Chapter 46 264
about Pemberley ?" cried Mrs . Gardiner . " John told us Mr . Darcy was here when you sent for us ; was it so ?"
" Yes ; and I told him we should not be able to keep our engagement . That is all settled ."
" What is all settled ?" repeated the other , as she ran into her room to prepare . " And are they upon such terms as for her to disclose the real truth ? Oh , that I knew how it was !"
But wishes were vain , or at least could only serve to amuse her in the hurry and confusion of the following hour . Had Elizabeth been at leisure to be idle , she would have remained certain that all employment was impossible to one so wretched as herself ; but she had her share of business as well as her aunt , and amongst the rest there were notes to be written to all their friends at Lambton , with false excuses for their sudden departure . An hour , however , saw the whole completed ; and Mr . Gardiner meanwhile having settled his account at the inn , nothing remained to be done but to go ; and Elizabeth , after all the misery of the morning , found herself , in a shorter space of time than she could have supposed , seated in the carriage , and on the road to Longbourn .