pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第52章
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if he were acquainted with the former。
He looked surprised； displeased； alarmed； but with a moment’s
recollection and a returning smile； replied； that he had formerly
seen him often； and after observing that he was a very
gentlemanlike man； asked her how she had liked him。 Her answer
was warmly in his favour。 With an air of indifference he soon
afterwards added； ‘How long did you say that he was at Rosings？’
‘Nearly three weeks。’
‘And you saw him frequently？’
‘Yes； almost every day。’
‘His manners are very different from his cousin’s。’
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‘Yes； very different。 But I think Mr。 Darcy improves on
acquaintance。’
‘Indeed！’ cried Wickham with a look which did not escape her。
‘And pray may I ask？’ but checking himself； he added in a gayer
tone； ‘Is it in address that he improves？ Has he deigned to add
ought of civility to his ordinary style？ for I dare not hope；’ he
continued in a lower and more serious tone； ‘that he is improved
in essentials。’
‘Oh； no！’ said Elizabeth。 ‘In essentials； I believe； he is very much
what he ever was。’
While she spoke； Wickham looked as if scarcely knowing
whether to rejoice over her words； or to distrust their meaning。
There was a something in her countenance which made him listen
with an apprehensive and anxious attention； while she added；
‘When I said that he improved on acquaintance； I did not mean
that either his mind or manners were in a state of improvement；
but that from knowing him better； his disposition was better
understood。’
Wickham’s alarm now appeared in a heightened complexion
and agitated look； for a few minutes he was silent； till； shaking off
his embarrassment； he turned to her again； and said in the
gentlest of accents；
‘You； who so well know my feelings towards Mr。 Darcy； will
readily comprehend how sincerely I must rejoice that he is wise
enough to assume even the appearance of what is right。 His pride；
in that direction； may be of service； if not to himself； to many
others； for it must deter him from such foul misconduct as I have
suffered by。 I only fear that the sort of cautiousness； to which you；
I imagine； have been alluding； is merely adopted on his visits to his
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aunt； of whose good opinion and judgment he stands much in awe。
His fear of her； has always operated； I know； when they were
together； and a good deal is to be imputed to his wish of
forwarding the match with Miss De Bourgh； which I am certain he
has very much at heart。’
Elizabeth could not repress a smile at this； but she answered
only by a slight inclination of the head。 She saw that he wanted to
engage her on the old subject of his grievances； and she was in no
humour to indulge him。 The rest of the evening passed with the
appearance； on his side； of usual cheerfulness； but with no farther
attempt to distinguish Elizabeth； and they parted at last with
mutual civility； and possibly a mutual desire of never meeting
again。
When the party broke up； Lydia returned with Mrs。 Forster to
Meryton； from whence they were to set out early the next
morning。 The separation between her and her family was rather
noisy than pathetic。 Kitty was the only one who shed tears； but she
did weep from vexation and envy。 Mrs。 Bennet was diffuse in her
good wishes for the felicity of her daughter； and impressive in her
injunctions that she would not miss the opportunity of enjoying
herself as much as possible； advice； which there was every reason
to believe would be attended to； and in the clamorous happiness of
Lydia herself in bidding farewell； the more gentle adieus of her
sisters were uttered without being heard。
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CHAPTER XIX
ad Elizabeth’s opinion been all drawn from her own
family； she could not have formed a very pleasing
H
picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort。 Her
father captivated by youth and beauty； and that appearance of
good humour； which youth and beauty generally give； had married
a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind； had very
early in their marriage put an end to all real affection for her。
Respect； esteem； and confidence； had vanished for ever； and all his
views of domestic happiness were overthrown。 But Mr。 Bennet
was not of a disposition to seek comfort for the disappointment
which his own imprudence had brought on； in any of those
pleasures which too often console the unfortunate for their folly or
their vice。 He was fond of the country and of books； and from
these tastes had arisen his principal enjoyments。 To his wife he
was very little otherwise indebted； than as her ignorance and folly
had contributed to his amusement。 This is not the sort of
happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his wife；
but where other powers of entertainment are wanting； the true
philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given。
Elizabeth； however； had never been blind to the impropriety of
her father’s behaviour as a husband。 She had always seen it with
pain； but respecting his abilities； and grateful for his affectionate
treatment of herself； she endeavoured to forget what she could not
overlook； and to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of
conjugal obligation and decorum which； in exposing his wife to the
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contempt of her own children； was so highly reprehensible。 But
she had never felt so strongly as now； the disadvantages which
must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage； nor ever
been so fully aware of the evils arising from so ill…judged a
direction of talents； talents which rightly used； might at least have
preserved the respectability of his daughters； even if incapable of
enlarging the mind of his wife。
When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham’s departure； she
found little other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment。
Their parties abroad were less varied than before； and at home
she had a mother and sister whose constant repinings at the
dulness of every thing around them； threw a real gloom over their
domestic circle； and； though Kitty might in time regain her natural
degree of sense； since the disturbers of her brain were removed；
her other sister； from whose disposition greater evil might be
apprehended； was likely to be hardened in all her folly and
assurance； by a situation of such double danger as a watering
place and a camp。 Upon the whole； therefore； she found； what has
been sometimes found before； that an event to which she had
looked forward with impatient desire； did not in taking place；
bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself。 It was
consequently necessary to name some other period for the
commencement of actual felicity； to have some other point on
which her wishes and hopes might be fixed； and by again enjoying
the pleasure of anticipation； console herself for the present； and
prepare for another disappointment。 Her tour to the Lakes was
now the object of her happiest thoughts； it was her best consola…
tion for all the uncomfortable hours； which the discontentedness
of her mother and Kitty made inevitable； and could she have
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included Jane in the scheme； every part of it would have been
perfect。
‘But it is fortunate；’ thought she； ‘that I have something to wish
for。 Were the whole arrangement complete； my disappointment
would be certain。 But here； by my carrying with me one ceaseless
source of regret in my sister’s absence； I may reasonably hope to
have all my expectations of pleasure realized。 A scheme of which
every part promises delight； can never be successful； and general
disappointment is only warded off by the defence of some little
peculiar vexation。’
When Lydia went away； she promised to write very often and
very minutely to her mother and Kitty； but her letters were always
long expected； and always very short。 Those to her mother；
contained little else； than that they were just returned from the
library； where such and such officers had attended them； and
where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made her quite
wild； that she had a new gown； or a new parasol； which she would
have described more fully； but was obliged to leave off in a violent
hurry； as Mrs。 Forster called her； and they were going to the
camp；—and from her correspondence with her sister； there was
still less to b
