I am grieved, Miss Bennet. Grieved indeed!

ELIZABETH.

Oh, Mr. Darcy, you were right. If I had only believed you! You, and others! But I could not believe it. [_She sobs._]

DARCY.

[_Greatly moved._] What is it, my dear Miss Bennet? What has happened?

ELIZABETH.

[_Wildly._] Oh, I cannot tell it, and yet everyone must know! My sister Lydia--has--has eloped--has thrown herself into the power of--of _Mr.

Wickham_! She has no money, nothing that can tempt him to--she is lost forever! [_She sobs again._]

DARCY.

Good G.o.d, Miss Bennet! Your sister and Wickham! Oh, this is _my_ fault.

I should have realised this danger--I should have spoken. My own wretched experience with this man should have been told.

ELIZABETH.

[_Wonderingly._] Your experience!

DARCY.

Yes--I--you remember. I hinted it to you--to-day. But I should long ago have spoken boldly.

ELIZABETH.

What do you mean?

DARCY.

Mr. Wickham attempted this same plan with my own sister--two years ago.

She was an ignorant, innocent, trusting girl of fifteen. Happily, his villainy was discovered and prevented. But oh, I should have told you!

Had his character been known, this could not have happened.

ELIZABETH.

You tried to tell me, Mr. Darcy. Everybody has tried to warn me. But I could not believe it, and now--it is too late, too late!

DARCY.

Let us hope not. Is what you have told me certain--absolutely certain?

ELIZABETH.

Oh, yes. They left Brighton together on Sunday night. They are certainly not gone to Scotland.

DARCY.

And what has been done, or attempted, to recover your sister?

ELIZABETH.

My father has gone to London. He will beg my uncle Gardiner's a.s.sistance. 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 ever to be discovered? I have not the smallest hope. It is all horrible!

DARCY.

Miss Bennet, I have made a wretched mistake in all this. Would to Heaven that anything could be said or done on my part that might make you reparation, or offer consolation to such distress!

[ELIZABETH _sinks sobbing into a chair while_ DARCY _walks up and down in deep thought. In a moment a carriage is heard outside--then voices._]

DARCY.

[_Looking out._] Mr. and Mrs. Collins are returning. What would you wish me to do?

ELIZABETH.

Oh, I do not know! I do not know!

DARCY.

[_Returning to_ ELIZABETH, _speaks quickly and in deep concern_.] You really wish to return home at once?

ELIZABETH.

[_Rising from her chair._] Oh, yes, yes--at once. [_Reaching her hand to him appealingly._] Take me home, Mr. Darcy! Take me home!

[_At this instant_ MR. AND MRS. COLLINS _appear at the garden door, and, transfixed with astonishment, stand gazing at_ DARCY _and_ ELIZABETH.]