JANE.

[_Who has been looking off toward the driveway during part of this tirade._] Oh, mamma--mamma! Lizzy's running up the drive. She is smiling! She has some good news, I am sure.

MRS. BENNET.

Take care, Jane. You are exciting me. Oh, my poor nerves.

[ELIZABETH _enters, breathless. She has a letter in her hand._]

ELIZABETH.

Oh, good news--good news, Jane!--mamma! They are married!

JANE.

Oh, Lizzy--Lizzy!

MRS. BENNET.

You are sure, Lizzy? Don't excite me. You are sure?

ELIZABETH.

[_Half laughing and half crying._] Oh, yes, 'tis certain. My dear Aunt Gardiner has written me all about it. They are really married! Oh, how good my uncle is! [_She kisses the letter._]

MRS. BENNET.

Oh, Jane--Oh, Lizzy! My dear, dear Lydia! She is really married! I shall see her again! Oh, my good, kind brother! But how did it happen, Lizzy?

JANE.

Yes, tell us all about it. Let me read it. [_She reaches for the letter._]

ELIZABETH.

[_Keeping the letter._] No, I will tell you. Well, my father and my uncle succeeded in finding Lydia. My aunt does not tell me just how it was done.

MRS. BENNET.

[_Triumphantly._] And your father found that they were married after all. I told him----

ELIZABETH.

No, mamma. They were not married, and they had no idea of being--but my father and uncle insisted upon it. They took Lydia away at once to my aunt's house and from there, they were married only yesterday at St.

Clement's Church.

MRS. BENNET.

St. Clement's--fine!

ELIZABETH.

My dear good uncle has arranged to have all Mr. Wickham's debts paid and my father is to settle an allowance on Lydia.

JANE.

But where are they? What are they going to do?

ELIZABETH.

My father is coming home at once. He may be here at any moment. At first he would not consent to let Lydia and Wickham come to us, but my aunt and uncle urged it--and my father knew how anxious mamma would be--and so _they_ are coming here too.

JANE.

At once?

ELIZABETH.

Yes, directly, to-day.

MRS. BENNET.

Oh, my dear Lydia! How I long to see her, and to see my dear Wickham too. But the clothes, the wedding clothes! I must write to my Sister Gardiner about them directly.

[_She tries to get out of the chair._]

JANE.

Oh, mamma, there is plenty of time for that.

MRS. BENNET.