Elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane on their first arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had been renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there; but on the third, her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the receipt of two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that it had been missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as Jane had written the direction remarkably ill.
They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in; and her uncle and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by themselves. The one missent must be first attended to; it had been written five days ago. The beginning contained an account of all their little parties and engagements, with such news as the country afforded; but the latter half, which was dated a day later, and written in evident agitation, gave more important intelligence. It was to this effect:
"Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you -- be assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! -- Imagine our surprise. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! -- But I am willing to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step (and let us rejoice over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it better. How thankful am I, that we never let them know what has been said against him; we must forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday night about twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly know what I have written."
Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing what she felt, Elizabeth, on finishing this letter, instantly seized the other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows -- it had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first:
"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to Colonel F., who, instantly taking the alarm, set off from B. intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no farther; for on entering that place they removed into a hackney-coach and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is that they were seen to continue the London road. I know not what to think. After making every possible enquiry on that side London, Colonel F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but without any success; no such people had been seen to pass through. With the kindest concern 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 can throw any blame on them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the worst, but I cannot 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 plan; and even if he could form such a design against a young woman of Lydia's connections, which is not likely, can I suppose her so lost to every thing? -- Impossible. I grieve to find, however, that Colonel 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 concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter of confidence, one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you have been spared something of these distressing scenes; 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 inconvenient. Adieu. I take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not, but circumstances are such, that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to come 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 Colonel 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 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 a moment to lose."
"Good God! what is the matter?" cried he, with more feeling 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, 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 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.
--正文
伊丽莎白刚到莱姆顿的时候，没有受到简的来信还十分失望。到那里后的每一天早上，她都会再是失望一遍。但是到那儿的第三天，她不用再抱怨了，她姐姐也终于免除了骂名，因为伊丽莎白一下收到了两份简的来信，其中一份还有个标记，看得出被错送到别的地方了。伊丽莎白一点也不奇怪，因为简写得地址十分难认。
信来的时候，简和叔婶正准备出去走走。但她的叔叔婶婶自己先走了一步，让伊丽莎白自己去读信。她先读了那封被寄错地方的信，这是五天前写的。信一开始写了些家里的琐事，都是些农村生活常见的东西。但信的后一半是一天后新写的，能看得出写得很着急，说的是重要的东西。大意如下：
“写完上面这些事情后，亲爱的利兹，有些完全出乎意料且严重的事情发生了。但是我又害怕吓到你，请确保自己安好。我要说的事情跟可怜的莉迪亚有关。昨晚12点我们已经睡觉的时候，福斯特上校派人捎信过来说，莉迪亚和他手下的军官私奔到苏格兰去了。就是和维克汉姆！想象一下我们多惊讶！但是对于凯蒂来说，这件事也不是毫无征兆。我真的非常非常抱歉。这两个人可真是太鲁莽了！但是我一直希望，其实维克汉姆的性格是被误解了。他的行为肯定是欠考虑又不谨慎的，但是这件事（这件事我们随后再谈）并不能说明他有坏心。至少这件事情上，他不是别有用心的，因为他知道我们父亲给不了莉迪亚任何东西。我们可怜的母亲正在悲痛着，父亲还好一些。我真是特别感恩，之前我们没跟他们说别人说他们的坏话。我们自己也该忘了这些话。别人推测他们俩是周六晚上十二点左右私奔的，但是直到昨天早上八点才被发现，然后消息就立刻被传了过来。亲爱的利兹，他们肯定从从我们周围十英里路过的。福斯特上校觉得维克汉姆也会来这里。莉迪亚跟福斯特太太留了几句话，说了下他们的意图。我必须得停笔了，因为我不忍心离开我的母亲。我怕你也搞不清楚这件事情，但是我也不知道自己写了什么。”
伊丽莎白读完这封信后，给自己留了点时间思考，而且也不知道自己什么感受。然后立即拿出了另一封新，十分着急地打开了，这封是在上封信的一天后写得，内容如下：“
亲爱的妹妹，这个时候你已经收到我仓促的来信了。我希望这份信能写得更具体一点，尽管时间充足，但是我脑袋很迷糊，恐怕写得不是很清楚。亲爱的利兹，我可能都不知道自己会写了什么，但是我有些坏消息，而且必须现在告诉你。尽管维克汉姆和莉迪亚的婚事十分奴忙，但是我们现在焦虑地发现恐怕这已经发生了，因为有很多理由让我们相信他们没有去苏格兰。福斯特上校昨天过来了，他昨天派人来送消息几个小时后，就离开了布莱顿。尽管莉迪亚给福斯特太太的心里面说他们要去格雷特纳格林，但是丹尼相信维克汉姆从来就没想去那儿，也从来没想跟莉迪亚结婚，这事他也跟福斯特上校说了很多遍。福斯特上校觉得事态严重，就从布莱顿出发去跟踪他们。他确实很容易地跟踪到了克拉铂姆，但是也只跟到了那里。因为他们在那儿换了辆马车。从那之后，我们只知道他们继续朝着伦敦去了。我不知道该怎么想了。在伦敦那儿打听完了之后，福斯特上校来到了赫特福德，在每个公路上跟踪他们的足迹，在巴雷特和哈特菲尔德的旅馆打听他们的踪迹，但是没有任何收获。没人见过这样的人经过。然后他就来到了蘑菇屯，他真是有心了，然后他就把自己的担心都说给我们听了。我十分为福斯特上校和他的太太感到悲伤，但是这事也不怪他们。亲爱的利兹，我们的压力真是太大了。父亲母亲已经做了最坏的打算，但是我没法把维克汉姆往坏了想。有很多事情说明他们更可能是私下结婚了，而不是私奔。而且就算他对莉迪亚这样没钱没关系的姑娘也能做出这种事情，这事情我觉得不太可能，难道莉迪亚就没有一点头脑吗？我觉得绝不可能。但是我悲伤地发现，福斯特上校不觉得他们会结婚。我说这件事的时候，他一直摇头，说恐怕维克汉姆不是可以信任的人。母亲病得很严重，一直待在屋里。她要是能振作起来，情况会好一些，但是这不太可能。至于父亲，我从没见过他这么悲伤过。他们俩很气莉迪亚把这件事瞒着，但是这是不是因为保密才瞒着的，就不得而知了。亲爱的利兹，真高兴你没经历这些恼人的事情。但是现在因为第一件事情已经说了，我能不能期待着你回家呢？但是如果不方便的话，我不会自私地逼着你。再见。
我又拿起笔请求你刚刚说的不会请求你做的事情，但是现在情况已经如此，我只能恳切地希望你越早回来元昊。我很了解自己的叔叔婶婶，所有我不怕要求你回来，但是我还有些忙要请叔叔帮忙。父亲马上就跟福斯特上校动身去伦敦，试图找到莉迪亚。他真的要做什么，我无法确定。但是他的压力太大，恐怕没法做好，也没法安全地做这件事。他很需要叔叔的建议和帮助。他立刻就能明白我的感受，而我就寄希望于他的好心了。”
“天呐，我的叔叔在哪儿？”伊丽莎白大喊着，一读完信便立刻站了起来，不想浪费一点时间想立刻找到他。但是她到了彭伯里的时候，一个仆人开了门，然后达西出现在门口。伊丽莎白苍白的脸和匆忙的样子让达西有些惊慌，他还没能开口说话的时候，伊丽莎白脑子里都想得是莉迪亚的处境，因此十分着急的说：“十分抱歉，但是我必须得离开了。我现在得找到加德纳先生，这件事情等不了，我必须抓紧时间。”
“老天，到底是什么事情？”达西惊叫说，情绪激动也顾不上礼貌了。然后他调整了下自己，说：“我一分钟都不会耽误你，但是请让我，或者仆人去追加德纳先生和夫人。你现在状态不好，不能自己过去。”
伊丽莎白迟疑了下，但是她的膝盖正在发抖，她知道靠自己去追他们可能效果不好。所以她叫回了仆人，用了急促到几乎听不清的口音安排他，立刻去找他的主人和夫人。
仆人一离开房间，伊丽莎白就坐下了，她的身体已经支撑不了自己，她开起来脸色很差，让达西无法留她一个人，也无法不让他用温柔和关切的语气说：“我来叫你的女仆吧。你现在想吃点什么东西吗，让自己好受一点？一杯红酒。我能给你拿一杯吗？你看起来很不健康。”
“不用了，谢谢你。”伊丽莎白回答说，努力地调节自己，“这事情跟我没有关系的，我很好，我只是刚收到了蘑菇屯来的可怕消息，感觉有些压力。”
伊丽莎白说话的时候忍不住哭了出来，有几分钟甚至一句话都说不出来。而焦虑的达西，只能说些本能的关心的话，温和地看着她。终于，伊丽莎白又开口了：“我刚收到简的一份来信，信里说了些很可怕的事情。这件事情可能谁也瞒不住。我最小的妹妹离开了她的朋友，私奔了，将她的命运交由维克汉姆摆布。他们从布莱顿一起走了。你那么了解他，应该也知道会发生什么事情。莉迪亚没钱，没背景，没有任何能吸引维克汉姆的地方。这下她可是彻底丢了。”
达西惊讶了好一会儿。“我有时候想到，”伊丽莎白又焦虑地说，“自己说不定能阻止这件事，毕竟我了解他是怎么样的人。要是我跟自己家人说了自己知道的事情，哪怕只是一点点。要是大家都知道他是怎样的人，这件事是不可能发生的。但是这些都已经太晚了。”
“我很难过，”达西哭着说，“难过，且震惊。但是这件事确认了吗？”
“是的！他们周六晚上一起离开了布莱屯，然后别人跟着知道他们到了伦敦，但是过了伦敦就不知道了。他们肯定没去苏格兰。”
“现在都做了哪些事情去找莉迪亚回来？”
“我父亲赶去伦敦了，简也写信给我叔叔请他立刻帮忙。我们应该半小时内就会离开了。但是我们也做不了什么。我很清楚做不了什么。这样的一个人你怎么处理？我们都不知道怎么发现他们？我不抱什么希望。怎么看这件事都糟糕透了。”
达西默默地摇着头。
“当我真正看清他的为人，天呐，假如我知道自己应该做什么，敢于做什么该有多好！可是我不知道，我害怕做得太过了。犹豫，彷徨，真是个错误！”
达西没有作声。他好像根本没听到伊丽莎白说话，反而在屋里出神得走来走去。他的眉毛皱成一团，看起来很阴郁。伊丽莎白很快就发现了达西的样子，而且立刻明白了原因。她的魅力正在消退。自己家里又出了那么大一个岔子，丢了那么大人，达西肯定瞧不上自己了。但是她不觉得诧异，也不怪别人。即使她觉得达西在委屈求全，但也不会让她觉得好受。恰恰相反，这反而让她更了解自己。她从没有像现在真切地感觉到自己会爱上他，尽管这种爱终归徒劳。
但是此刻想起自己的事情，但是伊丽莎白并不会沉浸于此。但是莉迪亚，这个给家人带来耻辱和痛苦的人，很快就让伊丽莎白忘掉了自己的事情。她用张纸巾盖在脸上，很快忘掉其他的事情。过了几分钟的沉默，她才被同伴的声音唤起，这声音充满关心但又更像克制，“我知道恐怕你早就想让我走了，或者我没有理由待在这里，但是尽管没有什么用，我是因为关心才待在这里的。假如我能说点什么，或者做点什么能让你好受点，那我真是再乐意不过了。但是我不会说这些无用的愿望，看起来就好像是我故意要你谢我。恐怕这件事情让我妹妹没法今天在彭伯里见到你了。”
“哦，对的。请替我向达西小姐道歉。就说有些急事让我们赶回家了，尽量别提这些坏消息。虽然可能也瞒不了太久。”
达西十分愉快地保证会保守秘密，再次向伊丽莎白表达了歉意，然后安慰她说现在还有希望，然后夸奖了她的叔叔婶婶，然后认真的看了一眼她，离开了。
达西一离开房间，伊丽莎白就感觉到了他们很可能再也无法像之前在德比郡时的那样，热情地交谈了。当她回想之前两人的经历，充满了矛盾和可能性，又叹息这种感情无以为继，很快就会正式消逝。
如果感激和尊敬能滋生感情，伊丽莎白的这种情感变化既合乎情理，也无可指责。但是如果换句话说，如果与那种话没有说两句就坠入爱河的一见钟情相比，如果因为感激和尊敬滋生的感情是无理由的，不自然的，那么也确实没有什么能替伊丽莎白辩护的。除了这一点——她之前看上维克汉姆是因为选了第一种方法，但是失败的结局让她寻求另外一种没那么有意思的恋爱方法了。但是尽管话是这么说，她还是带着遗憾地看着达西走了。伊丽莎白回想着莉迪亚的这件丢人事情，又发现了其它的痛苦。自从她读了简的信之后，她就没认为维克汉姆会娶莉迪亚。只有简愿意这么安慰自己。如果事情朝这个方向发展，她一点也不会惊讶。第一份信的内容还留在她脑海里的时候，她惊讶于维克汉姆竟然会娶个没钱的姑娘，而且他竟然能看上莉迪亚，这简直无法理解。但是现在来看，这简直太正常了。对于这样的关系，莉迪亚确实有些许魅力。尽管伊丽莎白并不认为莉迪亚是不图结婚就跟人私奔，但是伊丽莎白完全相信，以莉迪亚的品德和智商，绝对别人稍微忽悠一下就走了。
她从不知道民(兵)团在赫特福德的时候，莉迪亚喜欢维克汉姆，她以为莉迪亚只是想随便撩别人。一会喜欢这个军官，一会就又换了一个，见一个爱一个。她的爱意变幻不定，但是总是喜欢某个人的。家里对她一贯缺乏管教，任意纵容。天呐！伊丽莎白现在终于感觉到了这点！
她此刻十分想在家里，在这个混乱的家里，去听去看，与简一起分担此刻完全压在她肩上的压力。一个父亲离开了的家庭，一个无法帮忙的，反而需要照料的母亲。尽管伊丽莎白几乎相信无法拯救莉迪亚了，但是此刻叔叔的帮助似乎还是十分重要，一直到他进屋，伊丽莎白都在焦急地等待。加德纳夫妇慌慌张张地赶了回来，估计是听到仆人的报信，说是自己侄女突然生病了。他们摸完伊丽莎白的头刚刚松口气，伊丽莎白就赶快说了叫他们回来的原因，她大声读了简的两份来信，读到第二封信上简后加的内容时，她的声音还在颤抖。尽管莉迪亚并不是加德纳夫妇最喜欢的侄女，但是他们还是很受震动。不止是莉迪亚个人，还有很多其他事情都受牵连。在一阵震惊和惊吓后，加德纳先生立刻承诺会竭尽所能提供帮助。伊丽莎白尽管希望如此，但还是因为感激留下了泪水。此刻三人统一了意见，关于行程的事情很快就被敲定了。他们准备尽快离开。“但是跟彭伯里那边怎么说？”加德纳夫人突然说道，“约翰（翻译官：加德纳先生的名字）告诉我，你派人去找我们的时候，达西也在这里，是么？”
“是的，我告诉他我们要失约了，这事已经跟他说好了。”
“都说好了！”加德纳夫人重复了一遍，跑着去房间准备东西。“他们两人已经好到这一步了，可以直说这种事了？哦！我就知道是这样！”
但是婶婶的愿望落空了，或者说只是让她在接下来忙碌而混乱的一小时中自娱自乐。要是伊丽莎白有心情啥都不干，她也会知道自己急成这样什么事情也干不了。但是跟婶婶一样，她也有自己的事情做。莱姆顿的朋友们还得一一留条通知，当然是用假的理由说明突然离开的缘由。但是一个小时内也就都完成了。加德纳先生也处理好了旅馆那边的事情，一切就绪可以出发。在经历了早上那些痛苦之后，在比她的预计更短的时间内，伊丽莎白已经坐在马车里，走在回蘑菇屯的路上了。
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