pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第70章
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We shall be at Newcastle all the winter； and I dare say there will
be some balls； and I will take care to get good partners for them
all。’
‘I should like it beyond any thing！’ said her mother。
‘And then when you go away； you may leave one or two of my
sisters behind you； and I dare say I shall get husbands for them
before the winter is over。’
‘I thank you for my share of the favour；’ said Elizabeth； ‘but I do
not particularly like your way of getting husbands。’
Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them。 Mr。
Wickham had received his commission before he left London； and
he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight。
No one but Mrs。 Bennet； regretted that their stay would be so
short； and she made the most of the time； by visiting about with
her daughter； and having very frequent parties at home。 These
parties were acceptable to all； to avoid a family circle was even
more desirable to such as did think； than such as did not。
Wickham’s affection for Lydia； was just what Elizabeth had
expected to find it； not equal to Lydia’s for him。 She had scarcely
needed her present observation to be satisfied； from the reason of
things； that their elopement had been brought on by the strength
of her love； rather than by his； and she would have wondered why；
without violently caring for her； he chose to elope with her at all；
had she not felt certain that his flight was rendered necessary by
distress of circumstances； and if that were the case； he was not the
young man to resist an opportunity of having a companion。
Lydia was exceedingly fond of him。 He was her dear Wickham
on every occasion； no one was to be put in competition with him。
He did every thing best in the world； and she was sure he would
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kill more birds on the first of September； than any body else in the
country。
One morning； soon after their arrival； as she was sitting with
her two elder sisters； she said to Elizabeth；
‘Lizzy； I never gave you an account of my wedding； I believe。
You were not by； when I told mamma； and the others； all about it。
Are not you curious to hear how it was managed？’
‘No really；’ replied Elizabeth； ‘I think there cannot be too little
said on the subject。’
‘La！ You are so strange！ But I must tell you how it went off。 We
were married； you know； at St。 Clement’s； because Wickham’s
lodgings were in that parish。 And it was settled that we should all
be there by eleven o’clock。 My uncle and aunt and I were to go
together； and the others were to meet us at the church。 Well；
Monday morning came； and I was in such a fuss！ I was so afraid
you know that something would happen to put it off； and then I
should have gone quite distracted。 And there was my aunt； all the
time I was dressing； preaching and talking away just as if she was
reading a sermon。 However； I did not hear above one word in ten；
for I was thinking； you may suppose； of my dear Wickham。 I
longed to know whether he would be married in his blue coat。
‘Well； and so we breakfasted at ten as usual； I thought it would
never be over； for； by the bye； you are to understand； that my
uncle and aunt were horrid unpleasant all the time I was with
them。 If you’ll believe me； I did not once put my foot out of doors；
though I was there a fortnight。 Not one party； or scheme； or any
thing。 To be sure London was rather thin； but however the Little
Theatre was open。 Well； and so just as the carriage came to the
door； my uncle was called away upon business to that horrid man
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Mr。 Stone。 And then； you know； when once they get together；
there is no end of it。 Well； I was so frightened I did not know what
to do； for my uncle was to give me away； and if we were beyond
the hour； we could not be married all day。 But； luckily； he came
back again in ten minutes time； and then we all set out。 However； I
recollected afterwards； that if he had been prevented going； the
wedding need not be put off； for Mr。 Darcy might have done as
well。’
‘Mr。 Darcy！’ repeated Elizabeth； in utter amazement。
‘Oh； yes！—he was to come there with Wickham； you know。 But
gracious me！ I quite forgot！ I ought not to have said a word about
it。 I promised them so faithfully！ What will Wickham say？ It was to
be such a secret！’
‘If it was to be secret；’ said Jane； ‘say not another word on the
subject。 You may depend upon my seeking no further。’
‘Oh！ certainly；’ said Elizabeth； though burning with curiosity；
‘we will ask you no questions。’
‘Thank you；’ said Lydia； ‘for if you did； I should certainly tell
you all； and then Wickham would he angry。’
On such encouragement to ask； Elizabeth was forced to put it
out of her power； by running away。
But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible； or at
least it was impossible not to try for information。 Mr。 Darcy had
been at her sister’s wedding。 It was exactly a scene； and exactly
among people； where he had apparently least to do； and least
temptation to go。 Conjectures as to the meaning of it； rapid and
wild； hurried into her brain； but she was satisfied with none。
Those that best pleased her； as placing his conduct in the noblest
light； seemed most improbable。 She could not bear such suspense；
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and hastily seizing a sheet of paper； wrote a short letter to her
aunt； to request an explanation of what Lydia had dropt； if it were
compatible with the secrecy which had been intended。
‘You may readily comprehend；’ she added； ‘what my curiosity
must be to know how a person unconnected with any of us； and
（comparatively speaking） a stranger to our family； should have
been amongst you at such a time。 Pray write instantly； and let me
understand it—unless it is； for very cogent reasons； to remain in
the secrecy which Lydia seems to think necessary； and then I must
endeavour to be satisfied with ignorance。’
‘Not that I shall though；’ she added to herself； as she finished
the letter； ‘and my dear aunt； if you do not tell me in an
honourable manner； I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and
stratagems to find it out。’
Jane’s delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to
Elizabeth privately of what Lydia had let fall； Elizabeth was glad of
it；—till it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any
satisfaction； she had rather be without a confidante。
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CHAPTER X
lizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her
letter； as soon as she possibly could。 She was no sooner in
E
possession of it； than hurrying into the little copse； where
she was least likely to be interrupted； she sat down on one of the
benches； and prepared to be happy； for the length of the letter
convinced her that it did not contain a denial。
‘Gracechurch…street； Sept。 6。
‘My Dear Niece；
‘I have just received your letter； and shall devote this whole
morning to answering it； as I foresee that a little writing will not
comprise what I have to tell you。 I must confess myself surprised
by your application； I did not expect it from you。 Don’t think me
angry； however； for I only mean to let you know； that I had not
imagined such enquiries to be necessary on your side。 If you do
not choose to understand me； forgive my impertinence。 Your
uncle is as much surprised as I am—and nothing but the belief of
your being a party concerned； would have allowed him to act as he
has done。 But if you are really innocent and ignorant； I must be
more explicit。 On the very day of my coming home from
Longbourn； your uncle had a most unexpected visitor。 Mr。 Darcy
called； and was shut up with him several hours。 It was all over
before I arrived； so my curiosity was not so dreadfully racked as
your’s seems to have been。 He came to tell Mr。 Gardiner that he
had found out where your sister and Mr。 Wickham were； and that
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he had seen and talked with them both； Wickham repeatedly；
Lydia once。 From what I can collect； he left Derbyshire only one
day after ourselves； and came to town with the resolution of
hunting for them。 The motive professed； was his conviction of its
being owing to himself that Wickham’s worthlessness had not
been so well known； as to make it impossible for any young
woman of character； to love or confide in him。 He generously
imputed the whole to his mistaken pride； and
