Гордість і упередження

           Mr.andMrs.Gardinerhadhurriedbackinalarm,supposingbytheservant’saccountthattheirniecewastakensuddenlyill; butsatisfyingtheminstantlyonthathead,sheeagerlycommunicatedthecauseoftheirsummons,readingthetwolettersaloud,anddwellingonthepostscriptofthelastwithtremblingenergy,thoughLydiahadneverbeenafavouritewiththem,Mr.andMrs.Gardinercouldnotbutbedeeplyafflicted. NotLydiaonly,butallwereconcernedinit;andafterthefirstexclamationsofsurpriseandhorror,Mr.Gardinerpromisedeveryassistanceinhispower. Elizabeth,thoughexpectingnoless,thankedhimwithtearsofgratitude;andallthreebeingactuatedbyonespirit,everythingrelatingtotheirjourneywasspeedilysettled. Theyweretobeoffassoonaspossible. "ButwhatistobedoneaboutPemberley?"criedMrs.Gardiner. "JohntoldusMr.Darcywasherewhenyousentforus;wasitso?" 

           "Yes;andItoldhimweshouldnotbeabletokeepourengagement. Thatisallsettled." 

           "Whatisallsettled?"repeatedtheother,assheranintoherroomtoprepare. "Andaretheyuponsuchtermsasforhertodisclosetherealtruth? Oh,thatIknewhowitwas!" 

           Butwisheswerevain,oratleastcouldonlyservetoamuseherinthehurryandconfusionofthefollowinghour. HadElizabethbeenatleisuretobeidle,shewouldhaveremainedcertainthatallemploymentwasimpossibletoonesowretchedasherself; butshehadhershareofbusinessaswellasheraunt,andamongsttheresttherewerenotestobewrittentoalltheirfriendsatLambton,withfalseexcusesfortheirsuddendeparture. Anhour,however,sawthewholecompleted; andMr.Gardinermeanwhilehavingsettledhisaccountattheinn,nothingremainedtobedonebuttogo; andElizabeth,afterallthemiseryofthemorning,foundherself,inashorterspaceoftimethanshecouldhavesupposed,seatedinthecarriage,andontheroadtoLongbourn.