Not long after they left, however, Elizabeth and Jane found out about the whole incident. Unknown to Lydia and Kitty, Mary had seen what happened. She hadn't done anything at first because she didn't believe Lydia could be capable of something so foolish. But then, as soon as she saw Lydia stepping into the automobile, she ran to the Pemberley Theater, where the two sisters were preparing for an upcoming show with Charles Bingley.

"Jane! Lizzy! Something happened to Lydia!" she exclaimed as soon as she saw them.

Elizabeth and Jane exchanged worried glances. Lydia was always getting herself into trouble, but from the way Mary came in there, it seemed that something serious happened this time.

"What did she do?" asked Jane.

"She and Kitty were talking to some man in an automobile. The man kept saying things that seemed to excite Lydia, and then she got into the automobile and they left."

"Oh, no! That foolish girl! Why would she do something like this? She's fourteen and should know better than this," said Elizabeth.

"Do you have any idea who the man might have been?" Bingley asked Mary.

"He sounded British, and seemed wealthy from the things he was telling Lydia, but I have no idea who he really was. I think he said his name once, but I couldn't hear it well."

For a moment, Elizabeth wondered if it might have been Mr. Darcy, seeking revenge for rejecting him by taking her sister away. She hadn't seen him for two months. It could have taken him that long to plan this out. But what would he have been doing with an automobile, since he made it clear that he had little money left?

"Charles, we must do something! Who knows what this man might be doing to Lydia?" Jane said, looking very worried.

"We must inform your parents and the police first. Then we could form a search party when we have enough people to investigate," said Mr. Bingley.

For a while, the sisters just sat there as Mr. Bingley made calls. Then, an hour later, they got a call that made them all even more informed.

"Jane, this woman says she's your aunt," said Bingley, handing the phone to her.

It was their aunt, Fanny Gardner. She and her husband ran in a small shop in another part of Brooklyn. Although economically, they were just like the Bennets, they had a few connections with wealthy people that allowed them to own things like telephones. The sisters loved visiting them whenever they could.

"Aunt Fanny, do you know about what happened to Lydia?"

"My dear Jane, you'll be happy to know that Lydia is right here with us. She told us that a young British friend of yours offered her a ride home. He seems very good-natured and polite , although I don't think it was right of him to take her with him without informing her parents or you girls first. However, we allowed them to spend the afternoon here, so don't worry about her."

"What's the name of this man?"

"George Wickham. Don't you know him?"

"No. I've never heard of him before."

"That's unusual. I'll speak to Lydia about this. Goodbye, my dear, and tell Lizzy not to worry too much about her."

Jane turned to Elizabeth and Bingley and said, "She said that Lydia's with them. The man's name is George Wickham."

At the sound of this name, Elizabeth and Mr. Bingley looked horrified. "That man is nothing but trouble. We must keep Lydia away from him," said Mr. Bingley.

"Why?"

"He once tried to forced Mr. Darcy's sister to marry him because he wanted to obtain their fortune, even though they lost it," said Elizabeth.

This information started worrying Jane. "Then we must do something."

To do this, said Mr. Bingley, would involve having to find Mr. Darcy, the last thing Elizabeth wanted.