pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第71章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
imputed the whole to his mistaken pride； and confessed that he
had before thought it beneath him； to lay his private actions open
to the world。 His character was to speak for itself。 He called it；
therefore； his duty to step forward； and endeavour to remedy an
evil； which had been brought on by himself。 If he had another
motive； I am sure it would never disgrace him。 He had been some
days in town； before he was able to discover them； but he had
something to direct his search； which was more than we had； and
the consciousness of this； was another reason for his resolving to
follow us。 There is a lady； it seems； a Mrs。 Younge； who was some
time ago governess to Miss Darcy； and was dismissed from her
charge on some cause of disapprobation； though he did not say
what。 She then took a large house in Edward…street； and has since
maintained herself by letting lodgings。 This Mrs。 Younge was； he
knew； intimately acquainted with Wickham； and he went to her
for intelligence of him； as soon as he got to town。 But it was two or
three days before he could get from her what he wanted。 She
would not betray her trust； I suppose； without bribery and
corruption； for she really did know where her friend was to be
found。 Wickham indeed had gone to her； on their first arrival in
London； and had she been able to receive them into her house；
they would have taken up their abode with her。 At length；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 369…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 369
however； our kind friend procured the wished…for direction。 They
were in — street。 He saw Wickham； and afterwards insisted on
seeing Lydia。 His first object with her； he acknowledged； had been
to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation； and
return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to
receive her； offering his assistance； as far as it would go。 But he
found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was。 She
cared for none of her friends； she wanted no help of his； she would
not hear of leaving Wickham。 She was sure they should be
married some time or other； and it did not much signify when。
Since such were her feelings； it only remained； he thought； to
secure and expedite a marriage； which； in his very first
conversation with Wickham； he easily learnt； had never been his
design。 He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment； on
account of some debts of honour； which were very pressing； and
scrupled not to lay all the ill…consequences of Lydia’s flight； on her
own folly alone。 He meant to resign his commission immediately；
and as to his future situation； he could conjecture very little about
it。 He must go somewhere； but he did not know where； and he
knew he should have nothing to live on。 Mr。 Darcy asked him why
he had not married your sister at once。 Though Mr。 Bennet was
not imagined to be very rich； he would have been able to do
something for him； and his situation must have been benefited by
marriage。 But he found； in reply to this question； that Wickham
still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by
marriage； in some other country。 Under such circumstances；
however； he was not likely to be proof against the temptation of
immediate relief。 They met several times； for there was much to be
discussed。 Wickham of course wanted more than he could get； but
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 370…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 370
at length was reduced to be reasonable。 Every thing being settled
between them； Mr。 Darcy’s next step was to make your uncle
acquainted with it； and he first called in Gracechurch…street the
evening before I came home。 But Mr。 Gardiner could not be seen；
and Mr。 Darcy found； on further enquiry； that your father was still
with him； but would quit town the next morning。 He did not judge
your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as
your uncle； and therefore readily postponed seeing him； till after
the departure of the former。 He did not leave his name； and till the
next day； it was only known that a gentleman had called on
business。 On Saturday he came again。 Your father was gone； your
uncle at home； and； as I said before； they had a great deal of talk
together。 They met again on Sunday； and then I saw him too。 It
was not all settled before Monday： as soon as it was； the express
was sent off to Longbourn。 But our visitor was very obstinate。 I
fancy； Lizzy； that obstinacy is the real defect of his character after
all。 He has been accused of many faults at different times； but this
is the true one。 Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself；
though I am sure （and I do not speak it to be thanked； therefore
say nothing about it；） your uncle would most readily have settled
the whole。 They battled it together for a long time； which was
more than either the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved。
But at last your uncle was forced to yield； and instead of being
allowed to be of use to his niece； was forced to put up with only
having the probable credit of it； which went sorely against the
grain； and I really believe your letter this morning gave him great
pleasure； because it required an explanation that would rob him of
his borrowed feathers； and give the praise where it was due。 But；
Lizzy； this must go no farther than yourself； or Jane at most。 You
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 371…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 371
know pretty well； I suppose； what has been done for the young
people。 His debts are to be paid； amounting； I believe； to
considerably more than a thousand pounds； another thousand in
addition to her own settled upon her； and his commission
purchased。 The reason why all this was to be done by him alone；
was such as I have given above。 It was owing to him； to his reserve；
and want of proper consideration； that Wickham’s character had
been so misunderstood； and consequently that he had been
received and noticed as he was。 Perhaps there was some truth in
this； though I doubt whether his reserve； or anybody’s reserve； can
be answerable for the event。 But in spite of all this fine talking； my
dear Lizzy； you may rest perfectly assured； that your uncle would
never have yielded； if we had not given him credit for another
interest in the affair。 When all this was resolved on； he returned
again to his friends； who were still staying at Pemberley； but it was
agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding
took place； and all money matters were then to receive the last
finish。 I believe I have now told you every thing。 It is a relation
which you tell me is to give you great surprise； I hope at least it
will not afford you any displeasure。 Lydia came to us； and
Wickham had constant admission to the house。 He was exactly
what he had been； when I knew him in Hertfordshire； but I would
not tell you how little I was satisfied with her behaviour while she
staid with us； if I had not perceived； by Jane’s letter last
Wednesday； that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a
piece with it； and therefore what I now tell you； can give you no
fresh pain。 I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner；
representing to her all the wickedness of what she had done； and
all the unhappiness she had brought on her family。 If she heard
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 372…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 372
me； it was by good luck； for I am sure she did not listen。 I was
sometimes quite provoked； but then I recollected my dear
Elizabeth and Jane； and for their sakes had patience with her。 Mr。
Darcy was punctual in his return； and as Lydia informed you；
attended the wedding。 He dined with us the next day； and was to
leave town again on Wednesday or Thursday。 Will you be very
angry with me； my dear Lizzy； if I take this opportunity of saying
（what I was never bold enough to say before） how much I like him。
His behaviour to us has； in every respect； been as pleasing as
when we were in Derbyshire。 His understanding and opinions all
please me； he wants nothing but a little more liveliness； and that； if
he marry prudently； his wife may teach him。 I thought him very
sly；—he hardly ever mentioned your name。 But slyness seems the
fashion。 Pray forgive me； if I have been very presuming； or at least
do not punish me so far； as to exclude me from P。 I shall never be
quite happy till I have been all round the park。 A low phaeton；
with a nice little pair of ponies； would be the very thing。 But I
must write no more。 The children have been wanting me this half
hour。 Your’s； very sincerely；
M。 Gardiner。’
The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of
spirits； in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or
pain bore the greatest share。 The vague and unsettled suspicions
which
