第102章[第5页/共5页]

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.”

“Oh! where, 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.Her pale face and impetuous manner made him start,and before he could recover himself to speak, she, in whose mind every idea was superseded by Lydia's situation, hastily exclaimed,“I beg your pardon,but I must leave you.I must find Mr.Gardiner this moment, on business that cannot be delayed;I have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.”

Darcy was fixed in astonishment.