46 Pride And Prejudice - Stephanie Poppins
Pride and Prejudice is a classic tale of love and uncertainty by English Author Jane Austen. In these gently read stories, we escape into a time long past. In this episode, Elizabeth receives some devastating news. Read and Performed by English author Stephanie Poppins.
Transcript
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Read by S.
D.
Hudson Chapter 46 Elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Jane Austen had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane Austen.
Colonel Foster came yesterday,
Having left Brighton the day before,
Not many hours after the express.
Colonel Foster came yesterday,
Having left Brighton the day before,
Not many hours after the express.
Colonel Foster came yesterday,
Having left Brighton the day before,
Not many hours after the express.
Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs F gave them to understand they were going to Gretna Green,
Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs F gave them to understand they were going to Gretna Green,
Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs F gave them to understand they were going to Gretna Green,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
Something was dropped by Denny,
Expressing his relief that W never intended to go there or marry Lydia at all,
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
With the kindness concern he came on to Longbourn and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart.
Oh,
Where is my uncle?
Cried Elizabeth,
Darting from her seat as she finished the letter,
In eagerness to follow 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.
Elizabeth's pale face and impetuous manner made him start,
And before he could recover himself 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.
Gardiner,
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 commissioned 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,
Elizabeth 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,
Elizabeth 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 concern,
And observe her in compassionate silence.
At length she spoke again.
She is lost forever.
Darcy was fixed in astonishment.
When I consider,
She added,
In a yet more agitated voice,
That I might have prevented it,
I who knew what he was.
Had I but explained some part of it only,
Some part of what I learnt to my own family,
Had his character been known,
This could not have happened.
But it is all too late now.
I am grieved indeed,
Cried Darcy.
Grieved.
Shocked.
But is it certain?
Absolutely certain.
Oh yes,
They left Brighton together on Sunday night and were traced almost to London,
But not beyond.
They have certainly not gone to Scotland.
And what has been done?
What has been attempted to recover her?
My father has gone to London,
And Jane has written to beg my uncle's immediate assistance,
And we shall be off,
I hope,
In half an hour.
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 even to be discovered?
I have not the smallest hope.
It is in every way horrible.
Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence.
When my eyes were opened to his real character,
Oh,
Had I known what I thought,
What I dared to do,
But I knew not.
I was afraid of doing too much.
Wretched,
Wretched mistake.
Darcy made no answer.
He seemed scarcely to hear her.
He was walking up and down the room in earnest meditation,
His brow contracted,
His air gloomy.
Elizabeth soon observed and instantly understood.
Her power was sinking.
Everything must sink under such a proof of family weakness,
Such an assurance of the deepest disgrace.
She could neither wonder nor condemn,
But the belief of his self-conquest brought nothing consolatory to her bosom,
Afforded no palliation of her distress.
It was,
On the contrary,
Exactly calculated to make her understand her own wishes,
And never had she so honestly felt that she could have loved him as now,
When all love must be vain.
But self,
Though it would intrude,
Could not engross her.
Lydia,
The humiliation,
The misery she was bringing on them all,
Soon swallowed up every private care,
And covering her face with her handkerchief,
Elizabeth was soon lost to everything else.
And after a pause of several minutes,
Was only recalled to a sense of her situation by the voice of her companion,
Who,
In a manner which,
Though it spoke compassion,
Spoke likewise restraint,
Said,
I am afraid you have been long desiring my absence,
Nor have I anything to plead in excuse of my stay,
But real,
Though unavailing concern.
Would to heaven that anything could be either said or done on my part,
That might offer consolation to such distress,
But I will not torment you with vain wishes,
Which may seem purposely to ask for your thanks.
This unfortunate affair will,
I fear,
Prevent my sisters having the pleasure of seeing you at Pemberley to-day.
Oh,
Yes,
Be so kind as to apologise for us to Miss Darcy.
Say that urgent business calls us home immediately.
Please conceal the unhappy truth as long as it is possible.
I know it cannot be long.
Darcy readily assured her of his secrecy,
Again expressed his sorrow for her distress,
Wished it a happier conclusion than there was at present reason to hope,
And leaving his compliments for her relations,
With only one serious parting look,
Went away.
As he quitted the room,
Elizabeth felt how improbable it was they should ever see each other again on such terms of cordiality as had marked their several meetings in Derbyshire,
And as she threw a retrospective glance over the whole of their acquaintance,
So full of contradictions and varieties,
Sighed at the perverseness of those feelings,
Which would now have promoted its continuance,
And would formally have rejoiced in its termination.
If gratitude and esteem are good foundations of affection,
Elizabeth's change of sentiment will be neither improbable nor faulty,
But if otherwise,
If the regard springing from such sources is unreasonable or unnatural,
In comparison of what is so often described as arising on a first interview with its object,
And even before two words have been exchanged,
Nothing can be said in her defence,
Except that she had given somewhat of a trial to the latter method in her partiality for Wickham,
And that its ill success might,
Perhaps,
Authorise her to seek the other less interesting mode of attachment.
Be that as it may,
She saw Darcy go with regret,
And in this early example of what Lysia's infamy must produce,
Found additional anguish as she reflected on that wretched business.
Never,
Since reading Jane's second letter,
Had she entertained a hope of Wickham's meaning to marry her.
No one but Jane,
She thought,
Could flatter herself with such an expectation.
Surprise was the least of her feelings on this development.
While the contents of the first letter remained on her mind,
She was all surprise,
All astonishment,
That Wickham should marry a girl whom it was impossible he could marry for money,
And how Lydia could ever have attached him had appeared incomprehensible.
But now it was all too natural.
For such an attachment as this,
She might have sufficient charms,
And though she did not suppose Lydia to be deliberately engaging in an elopement without the intention of marriage,
She had no difficulty in believing neither her virtue nor her understanding would preserve her from falling an easy prey.
Elizabeth had never perceived,
While the regiment was in Hertfordshire,
That Lydia had any partiality for him,
But she was convinced Lydia had only wanted encouragement to attach herself to anybody.
Sometimes one officer,
Sometimes another,
Had been her favourite,
As their attentions raised them in her opinion.
Her affections had been continually fluctuating,
But never without an object.
The mischief of neglect and mistaken indulgence towards such a girl!
How acutely did she now feel it!
Elizabeth was wild to be at home,
To hear,
To see,
To be upon the spot,
To share with Jane in the cares that must now fall wholly upon her in a family so deranged.
A father absent,
A mother incapable of exertion,
And requiring constant attendance.
And though almost persuaded that nothing could be done for Lydia,
Elizabeth's uncle's interference seemed of the utmost importance.
Until he entered the room,
The misery of her impatience was severe.
Mr.
And Mrs.
Gardiner had hurried back in alarm,
Supposing by the servant's account their niece was taken suddenly ill.
But satisfying them instantly on that head,
She eagerly communicated the cause of their summons,
Reading the two letters aloud and dwelling on the postscript of the last with trembling energy.
Though Lydia had never been a favourite with them,
Mr.
And Mrs.
Gardiner could not but be deeply affected.
Not Lydia only,
But all were concerned in it,
And after the first exclamations of surprise and horror,
Mr.
Gardiner readily promised every assistance in his power.
Elizabeth,
Though expecting no less,
Thanked him with tears of gratitude,
And all three being actuated by one spirit,
Everything relating to their journey was speedily settled.
They were to be off as soon as possible.
But what is to be done about Pemberley?
Cried Mrs.
Gardiner.
John told us Mr.
Darcy was here when you sent for us.
Was it so?
Yes,
And I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement.
That is all settled.
That is all settled?
Repeated the other as she ran into her room to prepare,
And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real truth?
Oh,
That I knew how it was!
But wishes were vain,
Or at best could serve only to amuse her in the hurry and confusion of the following hour.
Had Elizabeth been at leisure to be idle,
She would have remained certain that all employment was impossible to one so wretched as herself.
But she had her share of business as well as her art,
And amongst the rest there were notes to be written to all their friends in Lambton with false excuses for their sudden departure.
An hour,
However,
Saw the whole completed,
And Mr.
Gardiner,
Meanwhile,
Having settled his account at the inn,
Nothing remained to be done but to go,
And Elizabeth,
After all the misery of the morning,
Found herself in a shorter space of time than she could have supposed,
Seated in the carriage and on the road to Longbourn.
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4.9 (57)
Recent Reviews
Becka
March 7, 2024
Wretched Wickham! (Also the high drama of such a thing, considered the height of impropriety then… very well read! More, soon, please!🤪😻