Pride & Prejudice Page #7

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about his mouth when he speaks.

You don't mind delaying

our journey another day?

He particularly wants you

to meet his sister.

His sister.

Miss Elizabeth!

My sister, Miss Georgiana.

My brother has told me

so much about you,

- I feel as if we are friends already.

- Thank you.

- What a beautiful pianoforte.

- My brother gave it to me.

- He shouldn't have.

- I should have.

- Very well then.

- Easily persuaded, is she not?

He once had to put up with my playing.

- He says you play so well.

- Then he has perjured himself.

- I said "quite well".

- "Quite well" is not "very well".

I'm satisfied.

- Mr Gardiner, are you fond of fishing?

- Very much.

Would you accompany me

to the lake this afternoon?

Its occupants have been left

in peace too long.

- I would be delighted.

- Do you play duets, Miss Elizabeth?

- Only when forced.

- Brother, you must force her.

Splendid fishing, good

company. What a capital fellow.

Thank you so much, Mr Darcy.

A letter for you, madam.

Oh, it's from Jane.

It is the most dreadful news.

Lydia has run away...

...with Mr Wickham.

They are gone to Lord knows where.

She has no money, no connections.

I fear she is lost forever.

This is my fault.

If only I had exposed Wickham

when I should.

No, this is my fault.

I might have prevented all this

by being open with my sisters.

Has anything been done to recover her?

My father has gone to London,

but I know nothing can be done.

We have not the smallest hope.

Would I could help you.

Sir, I think it is too late.

This is grave indeed.

I will leave you. Goodbye.

We must go at once.

I will join Mr Bennet and find Lydia

before she ruins the family.

Why did the Forsters

let her out of their sight?

I always said they were unfit

to take charge of her.

- And now she is ruined.

- You are all ruined.

Who will take you now

with a fallen sister?

Poor Mr Bennet will now have

to fight the perfidious Wickham

and then be killed.

He hasn't found him yet, Mama.

Mr Collins will turn us out

before he is cold.

Do not be so alarmed. Our uncle

is in London helping in the search.

Lydia must know

what this must be doing to my nerves.

Such flutterings

and spasms all over me!

My baby Lydia, my baby!

How could she do such a thing

to her poor mama?

- You can't do that!

- Don't be such a baby.

- Kitty, give it to me.

- Who's it for?

It's addressed to Papa.

It's in Uncle's writing.

Papa, there's a letter.

- Let me catch my breath.

- It's in Uncle's writing.

- He's found them.

- Are they married?

- I can't make out his script.

- Give it to me.

Are they married?

They will be if Father settles 100

a year on her. That is his condition.

- You will agree to this, Father?

- Of course.

God knows how much your uncle

must've laid on that wretched man.

What do you mean?

No man would marry Lydia

under so slight

a temptation as 100 a year.

Your uncle must've been very generous.

Do you think it a large sum?

Wickham's a fool if he

accepts less than 10,000.

- Heaven forbid!

- Father!

Lydia married and at 15 too!

Ring the bell, Kitty.

I must put on my things and tell

Lady Lucas. Oh, to see her face.

Tell the servants

they will have a bowl of punch.

- We should thank our uncle.

- So he should help.

He's far richer than us

and has no children. Daughter married!

Is that really all you think about?

When you have five daughters, tell me

what else will occupy your thoughts.

Then perhaps you'll understand.

You don't know what he's like.

- Lydia!

- Oh, Mama!

We passed Sarah Sims in her carriage.

So I took off my glove

so she might see the ring.

Then I bowed and smiled

like anything...

I'm sure she was not

half as radiant as you, my dear.

You must all go to Brighton.

That is the place to get husbands.

I hope you have half my good luck.

Lydia.

I want to hear

every little detail, Lydia, dear.

I've been enlisted

in a regiment in the North of England.

Glad to hear it.

Near Newcastle.

We travel there next week.

- Can I come and stay with you?

- That is out of the question.

Monday morning came

and I was in such a fuss.

I don't want to hear.

There was my aunt preaching away

as if reading a sermon.

- She was horrid unpleasant.

- Can't you understand why?

But I didn't hear a word because

I was thinking of my dear Wickham.

I longed to know if

he'd be married in his bluecoat.

The North of England, I believe,

boasts some spectacular scenery.

So I thought, who is to be

our best man if he doesn't come back?

Lucky, he did,

or I would've had to ask Mr Darcy.

- Mr Darcy!

- I forgot!

- But I shouldn't have said a word.

- Mr Darcy was at your wedding?

He was the one that discovered us.

He paid for the wedding,

Wickham's commission, everything.

But he told me not to tell.

- Mr Darcy?

- Stop it, Lizzie.

Mr Darcy's not half as high and mighty

as you sometimes.

Kitty, have you seen my ring?

Write to me often, my dear.

Married women

never have much time for writing.

I dare say you won't.

When I married your father, there didn't

seem to be enough hours in the day.

My sisters may write to me,

for they'll have nothing else to do.

There's nothing so bad

as parting with one's children.

One seems so forlorn without them.

- Goodbye.

- Goodbye, Lydia. Goodbye, Mr Wickham.

Bye, Kitty. Bye, Papa.

I can't imagine what your

father does with all that ink.

Mrs Bennet.

Did you hear the news, madam?

Mr Bingley is returning to Netherfield.

Mrs Nichols is ordering a haunch

of pork. She expects him tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Not that I care.

Mr Bingley's nothing to us.

I'm sure I never want

to see him again, no.

We shan't mention a word about it.

Is it quite certain he's coming?

Yes, madam. I believe he's alone.

His sister remains in town.

Why he thinks we should be interested,

I've no idea. Come along, girls.

We better go home at once

and tell Mr Bennet.

The impudence of the man.

I wonder he dare show his face.

It's all right, Lizzie.

I'm just glad he's alone

because we shall see less of him.

Not that I'm afraid of myself.

But I dread other people's remarks.

Oh, I'm sorry.

He's here. He's here. He's at the door.

- Mr Bingley!

- Mr Bingley?

Oh, my goodness!

Everybody behave naturally.

And whatever you do,

do not appear overbearing.

There's someone with him.

Mr Whatsisname, the pompous one.

Mr Darcy? The insolence of

it. What does he think of, coming here?

Keep still, Jane. Mary, put that away at

once. Find some useful employment.

Oh, my Lord, I shall have a seizure,

I'm sure I shall.

Kitty.

- We can't have this here.

- Mary, the ribbons, the ribbons.

Mary, sit down at once. Mary!

Mr Darcy and Mr Bingley, ma'am.

How glad we are

to see you, Mr Bingley.

There have been

many changes since you went away.

Miss Lucas is married and settled.

And one of my own daughters too.

You will have seen it in the papers,

though it was not put in

as it ought to have been.

Very short. Nothing about her family.

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