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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。伊丽莎白到蓝白屯的时候，因为没有立即接到吉英的来信，感到非常失望；第二天早上 又感到同样的失望。可是到了第三天，她就再也不用焦虑了，再也不埋怨她的姐姐了，因为 她这一天收到了姐姐两封信，其中一封注明曾经送错了地方。伊丽莎白并不觉得诧异，因为 吉英确实把地址写得很潦草。
那两封信送来的时候，他们刚刚要出去溜达；舅父母管自己走了，让她一个人去静静地 读信。误投过的那封信当然要先读，那还是五天前写的。信上先讲了一些小规模的宴会和约 会之类的事，又报道了一些乡下的新闻；后一半却报道了重要消息，而且注明是下一天写 的，显见得写信人提笔时心绪很乱。后半封内容如下：
亲爱的丽萃，写了上半封信之后，发生了一件极其出人意料、极其严重的事；可是我又 怕吓坏了你。请放心吧，家里人都好，我这里要说的是关于可怜的丽迪雅的事。昨天晚上十 二点钟，我们正要睡觉和时候，突然接到弗斯脱上校一封快信，告诉我们说，丽迪雅跟他部 下的一个军官到苏格兰去了；老实说，就是跟韦翰私奔了！你想象我们当时多么惊奇。不过 吉蒂却以为这件事并非完全出人意料。我真难受。这两个男女就这样冒冒失失地配成了一 对！可是我还是愿意从最好的方面去着想，希望别人都是误解了他的人品。我固然认为他为 人轻率冒昧，不过他这次的举动未必就是存心不良（让我们但愿如此吧）。至少他选中这个 对象不是为了有利可图，因为他一定知道父亲没有一个钱给她。可怜的母亲伤心得要命。父 亲总算还支持得住。谢天谢地，好在我们从来没有让他们老人家知道外界对他的议论。我们 自己也不必把它放在心上。据大家猜想，他们大概是星期六晚上十二点钟走的，但是一直到 昨天早上八点钟，才发现这两个失了踪。于是弗斯脱上校连忙写信告诉我们。亲爱的丽萃， 他们所经过的地方离开我们一定不满十英里。弗斯脱上校说，他一定立刻就到我们这里来。 丽迪雅留了一封短信给弗斯脱太太，把他们两人的意图告诉了她。我不得不停笔了，因为我 不能离开母亲�