger

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; 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 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 everything 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 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, 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 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 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; 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

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; 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 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

afflicted. Not Lydia only, but all were concerned in it; and 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; 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 at 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.