pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第67章
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the other； how I am ever to pay him。’
‘Money！ my uncle！’ cried Jane； ‘what do you mean； Sir？’
‘I mean； that no man in his senses； would marry Lydia on so
slight a temptation as one hundred a…year during my life； and fifty
after I am gone。’
‘That is very true；’ said Elizabeth； ‘though it had not occurred
to me before。 His debts to be discharged； and something still to
remain！ Oh！ it must be my uncle’s doings！ Generous； good man； I
am afraid he has distressed himself。 A small sum could not do all
this。’
‘No；’ said her father； ‘Wickham’s a fool； if he takes her with a
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farthing less than ten thousand pounds。 I should be sorry to think
so ill of him； in the very beginning of our relationship。’
‘Ten thousand pounds！ Heaven forbid！ How is half such a sum
to be repaid？’
Mr。 Bennet made no answer； and each of them； deep in
thought； continued silent till they reached the house。 Their father
then went to the library to write； and the girls walked into the
breakfast…room。
‘And they are really to be married！’ cried Elizabeth； as soon as
they were by themselves。 ‘How strange this is！ And for this we are
to be thankful。 That they should marry； small as is their chance of
happiness； and wretched as is his character； we are forced to
rejoice！ Oh； Lydia！’
‘I comfort myself with thinking；’ replied Jane； ‘that he certainly
would not marry Lydia； if he had not a real regard for her。 Though
our kind uncle has done something towards clearing him； I cannot
believe that ten thousand pounds； or any thing like it； has been
advanced。 He has children of his own； and may have more。 How
could he spare half ten thousand pounds？’
‘If we are ever able to learn what Wickham’s debts have been；’
said Elizabeth； ‘and how much is settled on his side on our sister；
we shall exactly know what Mr。 Gardiner has done for them；
because Wickham has not sixpence of his own。 The kindness of my
uncle and aunt can never be requited。 Their taking her home； and
affording her their personal protection and countenance； is such a
sacrifice to her advantage； as years of gratitude cannot enough
acknowledge。 By this time she is actually with them！ If such
goodness does not make her miserable now； she will never deserve
to be happy！ What a meeting for her； when she first sees my aunt！’
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‘We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side；’
said Jane： ‘I hope and trust they will yet be happy。 His consenting
to marry her is a proof； I will believe； that he is come to a right way
of thinking。 Their mutual affection will steady them； and I flatter
myself they will settle so quietly； and live in so rational a manner；
as may in time make their past imprudence forgotten。’
‘Their conduct has been such；’ replied Elizabeth； ‘as neither
you； nor I； nor any body； can ever forget。 It is useless to talk of it。’
It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all
likelihood perfectly ignorant of what had happened。 They went to
the library； therefore； and asked their father； whether he would
not wish them to make it known to her。 He was writing； and；
without raising his head； coolly replied；
‘Just as you please。’
‘May we take my uncle’s letter to read to her？’
‘Take whatever you like； and get away。’
Elizabeth took the letter from his writing table； and they went
up stairs together。 Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs。 Bennet：
one communication would； therefore； do for all。 After a slight
preparation for good news； the letter was read aloud。 Mrs。 Bennet
could hardly contain herself。 As soon as Jane had read Mr。
Gardiner’s hope of Lydia’s being soon married； her joy burst forth；
and every following sentence added to its exuberance。 She was
now in an irritation as violent from delight； as she had ever been
fidgetty from alarm and vexation。 To know that her daughter
would be married was enough。 She was disturbed by no fear for
her felicity； nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct。
‘My dear； dear Lydia！’ she cried。 ‘This is delightful indeed！—
She will be married！—I shall see her again！—She will be married
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at sixteen！—My good； kind brother！—I knew how it would be—I
knew he would manage every thing。 How I long to see her！ and to
see dear Wickham too！ But the clothes； the wedding clothes！ I will
write to my sister Gardiner about them directly。 Lizzy； my dear；
run down to your father； and ask him how much he will give her。
Stay； stay； I will go myself。 Ring the bell； Kitty； for Hill。 I will put
on my things in a moment。 My dear； dear Lydia！—How merry we
shall be together when we meet！’
Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the
violence of these transports； by leading her thoughts to the
obligations which Mr。 Gardiner’s behaviour laid them all under。
‘For we must attribute this happy conclusion；’ she added； ‘in a
great measure； to his kindness。 We are persuaded that he has
pledged himself to assist Mr。 Wickham with money。’
‘Well；’ cried her mother； ‘it is all very right； who should do it but
her own uncle？ If he had not had a family of his own； I and my
children must have had all his money you know； and it is the first
time we have ever had any thing from him； except a few presents。
Well！ I am so happy。 In a short time； I shall have a daughter
married。 Mrs。 Wickham！ How well it sounds。 And she was only
sixteen last June。 My dear Jane； I am in such a flutter； that I am
sure I can’t write； so I will dictate； and you write for me。 We will
settle with your father about the money afterwards； but the things
should be ordered immediately。’
She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico； muslin；
and cambric； and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful
orders； had not Jane； though with some difficulty； persuaded her
to wait； till her father was at leisure to be consulted。 One day’s
delay she observed； would be of small importance； and her mother
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was too happy； to be quite so obstinate as usual。 Other schemes
too came into her head。
‘I will go to Meryton；’ said she； ‘as soon as I am dressed； and tell
the good； good news to my sister Philips。 And as I come back； I can
call on Lady Lucas and Mrs。 Long。 Kitty； run down and order the
carriage。 An airing would do me a great deal of good； I am sure。
Girls； can I do any thing for you in Meryton？ Oh！ here comes Hill。
My dear Hill； have you heard the good news？ Miss Lydia is going
to be married； and you shall all have a bowl of punch； to make
merry at her wedding。’
Mrs。 Hill began instantly to express her joy。 Elizabeth received
her congratulations amongst the rest； and then； sick of this folly；
took refuge in her own room； that she might think with freedom。
Poor Lydia’s situation must； at best； be bad enough； but that it
was no worse； she had need to be thankful。 She felt it so； and
though； in looking forward； neither rational happiness nor worldly
prosperity； could be justly expected for her sister； in looking back
to what they had feared； only two hours ago； she felt all the
advantages of what they had gained。
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CHAPTER VIII
r。 Bennet had very often wished； before this period of
his life； that； instead of spending his whole income； he
M
had laid by an annual sum； for the better provision of
his children； and of his wife； if she survived him。 He now wished it
more than ever。 Had he done his duty in that respect； Lydia need
not have been indebted to her uncle； for whatever of honour or
credit could now be purchased for her。 The satisfaction of
prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great
Britain to be her husband； might then have rested in its proper
place。
He was seriously concerned； that a cause of so little advantage
to any one； should be forwarded at the sole expence of his brother…
in…law； and he was determined； if possible； to find out the extent of
his assistance； and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could。
When first Mr。 Bennet had married； economy was held to be
perfectly useless； for； of course； they were to have a son。 This son
was to join in cutting off the entail； as soon as he should be of age；
and the widow and younger children would by that means be
provided for。 Five daughters successively entered the world； but
yet the son was to come； and Mrs。 Bennet； for many years after
Lydia’s birth； had been certain that he would。 This event had at
last been despaired of； but it was then too late to be saving。 Mrs。
Bennet had no turn for economy； and her husband’s love of
independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income。
Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs。
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