Pride and Prejudice, a play founded on Jane Austen's novel

Elizabeth

[Half laughing and half crying.] Oh, yes, 'tis certain. My dear Aunt Gardiner has written me all about it. They are really married! Oh, how good my uncle is! [She kisses the letter.]

Mrs. Bennet

Oh, Jane – Oh, Lizzy! My dear, dear Lydia! She is really married! I shall see her again! Oh, my good, kind brother! But how did it happen, Lizzy?

Jane

Yes, tell us all about it. Let me read it. [She reaches for the letter.]

Elizabeth

[Keeping the letter.] No, I will tell you. Well, my father and my uncle succeeded in finding Lydia. My aunt does not tell me just how it was done.

Mrs. Bennet

[Triumphantly.] And your father found that they were married after all. I told him —

Elizabeth

No, mamma. They were not married, and they had no idea of being – but my father and uncle insisted upon it. They took Lydia away at once to my aunt's house and from there, they were married only yesterday at St. Clement's Church.

Mrs. Bennet

St. Clement's – fine!

Elizabeth

My dear good uncle has arranged to have all Mr. Wickham's debts paid and my father is to settle an allowance on Lydia.

Jane

But where are they? What are they going to do?

Elizabeth

My father is coming home at once. He may be here at any moment. At first he would not consent to let Lydia and Wickham come to us, but my aunt and uncle urged it – and my father knew how anxious mamma would be – and so they are coming here too.

Jane

At once?

Elizabeth

Yes, directly, to-day.

Mrs. Bennet

Oh, my dear Lydia! How I long to see her, and to see my dear Wickham too. But the clothes, the wedding clothes! I must write to my Sister Gardiner about them directly.

[She tries to get out of the chair.]

Jane

Oh, mamma, there is plenty of time for that.

Mrs. Bennet

Well, perhaps so. My dear, dear Lydia! How merry we shall all be together! I am so happy! Lydia married. She is Mrs. Wickham. How well it sounds. My dear Jane, I must see about the clothes. We will settle with your father about the money later. Oh, I am in such a flutter! Here comes Hill. [Hill enters with the bottle.] My dear Hill, have you heard the news? Miss Lydia is married and is coming home directly.

Hill

Indeed!

Mrs. Bennet

Yes, you shall all have a bowl of punch, to make merry for her wedding, and I am going into the house to write about the clothes. [To Jane, who is going with her.] No, Jane, you stay where you are. I know what I am about. Come, Hill. Think of it – Mrs. Wickham!

[She goes out leaning on Hill's arm, leaving Jane and Elizabeth together.]

Jane

Oh, Lizzy, how relieved and happy we should be. Is not it wonderful? [Anxiously.] Are you sure it is true? Have you told us all?

Elizabeth

Yes, Jane, it is true. They are really married. And for this we are to be thankful. In spite of Lydia's folly and Wickham's wretched character, we are to rejoice. How strange it is! Heigh-ho!

Jane

[Putting out her hand for the letter which Elizabeth still carries.] May not I read the letter, Lizzy?

Elizabeth

No, not now, dear. My aunt has some queer notions in her head. Later perhaps. [After a pause.] I am very sorry now that in my agitation I told Mr. Darcy about this wretched affair. Now that it has come out so well, he need never have known anything about it, and it would have saved me a great deal of mortification.

Jane

But how would you ever have explained things to Charlotte and Mr. Collins without his help? Mr. Darcy made everything so smooth and plausible for your sudden departure.

Elizabeth

Yes, that is true.

Jane

Really, Lizzy, I think I shall have to take up the cudgels in Mr. Darcy's defence. His kindness to you has quite won my heart, and his amazing proposal was certainly a most flattering compliment. Why can you see no good in Mr. Darcy, Lizzy? You were always so full of excuses for Wickham, though it is true his open and delightful manners deceived us all.