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第102章（第1页）

“Bythistime，mydearestsister，youhavereceivedmyhurriedletter;Iwishthismaybemoreintelligible，butthoughnotconfinedfortime，myheadissobewilderedthatIcannotanswerforbeingcoherent。DearestLizzy，IhardlyknowwhatIwouldwrite，butIhavebadnewsforyou，anditcannotbedelayed。ImprudentasthemarriagebetweenMr。WickhamandourpoorLydiawouldbe，wearenowanxioustobeassuredithastakenplace，forthereisbuttoomuchreasontofeartheyarenotgonetoScotland。ColonelForstercameyesterday，havingleftBrightonthedaybefore，notmanyhoursaftertheexpress。ThoughLydiasshortlettertoMrs。F。gavethemtounderstandthattheyweregoingtoGretnaGreen，somethingwasdroppedbyDennyexpressinghisbeliefthatW。neverintendedtogothere，ortomarryLydiaatall，whichwasrepeatedtoColonelF。，who，instantlytakingthealarm，setofffromB。intendingtotracetheirroute。HedidtracethemeasilytoClapham，butnofurther;foronenteringthatplace，theyremovedintoahackneycoach，anddismissedthechaisethatbroughtthemfromEpsom。Allthatisknownafterthisis，thattheywereseentocontinuetheLondonroad。Iknownotwhattothink。AftermakingeverypossibleinquiryonthatsideLondon，ColonelF。cameonintoHertfordshire，anxiouslyrenewingthematalltheturnpikes，andattheinnsinBarnetandHatfield，butwithoutanysuccess—nosuchpeoplehadbeenseentopassthrough。WiththekindestconcernhecameontoLongbourn，andbrokehisapprehensionstousinamannermostcreditabletohisheart。IamsincerelygrievedforhimandMrs。F。，butnoonecanthrowanyblameonthem。Ourdistress，mydearLizzy，isverygreat。Myfatherandmotherbelievetheworst，butIcannotthinksoillofhim。Manycircumstancesmightmakeitmoreeligibleforthemtobemarriedprivatelyintownthantopursuetheirfirstplan;andevenifhecouldformsuchadesignagainstayoungwomanofLydiasconnections，whichisnotlikely，canIsupposehersolosttoeverything?Impossible!Igrievetofind，however，thatColonelF。isnotdisposedtodependupontheirmarriage;heshookhisheadwhenIexpressedmyhopes，andsaidhefearedW。wasnotamantobetrusted。Mypoormotherisreallyill，andkeepsherroom。Couldsheexertherself，itwouldbebetter;butthisisnottobeexpected。Andastomyfather，Ineverinmylifesawhimsoaffected。PoorKittyhasangerforhavingconcealedtheirattachment;butasitwasamatterofconfidence，onecannotwonder。Iamtrulyglad，dearestLizzy，thatyouhavebeensparedsomethingofthesedistressingscenes;butnow，asthefirstshockisover，shallIownthatIlongforyourreturn?Iamnotsoselfish，however，astopressforit，ifinconvenient。Adieu!ItakeupmypenagaintodowhatIhavejusttoldyouIwouldnot;butcircumstancesaresuchthatIcannothelpearnestlybeggingyoualltocomehereassoonaspossible。Iknowmydearuncleandauntsowell，thatIamnotafraidofrequestingit，thoughIhavestillsomethingmoretoaskoftheformer。MyfatherisgoingtoLondonwithColonelForsterinstantly，totrytodiscoverher。Whathemeanstodo，IamsureIknownot;buthisexcessivedistresswillnotallowhimtopursueanymeasureinthebestandsafestway，andColonelForsterisobligedtobeatBrightonagainto-morrowevening。Insuchanexigence，myunclesadviceandassistancewouldbeeverythingintheworld;hewillimmediatelycomprehendwhatImustfeel，andIrelyuponhisgoodness。”

“Oh!where，whereismyuncle?”criedElizabeth，dartingfromherseatasshefinishedtheletter，ineagernesstofollowhim，withoutlosingamomentofthetimesoprecious;butasshereachedthedooritwasopenedbyaservant，andMr。Darcyappeared。Herpalefaceandimpetuousmannermadehimstart，andbeforehecouldrecoverhimselftospeak，she，inwhosemindeveryideawassupersededbyLydiassituation，hastilyexclaimed，“Ibegyourpardon，butImustleaveyou。ImustfindMr。Gardinerthismoment，onbusinessthatcannotbedelayed;Ihavenotaninstanttolose。”

“GoodGod!whatisthematter?”criedhe，withmorefeelingthanpoliteness;thenrecollectinghimself，“Iwillnotdetainyouaminute;butletme，orlettheservantgoafterMr。andMrs。Gardiner。Youarenotwellenough;youcannotgoyourself。”

Elizabethhesitated，butherkneestrembledunderherandshefelthowlittlewouldbegainedbyherattemptingtopursuethem。Callingbacktheservant，therefore，shecommissionedhim，thoughinsobreathlessanaccentasmadeheralmostunintelligible，tofetchhismasterandmistresshomeinstantly。

Onhisquittingtheroomshesatdown，unabletosupportherself，andlookingsomiserablyill，thatitwasimpossibleforDarcytoleaveher，ortorefrainfromsaying，inatoneofgentlenessandcommiseration，“Letmecallyourmaid。Istherenothingyoucouldtaketogiveyoupresentrelief?Aglassofwine;shallIgetyouone?Youareveryill。”

“No，Ithankyou，”shereplied，endeavouringtorecoverherself。“Thereisnothingthematterwithme。Iamquitewell;IamonlydistressedbysomedreadfulnewswhichIhavejustreceivedfromLongbourn。”

Sheburstintotearsasshealludedtoit，andforafewminutescouldnotspeakanotherword。Darcy，inwretchedsuspense，couldonlysaysomethingindistinctlyofhisconcern，andobserveherincompassionatesilence。Atlengthshespokeagain。“IhavejusthadaletterfromJane，withsuchdreadfulnews。Itcannotbeconcealedfromanyone。Myyoungersisterhasleftallherfriends—haseloped;hasthrownherselfintothepowerof—ofMr。Wickham。TheyaregoneofftogetherfromBrighton。Youknowhimtoowelltodoubttherest。Shehasnomoney，noconnections，nothingthatcantempthimto—sheislostforever。”

Darcywasfixedinastonishment。