Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner had hurried back in alarm, supposing by the servant's account that their niece was taken suddenly ill; but satisfying them instantly on that head, she eagerly communicated the cause of their summons, reading the two letters aloud, and dwelling on the postscript of the last with trembling energy, though Lydia had never been a favourite with them, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner could not but be deeply afflicted.
Gardinerék rémülten siettek vissza, mert az inas szavaiból azt vették ki, hogy unokahúguk hirtelen rosszul lett. Elizabeth erre nézve rögtön megnyugtatta őket, aztán sietve elmondta, miért üzent értük, felolvasta a két levelet, remegő, de nyomatékos hangon emelve ki a második levél utóiratát.