Pride and Prejudice: Lydia's Elopement

At the inn in Lambton, Elizabeth was disappointed for two mornings in a row because there was no letter from Jane, but on the third day two letters arrived at once.The first had been sent to the wrong address, and its second half, written in evident agitation, told her that Lydia had run away to Scotland with an officer, Mr. Wickham.Jane tried to hope for the best, but the second letter, written a day later, was far worse.It said that the couple had been traced as far as London but no farther, and that there was great reason to fear they had never gone to Scotland at all.Their mother was ill in bed, their father had gone to London to search for Lydia, and Jane begged her uncle Mr. Gardiner to come and help at once.

“Oh! where, where is my uncle?” cried Elizabeth, rushing to the door, but as she reached it, a servant opened it and Mr. Darcy walked in.Seeing her pale face, he asked in alarm what had happened, and, because she was shaking too much to go after her uncle herself, he let a servant fetch the Gardiners.He offered her a glass of wine and his gentlest concern, but she only burst into tears and told him the dreadful news.Her youngest sister had eloped with Mr. Wickham, a man with no money, and Elizabeth said that she herself might have prevented it by telling her family what she knew of him.

Darcy was shocked and said little, then walked up and down the room with a dark, thoughtful face.Elizabeth believed that he was thinking of the shame of such a family, and she felt her hopes sink.Strangely, it was exactly then that she understood her own heart, for she had never felt so honestly that she could have loved him, now that all love must be in vain.Darcy politely regretted that his sister would not have the pleasure of seeing her at Pemberley that day, and Elizabeth asked him to keep the unhappy secret for as long as possible.He promised his secrecy, wished her a happier ending than she could expect, and left after one long, serious look.

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner hurried home, fearing that their niece had suddenly fallen ill, and when she read them the letters, Mr. Gardiner promised every help he could give.Within an hour they had written their excuses to their friends in Lambton, paid the innkeeper and set out for Longbourn.