Pride and Prejudice, a play by Mary Keith Medbery Mackaye Part 45

LADY CATHERINE.

Selfish girl! You are then resolved to have him?

ELIZABETH.

Lady Catherine, I have nothing further to say.

LADY CATHERINE.

[_Rising from her chair._] Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine your ambition will be gratified. Depend upon it, I shall carry my point. [_Going._] I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. You deserve no such attention. You will see what it is to rouse my displeasure.

[LADY CATHERINE _goes out_.]

ELIZABETH.

[_Sinking upon the garden seat, overwhelmed._] Can it be possible? Do we owe all this to Darcy? Oh, it is intolerable! [_She puts her hands over her face in an abandonment of grief._]

JANE.

[_Is heard outside calling._] Lizzy! Lizzy! [_She enters, and on seeing her sister rushes to her._] Lizzy dear! What is it? Is there any new trouble?

ELIZABETH.

[_Throwing her arms about her sister._] Oh, Jane, Jane! Yes, there is no end of trouble. Lady Catherine has been here.

JANE.

[_Astounded._] Lady Catherine!

ELIZABETH.

Yes, yes, and--she says--that--oh, Jane----

JANE.

[_Distressed._] _Tell_ me, Lizzy!

ELIZABETH.

She says it was Darcy who paid all the money to Wickham--it was Darcy saved us--and--and she says I persuaded him. _I_ ensnared him, and--and she has insulted me.

JANE.

My dear, dear Lizzy. There _must_ be some mistake. It was my good uncle who----

ELIZABETH.

[_A little calmer._] No--no, Jane, it must be true. I can put things together now. My aunt's hints in the letter--you know I did not want to show it you. Then what Lydia let fall, and her fear of Wickham's anger.

JANE.

[_Soothingly._] Well, dear, even so, Mr. Darcy's _motive_ is clear enough--and that should give you no pain.

ELIZABETH.

You are mistaken. I know his motive. He feels that he is responsible because he was silent about Wickham's true character. He told me that all this would never have happened, had he done his duty. And now, he will despise us. He will never wish to see us again as long as he lives!

[_She walks up and down in great excitement._]

HARRIS.

[_Entering; to_ JANE.] The young gentlemen from Netherfield, Madam. I told them they would find you here.

ELIZABETH.

Oh, Jane, I _cannot_ see them.

[_She tries to run away, but before she can escape_ BINGLEY _enters, all smiles, followed by_ DARCY, _who looks very much troubled and excited. They are both in riding dress_; DARCY _carries a whip_.]

BINGLEY.

[_Shaking hands._] Miss Bennet, I am so happy to see you again. Miss Elizabeth, it is good indeed to be back once more at Longbourn.

[_He takes_ JANE _to a garden seat_.]

DARCY.

[_Embarra.s.sed._] Miss Bennet, believe me, I should not have followed my friend. I only expected to ride with him to the Lodge, but--but I met my aunt coming away from here, and from something she said, I feared,--I imagined she might have offended--distressed you.

[ELIZABETH _does not reply_.]

BINGLEY.