傲慢與偏見14 A Young Lady Runs Away

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A Young Lady Runs Away

The next morning, two letters came from Jane.One of them had been sent to the wrong address.

They had just been preparing to go on a walkwhen the letters came. Her uncle and aunt, leavingElizabeth alone to enjoy them in quiet, began theirwalk. The one that had the wrong address had beenwritten five days ago. The beginning contained nothingof great importance, but the second half, dated a daylater, contained more important news.

" Something most serious has happened since Iwrote. the beginning of this Letter. At twelve Lastnight , just as we had all gone to bed, an importantmessage came from Colonel Forster. He said thatLydia had nun away to Scotland with Wickham!Imagine our surprise! I'm sure his action is not so thathe can get money , at least , for he must know that ourfather only has very little . Our poor mother is greatlyupset. Our father is handling it better. Lydia andWickham set off on Saturday night , it is guessed , butnobody noticed they had gone until yesterday morning .Colonel Forster is expected to arrive here soon. Lydialeft a short note for his wife, telling her of theirplan. "

Elizabeth instantly opened the other letter andread it - it had been written a day later.

"By this time you will have received my hurriedletter. I hope this will make sense to you. My head isso confused I hardly know what I am writing . I havebad news. We know that a most unwise marriagebetween Wickham and our poor Lydia has not takenplace, but there is reason to believe that they have leftfor Scotland. Colonel Forster arrived yesterday.Though Lydia had written in her short letter to Mrs.F. that they were going to Gretna Green in Scotland ,a friend of Wickham's told them that he believedWickham never planned to go there, or to marryLydia at all. When Colonel F. heard about this, heimmediately set off from Brighton , hoping to findthem. He followed their route all the way toClaphambut could not find any farther signs. Allthat is known after this is that they were seencontinuing along the London road. After finding outall he could , Colonel F. came to Longbourn and toldus of his worries. Our fear . my dear Lizzy, is verygreat. Colonel F. said he knew, that Wickham was nota man to be trusted. Poor mother is really ill andstays in her room; and as for father, I have never seenhim so worried in all my life. I am glad that you arenot here in the middle of these horrible events , but Istill want you to return. I cannot help myself frombegging you all to come here as soon as possible. Myfather is going to London with Colonel Forster to try todiscover where they are. At this time, uncle's adviceand help would be everything in the world. "

"Oh! Where is uncle?" cried Elizabeth. Shequickly walked to the door. Just then. the door wasopened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared. Herwhite face and worried look surprised him.

"I'm very sorry," Elizabeth exclaimed, "but youmust excuse me because I must find Mr. Gardiner.don't have a second to lose. "

"Good God! What is the matter?" he cried, withmore feeling than politeness. "Please allow me, orallow the servant, to go after your uncle. You do notlook well enough. "

Elizabeth tried to argue, but her knees wereshaking under her. She called back the servant, andasked him to bring his master home immediately. Thenshe sat down.

"let me call your maid to bring you something,"said Darcy gently. "A glass of wine? Shall I get youone?"

"No, thank you. There is nothing the matter withme. I am quite well. I am only upset by some horriblenews which I have just received from Longbourn. . . "

She burst into tears and could not speak anotherword. Darcy was greatly worried, but he could onlywatch her in silence. At length she spoke again.

"I have just received a letter from Jane. It hassuch horrible awful news. My younger sister has runoff to marry - to be with - Mr. Wickham. When Ithink that I might have stopped this from happening! Iknew what he was and told no one! Had I told myfamily of his character, this could not have happened. "

"I am most sorry, " said Darcy. "But it is certain- completely certain?"

"Oh, yes! They left Brighton together on Sundaynight, and Colonel Forster found that they had made itas far as London, but nor further. They have certainlynot gone to Scotland, as Lydia wrote to Mrs. Forster. "

"What has been done to bring her back?" heasked .

"My father has gone to London, and Jane haswritten to ask my uncle for his immediate help. Wemust go back to Longbourn. I hope we can leave inhalf-an-hour. But nothing can be done. How are weeven going to discover them?"

Darcy did not answer. It seemed that he washardly listening to her. He walked up and down theroom, his head bent, his manner dark. Elizabethunderstood what he must be thinking. He could nolonger wish to be with her after such a display of familyweakness, such a deep mistake. His response made herunderstand her own wishes; she realized that shestrongly loved him.

"I wish to heaven that I could do something tohelp you. " he said, "but I cannot. This bad situationwill, I fear, stop my sister from wanting to visit you atPemberley."

"Yes. Please be so kind and apologize for us. Saythat very important business calls us homeimmediately. "

He bowed, and with a serious look, went away.Elizabeth felt that it was unlikely that they should eversee each other again on such friendly terms.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back. Theywere very worried and feared that their niece wassuddenly ill. Promising both of them this was not true,Elizabeth read the two letters aloud to them. After thefirst cries of surprise and horror. Mr. Gardinerpromised to help in every way he could. Elizabeththanked him gratefully; and soon their journey wasquickly settled. In a short space of time, Elizabethfound herself seated in the carriage and on the road backto Longbourn.

They traveled as quickly as possible. They stoppedand slept for one night on the way so as to reachLongbourn by the next day.

As soon as they pulled up to the house, Elizabethjumped from the carriage and hurried into the hall.Jane, who had come running downstairs, immediatelymet her. They hugged, and Elizabeth asked whethershe had heard of any new news.

"Not yet, " replied Jane.

"And Mother.... How is she? How are you all?"

"Mother's feelings are greatly shaken She willnot leave her room. Mary and Kitty - thank Heaven!- are both quite well."

Then Jane went to greet her aunt and uncle. Theywent to Mrs. Bennet's room. She received them withtears and complaints of her problems.

"I always knew that the Forsters were not able totake good care of my poor dear Lydia, " she said. "butno one would listen to me, as usual! And now Mr.Bennet has gone away, and he will fight Wickham, andhe will be killed. Then the Collinses will make us moveout after his death ! I do not know what we shall do. "

They all told her to stop thinking such horribleideas. Mr. Gardiner told her that he would go toLondon the very next day to help Mr. Bennet in hissearch for them.

Everyone was hoping for a letter from Mr. Bennetthe next morning, but nothing arrived. On Tuesday, aletter from Mr. Gardiner came to say that he had foundMr. Bennet and asked him to go with him toGracechurch Street. Mr. Bennet had, he said, learnedno new information. Now they had decided to ask at allthe major hotels.

Every day at Longbourn was now one of worry.Mr. Gardiner's next letter said that they might expectto see their father arrive home on the following day,which was Saturday. Mr. Bennet was without hope ofever finding them, and he had agreed to the idea of hisbrother-in-law to return to his family. Mr. Gardinerwould continue to search for them alone. When Mrs.Bennet heard this, she did not seem as happy as herchildren expected.

"What? Is he coming home without poor Lydia?"she cried. "Surely he will not leave London before hehas found them. Who will fight Wickham, then, andmake him marry her?"

When Mr. Bennet did arrive the next morning, heseemed as calm as ever. He said very little, but thiswas his usual way, and made no talk about theunpleasant business Lydia had caused them.

When he joined them at tea later in the afternoon,Elizabeth decided to say that she was sorry for all thathe had recently been through.

"Who should be blamed but myself?" he replied."It has been my own doing, and I deserve it.

They were interrupted by Jane, who came to fetchher mother's tea.

"Your mother's way of acting," he said, "gives anew definition to being ill! One day I will perhaps dothe same; I will sit in my library, in my cap and gown.and give everyone as much trouble as I can - or.perhaps, I shall wait until Kitty runs away.

"I am not going to run away, Papa," said Kitty."If I should ever go to Brighton, I would behavebetter. "

"You go to Brighton ! I would not trust you to goas near as Eastbourne! No, Kitty, I have at lastlearned that I must be very careful. No officer is goingto enter my house ever again, and you are not allowedto go to any more dances. And I will not let you outsideagain until you can prove that you have spent tenminutes each day in a wise and thoughtful manner. "

Kitty, who took all of this seriously, began to cry.

"Well, well, " he said, "don't be unhappy. lf youare a good girl for the next ten years, then I will takeyou to the theatre at the end of them. "