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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whose mind every idea was superseded by Lydia’s situation；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 an instant to lose。’
‘Good God！ what is the matter？’ cried he； with more feeling
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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；
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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 acquiesence。
‘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 could neither wonder nor condemn； but
the belief of his self…conquest brought nothing consolatory to her
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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；
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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；