ACT IV

_The Lawn and Shrubbery at Longbourn._ MRS. BENNET _is seated in a garden chair with pillows at her back. She has an umbrella over her head. Near her stands a table on which are bottles, dishes, etc.

She wears a big cap, and is gowned in a widely-flowing, flowered chamber-robe, over which is fastened a shawl; across her knees is a lap-robe. Her entire get-up is grotesque and laughable. About her hover the housekeeper_, HILL _and_ JANE.

JANE.

Dear mamma, do try and take some of this nice gruel. You will be ill if you do not eat something.

HILL.

Yes, do, I beg of you, Madam. Now that you are once more in the air, if you will only take some food you will feel much better.

MRS. BENNET.

[_Fretfully._] How can I feel better? I must be ill. It is all very well for the rest of you, now that this disgrace has been brought upon me--but if I had been able to carry my point--if I could have gone to Brighton with all my family, this would never have happened. But poor dear Lydia had n.o.body to take care of her. Oh, that villainous Wickham!

I am sure there was some great neglect or other somewhere, for Lydia is not the kind of girl to run away with a man. But no one would listen to me. I was overruled, as I always am. Poor Lydia! Poor dear child!

JANE.

[_Soothingly._] Oh, mamma, try to be calm.

HILL.

Yes, Madam, this excitement is so bad for you.

MRS. BENNET.

How can I help being excited? You have no feelings. Here is Mr. Bennet gone away, and I know he will fight that abominable Wickham and be killed. And then what is to become of us all? The Collinses will turn us out before Mr. Bennet is cold in his grave.

JANE.

Oh, mamma, do not have such terrific ideas.

MRS. BENNET.

[_Weeping._] If my brother Gardiner is not kind to me, I do not know what we shall do.

JANE.

Yes, yes. My Uncle Gardiner is very kind. He is doing everything in his power for us. He is helping my father now in London, you know. I hope he will find Lydia, and perhaps he may be able to arrange a marriage after all. You must not give up so, dear mamma.

HILL.

No indeed, Madam. You must not indeed.

MRS. BENNET.

[_Brightening._] Yes, Jane, that is true. My brother may be able to see that they are married. Write to him at once, Jane. Tell him to find them out wherever they may be, and if they are not married already, make them marry. Oh, I do think that Wickham is the wickedest young man in the world to so deceive my poor innocent Lydia. But, Jane, go and write my brother and tell him that Lydia need not wait for wedding clothes--don't let her even give directions till she has seen me, for she doesn't know which are the best warehouses. And oh, Jane, tell my brother to keep your father from fighting that hateful Wickham. Tell him what a dreadful state I am in.

JANE.

Yes, mamma. [_She is about to go._]

MRS. BENNET.

Where are you going?

JANE.

Why, to write the letter, mamma.

MRS. BENNET.

[_Fretfully._] Oh, not just this minute. Don't leave me alone. Where is Lizzy?

JANE.

She has gone down the road to meet the post. She hopes to bring you good news.

MRS. BENNET.

[_Lamenting._] She had better stay here and be of some help. She has only just got home and now she leaves me. But n.o.body thinks of me.

n.o.body knows what I suffer. I am frightened out of my wits. I have such tremblings and flutterings all over me--such spasms in my side--and pains in my head, and such beatings at my heart. Oh, I can get no rest by night or by day! [_To_ HILL.] You might try and do something, Hill.

Where is my soothing draught?

HILL.

[_Looking._] Here, Madam. No, I must have left it in your room. I will run fetch it. [_She goes out quickly._]