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'Oh! where, where is my uncle?' cried Elizabeth, darting

from her seat as she finished the letter, in eagerness to fol-

low him, without losing a moment of the time so precious;

but as she reached the door, it was opened by a servant,

and Mr. Darcy appeared. Her pale face and impetuous

manner made him start, and before he could recover him-

self enough to speak, she, in whose mind every idea was

superseded by Lydia's situation, hastily exclaimed, 'I beg

your pardon, but I must leave you. I must find Mr. Gar-

diner this moment on business that cannot be delayed; I

have not an instant to lose.'

'Good God! what is the matter?' cried he, with more

feeling than politeness; then recollecting himself, 'I will not

detain you a minute; but let me, or let the servant, go after

Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner. You are not well enough; you

cannot go yourself.'

Elizabeth hesitated, but her knees trembled under her, and

she felt how little would be gained by her attempting to

pursue them. Calling back the servant, therefore, she com-

missioned him, though in so breathless an accent as made

her almost unintelligible, to fetch his master and mistress

home instantly.

On his quitting the room, she sat down, unable to support

herself, and looking so miserably ill, that it was impossible

for Darcy to leave her, or to refrain from saying, in a

tone of gentleness and commiseration, 'Let me call your

maid. Is there nothing you could take to give you present

relief? A glass of wine; shall I get you one? You are

very ill.'

'No, I thank you,' she replied, endeavouring to recover

herself. 'There is nothing the matter with me. I am quite

well, I am only distressed by some dreadful news which I

have just received from Longbourn.'

She burst into tears as she alluded to it, and for a few

minutes could not speak another word. Darcy, in wretched

suspense, could only say something indistinctly of his con-

cern, and observe her in compassionate silence. At length

she spoke again. 'I have just had a letter from Jane, with

such dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from any one.

My youngest sister has left all her friends -- has eloped; has

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