"I have been thinking it over again, Elizabeth," said her uncle as they drove from the town; "and really, upon serious consideration, I am much more inclined than I was to judge as your eldest sister does of the matter. It appears to me so very unlikely that any young man should form such a design against a girl who is by no means unprotected or friendless, and who was actually staying in his colonel's family, that I am strongly inclined to hope the best. Could he expect that her friends would not step forward? Could he expect to be noticed again by the regiment, after such an affront to Colonel Forster? His temptation is not adequate to the risk."
"Do you really think so?" cried Elizabeth, brightening up for a moment.
"Upon my word," said Mrs. Gardiner, "I begin to be of your uncle's opinion. It is really too great a violation of decency, honour, and interest, for him to be guilty of it. I cannot think so very ill of Wickham. Can you, yourself, Lizzy, so wholly give him up as to believe him capable of it?"
"Not perhaps of neglecting his own interest. But of every other neglect I can believe him capable. If, indeed, it should be so! But I dare not hope it. Why should they not go on to Scotland, if that had been the case?"
"In the first place," replied Mr. Gardiner, "there is no absolute proof that they are not gone to Scotland."
"Oh! but their removing from the chaise into an hackney coach is such a presumption! And, besides, no traces of them were to be found on the Barnet road."
"Well, then -- supposing them to be in London. They may be there, though, for the purpose of concealment, for no more exceptionable purpose. It is not likely that money should be very abundant on either side; and it might strike them that they could be more economically, though less expeditiously, married in London, than in Scotland."
"But why all this secrecy? Why any fear of detection? Why must their marriage be private? Oh! no, no, this is not likely. His most particular friend, you see by Jane's account, was persuaded of his never intending to marry her. Wickham will never marry a woman without some money. He cannot afford it. And what claims has Lydia, what attractions has she beyond youth, health, and good humour, that could make him, for her sake, forgo every chance of benefiting himself by marrying well? As to what restraint the apprehension of disgrace in the corps might throw on a dishonourable elopement with her, I am not able to judge; for I know nothing of the effects that such a step might produce. But as to your other objection, I am afraid it will hardly hold good. Lydia has no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine, from my father's behaviour, from his indolence and the little attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going forward in his family, that he would do as little, and think as little about it, as any father could do in such a matter."
"But can you think that Lydia is so lost to every thing but love of him, as to consent to live with him on any other terms than marriage?"
"It does seem, and it is most shocking indeed," replied Elizabeth, with tears in her eyes, "that a sister's sense of decency and virtue in such a point should admit of doubt. But, really, I know not what to say. Perhaps I am not doing her justice. But she is very young; she has never been taught to think on serious subjects; and for the last half year, nay, for a twelvemonth, she has been given up to nothing but amusement and vanity. She has been allowed to dispose of her time in the most idle and frivolous manner, and to adopt any opinions that came in her way. Since the ----shire were first quartered in Meryton, nothing but love, flirtation, and officers have been in her head. She has been doing every thing in her power, by thinking and talking on the subject, to give greater -- what shall I call it? -- susceptibility to her feelings, which are naturally lively enough. And we all know that Wickham has every charm of person and address that can captivate a woman."
"But you see that Jane," said her aunt, "does not think so ill of Wickham as to believe him capable of the attempt."
"Of whom does Jane ever think ill? And who is there, whatever might be their former conduct, that she would believe capable of such an attempt, till it were proved against them? But Jane knows, as well as I do, what Wickham really is. We both know that he has been profligate in every sense of the word. That he has neither integrity nor honour. That he is as false and deceitful, as he is insinuating."
"And do you really know all this?" cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive.
"I do, indeed," replied Elizabeth, colouring. "I told you the other day, of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you, yourself, when last at Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved with such forbearance and liberality towards him. And there are other circumstances which I am not at liberty -- which it is not worth while to relate; but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From what he said of Miss Darcy, I was thoroughly prepared to see a proud, reserved, disagreeable girl. Yet he knew to the contrary himself. He must know that she was amiable and unpretending as we have found her."
"But does Lydia know nothing of this? Can she be ignorant of what you and Jane seem so well to understand?"
"Oh, yes! -- that, that is the worst of all. Till I was in Kent, and saw so much both of Mr. Darcy and his relation, Colonel Fitzwilliam, I was ignorant of the truth myself. And when I returned home, the ----shire was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight's time. As that was the case, neither Jane, to whom I related the whole, nor I, thought it necessary to make our knowledge public; for of what use could it apparently be to any one that the good opinion which all the neighbourhood had of him should then be overthrown? And even when it was settled that Lydia should go with Mrs. Forster, the necessity of opening her eyes to his character never occurred to me. That she could be in any danger from the deception never entered my head. That such a consequence as this should ensue, you may easily believe was far enough from my thoughts."
"When they all removed to Brighton, therefore, you had no reason, I suppose, to believe them fond of each other."
"Not the slightest. I can remember no symptom of affection on either side; and had any thing of the kind been perceptible, you must be aware that ours is not a family on which it could be thrown away. When first he entered the corps, she was ready enough to admire him; but so we all were. Every girl in or near Meryton was out of her senses about him for the first two months; but he never distinguished her by any particular attention, and consequently, after a moderate period of extravagant and wild admiration, her fancy for him gave way, and others of the regiment who treated her with more distinction again became her favourites."
It may be easily believed that, however little of novelty could be added to their fears, hopes, and conjectures, on this interesting subject by its repeated discussion, no other could detain them from it long, during the whole of the journey. From Elizabeth's thoughts it was never absent. Fixed there by the keenest of all anguish, self-reproach, she could find no interval of ease or forgetfulness.
They travelled as expeditiously as possible; and, sleeping one night on the road, reached Longbourn by dinner-time the next day. It was a comfort to Elizabeth to consider that Jane could not have been wearied by long expectations.
The little Gardiners, attracted by the sight of a chaise, were standing on the steps of the house as they entered the paddock; and when the carriage drove up to the door, the joyful surprise that lighted up their faces, and displayed itself over their whole bodies in a variety of capers and frisks, was the first pleasing earnest of their welcome.
Elizabeth jumped out; and, after giving each of them an hasty kiss, hurried into the vestibule, where Jane, who came running down stairs from her mother's apartment, immediately met her.
Elizabeth, as she affectionately embraced her, whilst tears filled the eyes of both, lost not a moment in asking whether any thing had been heard of the fugitives.
"Not yet," replied Jane. "But now that my dear uncle is come, I hope every thing will be well."
"Is my father in town?"
"Yes, he went on Tuesday, as I wrote you word."
"And have you heard from him often?"
"We have heard only once. He wrote me a few lines on Wednesday, to say that he had arrived in safety, and to give me his directions, which I particularly begged him to do. He merely added that he should not write again till he had something of importance to mention."
"And my mother -- How is she? How are you all?"
"My mother is tolerably well, I trust; though her spirits are greatly shaken. She is up stairs, and will have great satisfaction in seeing you all. She does not yet leave her dressing-room. Mary and Kitty, thank Heaven! are quite well."
"But you -- How are you?" cried Elizabeth. "You look pale. How much you must have gone through!"
Her sister, however, assured her of her being perfectly well; and their conversation, which had been passing while Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner were engaged with their children, was now put an end to by the approach of the whole party. Jane ran to her uncle and aunt, and welcomed and thanked them both, with alternate smiles and tears.
When they were all in the drawing room, the questions which Elizabeth had already asked were of course repeated by the others, and they soon found that Jane had no intelligence to give. The sanguine hope of good, however, which the benevolence of her heart suggested, had not yet deserted her; she still expected that it would all end well, and that every morning would bring some letter, either from Lydia or her father, to explain their proceedings, and perhaps announce the marriage.
Mrs. Bennet, to whose apartment they all repaired, after a few minutes conversation together, received them exactly as might be expected; with tears and lamentations of regret, invectives against the villainous conduct of Wickham, and complaints of her own sufferings and ill usage; blaming every body but the person to whose ill-judging indulgence the errors of her daughter must be principally owing.
"If I had been able," said she, "to carry my point of going to Brighton, with all my family, this would not have happened; but poor dear Lydia had nobody to take care of her. Why did the Forsters ever let her go out of their sight? I am sure there was some great neglect or other on their side, for she is not the kind of girl to do such a thing, if she had been well looked after. I always thought they were very unfit to have the charge of her; but I was over-ruled, as I always am. Poor dear child! And now here's Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight Wickham wherever he meets him, and then he will be killed, and what is to become of us all? The Collinses will turn us out, before he is cold in his grave; and if you are not kind to us, brother, I do not know what we shall do."
They all exclaimed against such terrific ideas; and Mr. Gardiner, after general assurances of his affection for her and all her family, told her that he meant to be in London the very next day, and would assist Mr. Bennet in every endeavour for recovering Lydia.
"Do not give way to useless alarm," added he; "though it is right to be prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain. It is not quite a week since they left Brighton. In a few days more, we may gain some news of them, and till we know that they are not married, and have no design of marrying, do not let us give the matter over as lost. As soon as I get to town, I shall go to my brother and make him come home with me to Gracechurch Street, and then we may consult together as to what is to be done."
"Oh! my dear brother," replied Mrs. Bennet, "that is exactly what I could most wish for. And now do, when you get to town, find them out, wherever they may be; and if they are not married already, make them marry. And as for wedding clothes, do not let them wait for that, but tell Lydia she shall have as much money as she chuses to buy them, after they are married. And, above all things, keep Mr. Bennet from fighting. Tell him what a dreadful state I am in, -- that I am frightened out of my wits; and have such tremblings, such flutterings all over me such spasms in my side, and pains in my head, and such beatings at heart, that I can get no rest by night nor by day. And tell my dear Lydia, not to give any directions about her clothes till she has seen me, for she does not know which are the best warehouses. Oh, brother, how kind you are! I know you will contrive it all."
But Mr. Gardiner, though he assured her again of his earnest endeavours in the cause, could not avoid recommending moderation to her, as well in her hopes as her fears; and, after talking with her in this manner till dinner was on table, they left her to vent all her feelings on the housekeeper, who attended in the absence of her daughters.
Though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was no real occasion for such a seclusion from the family, they did not attempt to oppose it, for they knew that she had not prudence enough to hold her tongue before the servants while they waited at table, and judged it better that one only of the household, and the one whom they could most trust, should comprehend all her fears and solicitude on the subject.
In the dining-room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty, who had been too busily engaged in their separate apartments, to make their appearance before. One came from her books, and the other from her toilette. The faces of both, however, were tolerably calm; and no change was visible in either, except that the loss of her favourite sister, or the anger which she had herself incurred in the business, had given something more of fretfulness than usual to the accents of Kitty. As for Mary, she was mistress enough of herself to whisper to Elizabeth, with a countenance of grave reflection, soon after they were seated at table,
"This is a most unfortunate affair; and will probably be much talked of. But we must stem the tide of malice, and pour into the wounded bosoms of each other the balm of sisterly consolation."
Then, perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying, she added, "Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia, we may draw from it this useful lesson: that loss of virtue in a female is irretrievable -- that one false step involves her in endless ruin -- that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful, -- and that she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the undeserving of the other sex."
Elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement, but was too much oppressed to make any reply. Mary, however, continued to console herself with such kind of moral extractions from the evil before them.
In the afternoon, the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for half an hour by themselves; and Elizabeth instantly availed herself of the opportunity of making many enquiries, which Jane was equally eager to satisfy. After joining in general lamentations over the dreadful sequel of this event, which Elizabeth considered as all but certain, and Miss Bennet could not assert to be wholly impossible, the former continued the subject by saying, "But tell me all and every thing about it which I have not already heard. Give me farther particulars. What did Colonel Forster say? Had they no apprehension of any thing before the elopement took place? They must have seen them together for ever."
"Colonel Forster did own that he had often suspected some partiality, especially on Lydia's side, but nothing to give him any alarm. I am so grieved for him. His behaviour was attentive and kind to the utmost. He was coming to us, in order to assure us of his concern, before he had any idea of their not being gone to Scotland; when that apprehension first got abroad, it hastened his journey."
"And was Denny convinced that Wickham would not marry? Did he know of their intending to go off? Had Colonel Forster seen Denny himself?"
"Yes; but when questioned by him, Denny denied knowing any thing of their plan, and would not give his real opinion about it. He did not repeat his persuasion of their not marrying -- and from that, I am inclined to hope, he might have been misunderstood before."
"And till Colonel Forster came himself, not one of you entertained a doubt, I suppose, of their being really married?"
"How was it possible that such an idea should enter our brains! I felt a little uneasy -- a little fearful of my sister's happiness with him in marriage, because I knew that his conduct had not been always quite right. My father and mother knew nothing of that, they only felt how imprudent a match it must be. Kitty then owned, with a very natural triumph on knowing more than the rest of us, that in Lydia's last letter she had prepared her for such a step. She had known, it seems, of their being in love with each other many weeks."
"But not before they went to Brighton?"
"No, I believe not."
"And did Colonel Forster appear to think ill of Wickham himself? Does he know his real character?"
"I must confess that he did not speak so well of Wickham as he formerly did. He believed him to be imprudent and extravagant. And since this sad affair has taken place, it is said that he left Meryton greatly in debt; but I hope this may be false."
"Oh, Jane, had we been less secret, had we told what we knew of him, this could not have happened!"
"Perhaps it would have been better," replied her sister. "But to expose the former faults of any person, without knowing what their present feelings were, seemed unjustifiable. We acted with the best intentions."
"Could Colonel Forster repeat the particulars of Lydia's note to his wife?"
"He brought it with him for us to see."
Jane then took it from her pocket-book, and gave it to Elizabeth. These were the contents:
"MY DEAR HARRIET,
You will laugh when you know where I am gone, and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise to-morrow morning, as soon as I am missed. I am going to Gretna Green, and if you cannot guess with who, I shall think you a simpleton, for there is but one man in the world I love, and he is an angel. I should never be happy without him, so think it no harm to be off. You need not send them word at Longbourn of my going, if you do not like it, for it will make the surprise the greater when I write to them and sign my name Lydia Wickham. What a good joke it will be! I can hardly write for laughing. Pray make my excuses to Pratt, for not keeping my engagement and dancing with him to night. Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he knows all, and tell him I will dance with him at the next ball we meet, with great pleasure. I shall send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn; but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed up. Good bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you will drink to our good journey.
Your affectionate friend,
LYDIA BENNET."
"Oh! thoughtless, thoughtless Lydia!" cried Elizabeth when she had finished it. "What a letter is this, to be written at such a moment. But at least it shews that she was serious in the object of her journey. Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to, it was not on her side a scheme of infamy. My poor father! how he must have felt it!"
"I never saw any one so shocked. He could not speak a word for full ten minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately, and the whole house in such confusion!"
"Oh! Jane!" cried Elizabeth, "was there a servant belonging to it, who did not know the whole story before the end of the day?"
"I do not know. -- I hope there was. -- But to be guarded at such a time, is very difficult. My mother was in hysterics, and though I endeavoured to give her every assistance in my power, I am afraid I did not do so much as I might have done! But the horror of what might possibly happen, almost took from me my faculties."
"Your attendance upon her has been too much for you. You do not look well. Oh! that I had been with you, you have had every care and anxiety upon yourself alone."
"Mary and Kitty have been very kind, and would have shared in every fatigue, I am sure, but I did not think it right for either of them. Kitty is slight and delicate, and Mary studies so much, that her hours of repose should not be broken in on. My aunt Phillips came to Longbourn on Tuesday, after my father went away; and was so good as to stay till Thursday with me. She was of great use and comfort to us all, and Lady Lucas has been very kind; she walked here on Wednesday morning to condole with us, and offered her services, or any of her daughters, if they could be of use to us."
"She had better have stayed at home," cried Elizabeth; "perhaps she meant well, but under such a misfortune as this, one cannot see too little of one's neighbours. Assistance is impossible; condolence, insufferable. Let them triumph over us at a distance, and be satisfied."
She then proceeded to enquire into the measures which her father had intended to pursue, while in town, for the recovery of his daughter.
"He meant, I believe," replied Jane, "to go to Epsom, the place where they last changed horses, see the postilions, and try if any thing could be made out from them. His principal object must be to discover the number of the hackney coach which took them from Clapham. It had come with a fare from London; and as he thought the circumstance of a gentleman and lady's removing from one carriage into another might be remarked, he meant to make enquiries at Clapham. If he could any how discover at what house the coachman had before set down his fare, he determined to make enquiries there, and hoped it might not be impossible to find out the stand and number of the coach. I do not know of any other designs that he had formed: but he was in such a hurry to be gone, and his spirits so greatly discomposed, that I had difficulty in finding out even so much as this."
--正文
“伊丽莎白，这件事情我又想了一遍，”驶离镇子的时候，伊丽莎白的叔叔说，：“而且说真的，我更倾向于觉得你姐说的事情不太可能。在我看来，任何年轻人都不会这样故意设计骗一个有家人的女孩，而且这个女孩还住在他上校的家里，因此我更觉得事情会往好的方向发展。难道他真的以为她的朋友不会过问？难道他真的以为这样冒犯了福斯特上校，民兵团还会要他？相比诱惑而言，他的风险太大了。”
“你真的这么想么？”伊丽莎白高叫一声，气氛热烈了一点。
“我发誓我也开始相信你叔叔的说法。”加德纳夫人说，“因为这件事实在太不得体，太不光彩，而且太无利可图了，他肯定会后悔的。我没法把维克汉姆想那么坏。利兹，你自己觉得他能做出这种事么？”
“也许他不会忘记自己的利益。但是其他事情他是肆无忌惮的。而且如果实在必要，他肯定会这么做。但是我希望不会这样。如果他们真的私奔了，他们会不会逃去苏格兰了？”
“首先，”加德纳先生说，“现在还不能完全确定他们没去苏格兰。”
“但是他们换了马车，这还不能说明什么吗？而且，在巴内路上也没有发现他们的车辙。”
“嗯，说不定他们去了伦敦。他们去那儿可能只是想躲起来，不可能有别的原因。他们两个手头都不宽裕，因此他们可能觉得去伦敦结婚，比去苏格兰便宜一些，尽管速度上要慢一些。”
“那他们为什么偷偷摸摸的？为什么怕人找他们？为什么必须偷偷结婚？不可能的，不存在的。维克汉姆的一个特别朋友相信维克汉姆是永远不打算娶她的，你们看简也是这么说得。维克汉姆是不会娶一个没钱的姑娘的。他没那么多钱。而且莉迪亚有什么财产，除了年轻、健康、脾气好点外，还有什么能让维克汉姆放弃更好的结婚机会？至于维克汉姆这么不要脸跟我妹妹私奔，军营里面会因为害怕风评而怎么处分他，这个我不知道。因为我不知道他这一步会产生什么后果。至于你们其它的考虑，恐怕也不成立。莉迪亚没有兄弟能过问这事。而且维克汉姆可能想，从我父亲的懒惰行为和对家事的冷漠程度来看，他可能想也不想，做也不做这事。”
“但是你觉得莉迪亚眼里就只剩爱情，其他的都不管不顾了吗？她就能满足一穷二白的跟他过日子？”
“这事说起来确实挺吓人的，”伊丽莎白眼里含着泪，说，“我这个妹妹的品德和名声要遭到质疑了。但是我也不知道该说点啥。也许我一直对她不公平。她太年轻了，一直也没跟我们聊过严肃的话题。过去上半年，不对，是过去一年，她每天除了玩就是无所事事。家里人就这么放纵她浪费时间，接触些三教九流的人。自从民兵团到梅屯来了以后，她的脑子里就只想些谈情说爱，到处调情，军官们了。她想的是这些事，聊的是这些事，一直我行我素，这该怎么说，最后就导致她变得敏感起来，而这已经足够了。我们都知道维克汉姆长得帅，谈吐又吸引人，对女人有致命的吸引力。”
“但是你看简并不这么看维克汉姆，她觉得他不会做这种事。”姑妈说。
“简会觉得谁是坏人？而且不管一个人前面的行为如何，直到被证实以前，简是不会觉得他会做出这种事的。但是简跟我一样，其实是直到维克汉姆的本性的。我们都知道这人大手大脚，既不正直也没有荣誉感。他这个人既虚伪又迷惑人，而且说话总是含沙射影的。”
“你确定说得这些都是真的吗？”加德纳夫人大声说，她的好奇心，跟她的聪慧一起上线了。
“是的，我确定，”伊丽莎白说，脸红着，“我之前有天跟你说过他对达西做过的那些无耻事情。而且你上次在蘑菇屯的时候，也听到他怎么说一个对他宽容礼让的男人。还有一些其它事情我就不提了，也不值得提。但是他只会一直说在彭伯里的假话。听他说的达西小姐，我都彻底准备好见一个高傲，冷漠的女孩了。但是事实完全相反。他肯定知道达西小姐就跟我们发现的一样可爱，而不造作。”
“难道莉迪亚就完全不知道这件事吗？难道她就那么无知，看不到你和简了解的那么清楚的事情吗？”
“是的，这就是最糟的一点。直到我到肯特郡，亲自接触过达西先生和他的亲戚——菲茨威廉姆上校之后，我才明白自己也被蒙在鼓里。然后我赶回家才发现，民兵团会在一两周内离开梅屯。既然是这样，我跟简说完整件事情后，我们两人都觉得这事没必要公开。因为为什么要把街坊邻居对维克汉姆的好印象给推翻了呢？而且直到后来莉迪亚确定要和福斯特太太一起过去玩，我都没想起来跟莉迪亚说明维克汉姆的本性。我当时都没想到她可能会上当受骗。你应该能够猜到，这样的情况跟我的想法相差甚远。”
“他们一起去布莱屯之后，我估计你更没有理由相信他们两人互相爱慕了。”
“一点也不相信。我一点也没看出来他们互相喜欢。一点互相爱慕的痕迹都没有，你一定知道我们这家人不可能看不出来的。一开始维克汉姆到民兵团里来，莉迪亚就迫不及待想喜欢她了。但是我们姑娘都是这样。一开始的两个月里，梅屯里的和附近的姑娘都爱她爱的发疯。（翻译官：是的，我故意翻成琼瑶风格的。）但是维克汉姆并没有对她有特别的关注，因此过了段夸张而狂野的爱慕期后，莉迪亚也就喜欢他了。然后兵团里其它愿意正眼看她的军官就又成了她的最爱。”
很明显，经过不停的讨论，他们害怕着，希望着，推测着，但旅途漫长，新奇感越来越低。伊丽莎白从没有放弃想这件事情。她满脑焦虑自责，根本无法放松片刻，遗忘片刻。
他们尽力地往回干涸，在路上过了一夜，然后在第二天晚饭前到了蘑菇屯。伊丽莎白想到简不用再盼着她回来，心里就舒服多了。
加德纳的小家伙们，看到马车都被吸引过来，伊丽莎白她们刚走到围栏，就看到她们站到门口的楼梯上。马车驶进门前，小家伙们脸上满是惊喜，手舞足蹈起来，欢迎着她们回来。
伊丽莎白跳出马车，匆忙亲了每个小家伙一下，然后赶进客厅，刚好碰到简从母亲的房里出来。
伊丽莎白激动地拥抱了她，两人都是热泪盈眶，然后立刻问了有没有莉迪亚的消息。
“还没有”简回复说，“但是现在叔叔回来了，我希望事情都会好起来。”
“父亲在伦敦吗？”
“是的，他周二就去了，我在信里跟你说了。”
“他经常来信吗？”
“只收到一次。他周四给我写了几句话，说是安全抵达了，然后告诉我该怎么做，这也是我之前这么恳求他的。他只是说了除了有重要的事情，不然不会写信来了。”
“母亲呢，她怎么样了？还有你还好吧？”
“我觉得母亲状况相当好，尽管精神不太振作。她现在楼上，看到你们过来肯定会很开心。她还没离开过卧室。感谢老天，玛丽和凯蒂精神十分不错。”
“但是你呢，你怎么样？”伊丽莎白说，“你看起来很苍白，你真是糟了不少罪啊。”
但是简说自己十分健康。加德纳夫妇见过孩子们后，走了过来，两人也就没有再说话。简跑过去抱了叔叔婶婶，喜极而泣，轮流欢迎又感谢了他们。
然后大家一起到了客厅，他们又问了简一遍伊丽莎白问过的问题，很快他们就发现简啥都不知道。但是她博爱的心滋生的希望，还没有让她放弃。她仍然期待这件事会有个好结果，每天早上她都会带些信过来，既不是莉迪亚，也不是她父亲写的，信里解释了下进度，也可能说得是莉迪亚的婚事。
他们一起来到本内特太太的房间，聊了几分钟后，本内特太太就跟预想中的一样，泪流满面，遗憾而悲痛，咒骂着维克汉姆的恶意行为，然后又开始自怨自艾。怪罪每个人，就是不怪她自己纵然莉迪亚导致今天的局面。
“要是之前让我跟着去布莱顿，这种事就不会发生了。但是可怜的小莉迪亚根本就没人照顾她。为什么福斯特夫妇就这么不负责任？我肯定他们两人有个疏忽了，因为要是有人照看好莉迪亚，她可不会跟人私奔的。我一直觉得他们两人照看不好莉迪亚。可我还是受人家摆布。我可怜的孩子。现在本内特老爷又走了，我知道他一碰到维克汉姆就会打上一架，但是本内特老爷肯定会被杀掉的，到时候我们几个女人家可怎么办？到时候老爷尸骨未寒，柯林斯一家子就会赶我们走。要是兄弟你对我们也不好，那我真不知道该怎么办好了。”
屋里的一群人听到这些话都大呼小叫。加德纳先生反复跟本内特太太说自己不会抛弃她和她的家人，还说自己明天就会到伦敦，竭尽所能协助本内特老爷寻找莉迪亚。
“你不要胡思乱想，”他接着说，”尽管确实需要准备好应付坏情况，但是这也不是肯定发生的。他们离开布莱顿不到一个星期。这几天我们可能就能听到些消息了，直到我们知道他们没结婚之前，而且没有结婚的打算，我们千万别放弃希望。我一到城里就去找我兄弟，让他跟我一起去慈祥教堂大街，然后我们就一起讨论该怎么做。“
”哎呀，我的亲兄弟！“本内特太太说，”我正希望你能这么做。到了伦敦后，不管莉迪亚他们在哪儿，请你务必找到他们。如果他们还没结婚，就逼着他们结婚。没有婚纱也没事，别让他们等着这事，告诉莉迪亚她结了婚之后，她想买什么衣服我们就给她买什么。对了，最重要的事情就是别让本内特老爷大家。告诉他我是多么担惊受怕，我现在是浑身颤抖，身体抽出，脑袋也很疼，而且心脏跳的很厉害，白天也不能休息，晚上也不能休息。告诉我的小莉迪亚，见到我之前不要买什么衣服，她不知道哪家店好。我的好兄弟，你真是个大好人。我知道你都能办到的。“
但是尽管再次向本内特太太确认一定会尽力协助，加德纳先生还是建议她不要过分忧虑，但是也别抱太大期望。然后他们就这样跟本内特太太聊到了吃晚饭，然后就留下她跟仆人聊天了，女儿不再的时候都是仆人负责照看她。
尽管加德纳夫妇觉得不必要和本内特夫人分开吃饭，但是这么做他们也没意见，因为他们知道饭桌上仆人众多，而本内特太太肯定管不住自己的嘴，所以不如让她单独跟一个信得过的仆人待在一起，正好也让她有个伴。
很快玛丽和凯蒂就一起来餐厅吃了晚饭，他们之前都待在自己的房间里没出来见人。一个忙于看书，另一个忙于梳妆打扮。但是她们两人看起来都十分冷静，而且看起来也没有什么变化，除了凯蒂因为失去了最喜欢的姐妹，或者因为她自己也收到这事影响，让她说话的语气相比平时有些急躁。至于玛丽就淑女多了，坐下不久就悄悄问了伊丽莎白，然后脸上露出悲痛的神色。
”这事真是太不幸了。别人很可能会议论纷纷。人心恶毒，我们必须小心防范。姐妹之间ixu联合起来，互相帮助。“
然后感觉到伊丽莎白不想回应，她说：”尽管这事对莉迪亚来说很不好，但是我们可以从中学到一课：女性的名声一丢就再也找不回来了。一个错误的选择可能会让她永远受折磨。她的名声可以很好，也可以一下变坏。所以对于那些不好的男人，女人一定要时刻戒备。“
伊丽莎白惊讶地抬眼看了下她，但是无力做出任何回应。而玛丽呢就在她们面前，不停地进行道德说教，来获得满足感。
下午大姐二姐有了半小时的空闲。伊丽莎白立刻问了简很多问题，而简也同意着急回答。想到这件事情的可怕后果，两个人都很悲伤，伊丽莎白觉得后面肯定没有好结果，而简也觉得不是没可能，伊丽莎白接着说：”跟我说说我没听过的事情。我需要些细节。福斯特上校之前怎么说的？他们私奔之前，他们就没有发现任何迹象么？他们肯定早就看到他们两人腻在一起了。“
”福斯特上校也承认经常看到些可疑的事情，尤其是在莉迪亚这边，但是他当时觉得没什么。我觉得他也挺可怜的。他对莉迪亚也算是照顾有加了，十分友好。他在知道他们没去苏格兰之前就准备过来拜访我们，向我们表达他的关切。而等到人心惶惶的时候，他就立刻赶了过来。“
”那丹尼确信维克汉姆不会娶莉迪亚么？他当时知道他们打算私奔么？福斯特上校见过丹尼了吗？“
”是的。但是他在询问丹尼的时候，丹尼说自己都不知道他们的计划，也不肯说自己的看法。他没说维克汉姆不会结婚，从这点上看，我倾向于他上次的话被误解了。“
“在福斯特上校亲自来之前，你们没人怀疑过他们结过婚了吗？”
“我们怎么会想到这一点！我妹妹要跟维克汉姆结婚，我觉得还是有点不轻松，不知道妹妹跟她在一起会不会幸福，因为我知道他的行事不是一直那么正直。我父亲母亲还不知道他的为人，他们只是感觉这两人不搭。凯蒂因为自己知道的比姐妹们多，就很明显地想显摆下，她说在莉迪亚的最后一封信里面就猜到莉迪亚会这么做。似乎她知道莉迪亚和维克汉姆坠入爱河很久了。”
“但是他们去布莱顿之前没有这样？”
“没有，应该没有。”
“那福斯特上校看起来讨厌维克汉姆吗？他了解维克汉姆的本性吗？”
“我得承认他不像之前那样说维克汉姆的好话。他觉得这人太过鲁莽，而且挥霍无度。自从私奔这事发生后，很多人都说他在梅屯欠了很多债。但我希望这是假话。”
“唉，简，假如我们没有这么保密，假如我们说了他的真实模样，这些事情就都不会发生了。”
“这样也许会好一些，”她姐姐说，“但是在不顾一个人当前感受的情况下，而去暴露一个人之前的过错，这样似乎不公平。我们这么做是为了他考虑。”
“福斯特上校有把莉迪亚的信给他老婆看吗？”
“他把信带过来了。”
简然后把信从口袋里掏出来给伊丽莎白看了。内容如下：“
我亲爱的哈莉特，
你知道我的时候肯定会大笑，但是我想到你明早惊讶的样子就忍不住想先笑，当时你肯定会想我的。我要去格雷特纳格林，而如果你猜不到我跟谁去的，那你就是个啥子，因为这个世上我只爱一个男人，他是个天使呢。没有他我是永远不会幸福的，所以我离开你也别觉得有什么不妥。你要是不乐意，那也不必给我的家人写信说我离开了，因为我自己写信给他们落款莉迪亚.维克汉姆的话，肯定会让他们更惊讶。这该是都么好玩的一件事啊！我现在都笑得快写不下去了。请帮我编个理由给普拉特，因为之前跟他约好今晚跳舞的事情，看来是实现不了了。告诉他我希望他得知真相后能原谅我，而且我下次舞会上遇到他，会很乐意跟他跳舞的。我回到蘑菇屯之后会写信来取衣服的。但请你告诉萨利在打包我的长裙前先把缝都缝起来。再见啦！替我向福斯特上校问好！我希望你们能向这段旅程喝酒致敬。
你亲爱的朋友
莉迪亚.本内特
”
“苍天！这个无脑的，无脑的莉迪亚！”伊丽莎白一读完就大叫起来。“在这种时候，写这种信算是什么事情。但是这信最起码说明了她是真打算私奔。不管维克汉姆之后让她做什么事情，这不是单方面的哄骗。我可怜的父亲！他听说了该会是什么感觉！”
“我从没见过谁那么震惊过！他整整十分钟都没说过话！母亲当时就倒下了，整个屋子里都不知所措。”
“哦！简，”伊丽莎白又说道，“家里的佣人应该都当天就知道这个事情了吧！”
“我不知道，但是我希望不是这样把。但是这个时候保守秘密是很难的。母亲精神状况不好，尽管我尽全力照顾她，但恐怕还有照顾不周的地方。我很害怕会发生什么事情，所以总是不知所措。”
“你照顾她把自己也给搞垮了。你看起来不太好。哎，我之前要是跟你在一起，你就不会自己一人承担这些照顾和焦虑了。”
“玛丽和凯蒂都很好，尽力帮我照顾了，但是我觉得对她们来说可能不太公平。凯蒂身体娇弱，而玛丽又老是在学习，也不该在休息的时候打扰她。周二的时候我父亲去伦敦之后，菲利普姨妈过来了，然后很好心的陪我待到周四。她帮了我们很多，让我们送了一口气，卢卡斯太太也很好。周四的时候她走过来安慰我们，还说要帮我们忙，她或者她的女儿，只要是能帮上忙的，尽管差遣。”
“她最好还是别过来了吧，“伊丽莎白说，”但是遇到这种不幸的事情，谁还乐意见到自己的邻居？帮忙肯定不让他们帮。过来慰问，又让我们浑身难受。就让他们远远地乐着去吧，让他们满意。“
然后伊丽莎白又开始询问父亲在伦敦，打算用什么方法找回他的女儿。
”我觉得他应该是想去爱普生找当时驾马车的人，“简回答说，”因为莉迪亚他们是在那里换马的，看看能不能打听出什么消息。他的首要目标应该是找到他们在克拉铂姆坐的马车号码。那辆马车是带了个客人从伦敦来的。而他的想法是一个先生和一个小姐换马车应该会给人留下点印象的，他打算在克拉铂姆打听消息。如果他能发现车夫是在哪家门口卸下那些客人，他便接着去那儿打听，寄希望于能找到马车的编号。我不知道他是否还有其他计划，因为他当时走的时候很匆忙，精神也很乱，就我刚才说得那些都是好不容易才发现的。“
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