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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. "I have just had a letter from Jane, with such

dreadful news. It cannot be concealed from anyone. My youngest

sister has left all her friends--has eloped; has thrown herself

into the power of--of Mr. Wickham. They are gone off together

from Brighton. You know him too well to doubt the rest. She has

no money, no connections, nothing that can tempt him to--she is

lost for ever."

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, all too late now."