pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第66章
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who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own
feelings； was perfectly aware； that； had she known nothing of
Darcy； she could have borne the dread of Lydia’s infamy
somewhat better。 It would have spared her； she thought； one
sleepless night out of two。
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When Mr。 Bennet arrived； he had all the appearance of his
usual philosophic composure。 He said as little as he had ever been
in the habit of saying； made no mention of the business that had
taken him away； and it was some time before his daughters had
courage to speak of it。
It was not till the afternoon； when he joined them at tea； that
Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject； and then； on her
briefly expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured； he
replied； ‘Say nothing of that。 Who should suffer but myself？ It has
been my own doing； and I ought to feel it。’
‘You must not be too severe upon yourself；’ replied Elizabeth。
‘You may well warn me against such an evil。 Human nature is
so prone to fall into it！ No； Lizzy； let me once in my life feel how
much I have been to blame。 I am not afraid of being overpowered
by the impression。 It will pass away soon enough。’
‘Do you suppose them to be in London ？’
‘Yes； where else can they be so well concealed？’
‘And Lydia used to want to go to London；’ added Kitty。
‘She is happy； then；’ said her father； drily； ‘and her residence
there will probably be of some duration。’
Then； after a short silence； he continued； ‘Lizzy； I bear you no
ill…will for being justified in your advice to me last May； which；
considering the event； shews some greatness of mind。’
They were interrupted by Miss Bennet； who came to fetch her
mother’s tea。
‘This is a parade；’ cried he； ‘which does one good； it gives such
an elegance to misfortune！ Another day I will do the same； I will
sit in my library； in my night cap and powdering gown； and give as
much trouble as I can；—or； perhaps； I may defer it； till Kitty runs
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away。’
‘I am not going to run away； Papa；’ said Kitty； fretfully； ‘if I
should ever go to Brighton； I would behave better than Lydia。’
‘You go to Brighton！—I would not trust you so near it as East
Bourne； for fifty pounds！ No； Kitty； I have at last learnt to be
cautious； and you will feel the effects of it。 No officer is ever to
enter my house again； nor even to pass through the village。 Balls
will be absolutely prohibited； unless you stand up with one of your
sisters。 And you are never to stir out of doors； till you can prove；
that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational
manner。’
Kitty； who took all these threats in a serious light； began to cry。
‘Well； well；’ said he； ‘do not make yourself unhappy。 If you are a
good girl for the next ten years； I will take you to a review at the
end of them。’
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CHAPTER VII
wo days after Mr。 Bennet’s return； as Jane and Elizabeth
were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house；
T
they saw the housekeeper coming towards them； and；
concluding that she came to call them to their mother； went for…
ward to meet her； but； instead of the expected summons； when
they approached her； she said to Miss Bennet； ‘I beg your pardon；
madam； for interrupting you； but I was in hopes you might have
got some good news from town； so I took the liberty of coming to
ask。’
‘What do you mean； Hill？ We have heard nothing from town。’
‘Dear madam；’ cried Mrs。 Hill； in great astonishment； ‘dont you
know there is an express come for master from Mr。 Gardiner？ He
has been here this half hour； and master has had a letter。’
Away ran the girls； too eager to get in to have time for speech。
They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast room； from
thence to the library；—their father was in neither； and they were
on the point of seeking him up stairs with their mother； when they
were met by the butler； who said；
‘If you are looking for my master； ma’am； he is walking towards
the little copse。’
Upon this information； they instantly passed through the hall
once more； and ran across the lawn after their father； who was
deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of
the paddock。
Jane； who was not so light； nor so much in the habit of running
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as Elizabeth； soon lagged behind； while her sister； panting for
breath； came up with him； and eagerly cried out；
‘Oh； Papa； what news？ what news？ have you heard from my
uncle？’
‘Yes； I have had a letter from him by express。’
‘Well； and what news does it bring？ good or bad？’
‘What is there of good to be expected？’ said he； taking the letter
from his pocket； ‘but perhaps you would like to read it。’
Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand。 Jane now came
up。
‘Read it aloud；’ said their father； ‘for I hardly know myself what
it is about。’
‘Gracechurch…street； Monday；
August 2。
‘My Dear Brother；
‘At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece； and
such as； upon the whole； I hope will give you satisfaction。 Soon
after you left me on Saturday； I was fortunate enough to find out
in what part of London they were。 The particulars； I reserve till we
meet。 It is enough to know they are discovered； I have seen them
both—’
‘Then it is； as I always hoped；’ cried Jane； ‘they are married！’
Elizabeth read on； ‘I have seen them both。 They are not
married； nor can I find there was any intention of being so； but if
you are willing to perform the engagements which I have ventured
to make on your side； I hope it will not be long before they are。 All
that is required of you is； to assure to your daughter； by
settlement； her equal share of the five thousand pounds； secured
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among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister；
and； moreover； to enter into an engagement of allowing her；
during your life； one hundred pounds per annum。 These are
conditions； which； considering every thing； I had no hesitation in
complying with； as far as I thought myself privileged； for you。 I
shall send this by express； that no time may be lost in bringing me
your answer。 You will easily comprehend； from these particulars；
that Mr。 Wickham’s circumstances are not so hopeless as they are
generally believed to be。 The world has been deceived in that
respect； and I am happy to say； there will be some little money；
even when all his debts are discharged； to settle on my niece； in
addition to her own fortune。 If； as I conclude will be the case； you
send me full powers to act in your name； throughout the whole of
this business； I will immediately give directions to Haggerston for
preparing a proper settlement。 There will not be the smallest
occasion for your coming to town again； therefore； stay quietly at
Longbourn； and depend on my diligence and care。 Send back your
answer as soon as you can； and be careful to write explicitly。 We
have judged it best； that my niece should be married from this
house； of which I hope you will approve。 She comes to us to…day。 I
shall write again as soon as any thing more is determined on。
Your’s； &c。
‘Edw。 Gardiner。’
‘Is it possible！’ cried Elizabeth； when she had finished。 ‘Can it
be possible that he will marry her？’
‘Wickham is not so undeserving； then； as we have thought him；’
said her sister。 ‘My dear father； I congratulate you。’
‘And have you answered the letter？’ said Elizabeth。
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‘No； but it must be done soon。’
Most earnestly did she then intreat him to lose no more time
before he wrote。
‘Oh！ my dear father；’ she cried； ‘come back； and write
immediately。 Consider how important every moment is； in such a
case。’
‘Let me write for you；’ said Jane； ‘if you dislike the trouble
yourself。’
‘I dislike it very much；’ he replied； ‘but it must be done。’
And so saying； he turned back with them； and walked towards
the house。
‘And may I ask？’ said Elizabeth； ‘but the terms； I suppose； must
be complied with。’
‘Complied with！ I am only ashamed of his asking so little。’
‘And they must marry！ Yet he is such a man！’
‘Yes； yes； they must marry。 There is nothing else to be done。
But there are two things that I want very much to know：—one is；
how much money your uncle has laid down； to bring it about； and
the other； how I am ever to pay him。’
‘Money！ my uncle！�
