第102章

    “By this time,my dearest sister,you have received my hurried letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not fined for time,my head is so bewildered that I ot answer for being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it ot be dyed. Imprudent as the marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken ce, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not goo Sd. el Forster came yesterday, havi Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs.F.gave them to uand that they were going to Gretna Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. never inteo go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to el F.,who,instantly taking the rm,set off from B.intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to pham, but no further;for oering that ce,they removed into a haey coad dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is, that they were seen to tihe London road.I know not what to think.After making every possible inquiry on that side London, el F. came on into Hertfordshire,anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes,and at the inns in Ba and Hatfield,but without any sess—no such people had beeo pass through.With the ki  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  throw any me on them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the worst, but I ot 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 n;and even if he could form such a design against a young woman of Lydia's es,which is not likely, I suppose her so lost to everything?Impossible!I grieve to find,however,that el 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 cealed their attat; but as it was a matter of fidence, one ot wonder.I am truly d,dearest Lizzy,that you have been spared something of these distressing ses;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 inve.Adieu!I take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not;but circumstances are such that I ot help early begging you all toe 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 el 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 el Forster is obliged to be at Brighton again to-morrow evening. In su exigence, my uncle's advid assistance would be everything in the world;he will immediatelyprehend what I must feel,and I rely upon his goodness.”

    “Oh! where, where is my uncle?”cried Elizabeth,darting from her seat as she fihe letter,in eagero follow him,without losing a moment of the time so precious; but as she reached the door it ened by a servant, and Mr. Darcy appeared.Her pale fad 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 eximed,“I beg your pardon,but I must leave you.I must find Mr.Gardihis moment, on busihat ot be dyed;I have not an instant to lose.”

    “Good God! what is the matter?”cried he, with more feeling than politehen recolleg 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 ot go yourself.”

    Elizabeth hesitated, but her krembled under her and she felt how little would be gained by her attempting to pursue them. Calling back the servant, therefore, shemissioned him, though in so breathless a as made her almost unintelligible,to fetch his master and mistress home instantly.

    On his quitting the room she sat down, uo 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 andmiseratio me call your maid.Is there nothing you could take to give you present relief?A ss of wine;shall I get you one?You are very ill.”

    “No,I thank you,”she replied,endeav 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, iched suspense, could only say something indistinctly of his ,and observe her inpassionate sile length she spoke again.“I have just had a letter from Jane, with such dreadful news. It ot be cealed 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 frhton.You know him too well to doubt the rest.She has no money,no es, nothing that  tempt him to—she is lost for ever.”

    Darcy was fixed in astonishment.快眼看书小说阅读_www.bookcu.com