友情提示：如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整，请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页！
c10-第2部分
快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！
might have been doing to forward her sister's match； which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of goodness too great to be probable； and at the same time dreaded to be just； from the pain of obligation； were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true！ He had followed them purposely to town； he had taken on himself all the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research； in which supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and despise； and where he was reduced to meet； frequently meet； reason with； persuade； and finally bribe； the man whom he always most wished to avoid； and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce。 He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem。 Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her。 But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations； and she soon felt that even her vanity was insufficient； when required to depend on his affection for her for a woman who had already refused him as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham。 Brother…in…law of Wickham！ Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection。 He had； to be sure； done much。 She was ashamed to think how much。 But he had given a reason for his interference； which asked no extraordinary stretch of belief。 It was reasonable that he should feel he had been wrong； he had liberality； and he had the means of exercising it； and though she would not place herself as his principal inducement； she could； perhaps； believe that remaining partiality for her might assist his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially concerned。 It was painful； exceedingly painful； to know that they were under obligations to a person who could never receive a return。 They owed the restoration of Lydia； her character； every thing； to him。 Oh！ how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever encouraged； every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him。 For herself she was humbled； but she was proud of him。 Proud that in a cause of compassion and honour； he had been able to get the better of himself。 She read over her aunt's commendation of him again and again。 It was hardly enough； but it pleased her。 She was even sensible of some pleasure； though mixed with regret； on finding how steadfastly both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted between Mr。 Darcy and herself。
She was roused from her seat； and her reflections； by some one's approach； and before she could strike into another path； she was overtaken by Wickham。
‘‘I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble； my dear sister？'' said he； as he joined her。
‘‘You certainly do；'' she replied with a smile； ‘‘but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome。''
‘‘I should be sorry indeed； if it were。 We were always good friends； and now we are better。''
‘‘True。 Are the others coming out？''
‘‘I do not know。 Mrs。 Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to Meryton。 And so； my dear sister； I find； from our uncle and aunt； that you have actually seen Pemberley。''
She replied in the affirmative。
‘‘I almost envy you the pleasure； and yet I believe it would be too much for me； or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle。 And you saw the old housekeeper； I suppose？ Poor Reynolds； she was always very fond of me。 But of course she did not mention my name to you。''
‘‘Yes； she did。''
‘‘And what did she say？''
‘‘That you were gone into the army； and she was afraid had not turned out well。 At such a distance as that； you know； things are strangely misrepresented。''
‘‘Certainly；'' he replied； biting his lips。 Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him； but he soon afterwards said；
‘‘I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month。 We passed each other several times。 I wonder what he can be doing there。''
‘‘Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh；'' said Elizabeth。 ‘‘It must be something particular； to take him there at this time of year。''
‘‘Undoubtedly。 Did you see him while you were at Lambton？ I thought I understood from the Gardiners that you had。''
‘‘Yes； he introduced us to his sister。''
‘‘And do you like her？''
‘‘Very much。''
‘‘I have heard； indeed； that she is uncommonly improved within this year or two。 When I last saw her； she was not very promising。 I am very glad you liked her。 I hope she will turn out well。''
‘‘I dare say she will； she has got over the most trying age。''
‘‘Did you go by the village of Kympton？''
‘‘I do not recollect that we did。''
‘‘I mention it； because it is the living which I ought to have had。 A most delightful place！ Excellent Parsonage House！ It would have suited me in every respect。''
‘‘How should you have liked making sermons？''
‘‘Exceedingly well。 I should have considered it as part of my duty； and the exertion would soon have been nothing。 One ought not to repine； but； to be sure； it would have been such a thing for me！ The quiet； the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas of happiness！ But it was not to be。 Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance； when you were in Kent？''
‘‘I have heard from authority； which I thought as good； that it was left you conditionally only； and at the will of the present patron。''
‘‘You have。 Yes； there was something in that； I told you so from the first； you may remember。''
‘‘I did hear； too； that there was a time； when sermon…making was not so palatable to you as it seems to be at present； that you actually declared your resolution of never taking orders； and that the business had been compromised accordingly。''
‘‘You did！ and it was not wholly without foundation。 You may remember what I told you on that point； when first we talked of it。''
They were now almost at the door of the house； for she had walked fast to get rid of him； and unwilling； for her sister's sake； to provoke him； she only said in reply； with a good…humoured smile；
‘‘Come； Mr。 Wickham； we are brother and sister； you know。 Do not let us quarrel about the past。 In future； I hope we shall be always of one mind。''
She held out her hand； he kissed it with affectionate gallantry； though he hardly knew how to look； and they entered the house。伊丽莎白果然如愿以偿，很快就接到了回信。她一接到信，就跑到那清静的小树林里 去，在一张长凳上坐下来，准备读个痛快，因为她看到信写得那么长，便断定舅母没有拒绝 她的要求。
亲爱的甥女：
刚刚接到你的来信，我便决定以整个上午的时间来给你写回信，因为我估料三言两语不 能够把我要跟你讲的话讲个明白。我得承认，你所提出的要求很使我诧异，我没有料到提出 这个要求的竟会是你。请你不要以为我这是生气的话，我不过说，我实在想象不到你居然还 要来问。如果你一定装作听不懂我的话，那只有请你原谅我失礼了。你舅父也跟我同样地诧 异，我们都认为，达西所以要那样做，完全是为了你的缘故。如果你当真一点也不知道，那 也只好让我来跟你说说明白了。就在我从浪搏恩回家的那一天，有一个意想不到的客人来见 你舅父。那人原来就是达西先生，他跟你舅父关起门来，密谈了好几个钟头。等我到家的时 候，事情已经过去了，我当时倒并没有象你现在这样好奇。他是因为发觉了你妹妹和韦翰的 下落，特地赶来告诉嘉丁纳先生一声。他说，他已经看到过他们，而且跟他们谈过话──跟 韦翰谈过好多次，跟丽迪雅谈过一次。据我看，我们离开德比郡的第二天，达西就动身赶到 城里来找他们了。他说，事情弄到如此地步，都怪他不好，没有及早揭露韦翰的下流品格， 否则就不会有哪一位正派姑娘会把他当作知心，会爱上他了。他概然引咎自责，认为这次的 事情都得怪他当初太傲慢，因为他以前认为韦翰的品格自然而然会让别人看穿，不必把他的 私人行为都一一揭露出来，免得使他自己有失体统，他认为这都是他自己一手造成的罪恶， 因此他这次出面调停，设法补救实在是义不容辞。他自己承认他要干预这件事的动机就是如 此。如果他当真别有用心，也不会使他丢脸。他在城里待了好几天才找到他们；可是他有线 索可找，我们可没有。他也是因为自信有这点把握，才下定决心紧跟着我们而来。好象有一 位扬吉太太，她早先做过达西小姐的家庭教师，后来犯了什么过错（他没有讲明）被解雇 了，便在爱德华街弄了一幢大房子，分租过活。达西知道这位杨吉太太跟韦翰极其相熟，于 是他一到城里，便上她那儿去打听他的消息。他花了两三天工夫，才从她那儿把事情探听明 白。我想，杨吉太太早就知道韦翰的下落，可是不给她贿赂她决不肯讲出来。他们俩确实是 一到伦敦便到她那里去，要是她能够留他们住，他们早就住在她那儿了。我们这位好心的朋 友终于探听出了他们在某某街的住址，于是他先去看韦翰，然后他又非要看到丽迪雅不可。 据他说，他第一件事就是劝丽迪雅改邪归正，一等到和家里人说通了，就赶快回去，还答应 替她帮忙到底，可是他发觉丽迪雅坚决要那样搞下去，家里人一个都不在她心上。她不要他 帮助，她无论如何也不肯丢掉韦翰。她断定他们俩迟早总要结婚，早一天迟一天毫无关系。 于是他想，他第一次跟韦翰谈话的时候，明明发觉对方毫无结婚的打算，如今既是丽迪雅存 着这样的念头，当然只有赶快促成他们结婚。韦翰曾经亲口承认，他当初所以要从民兵团里 逃出来，完全是由于为赌债所逼，至于丽迪雅这次私奔所引起的不良后果，他竟毫不犹豫地 把它完全归罪于她自己的愚蠢。他说他马上就要辞职，讲到事业前途，他简直不堪设想。他 应该到一个什么地方去找份差事，可是又不知道究竟去哪儿，他知道他快要没有钱生活下去 了。达西先生问他为什么没有立刻跟你妹妹结婚，虽然班纳特先生算不上什么大阔人，可是 也能够帮他一些忙，他结婚以后，境况一定会有利一些。但是他发觉韦翰回答这话的时候， 仍然指望到别的地方去另外攀门亲，以便扎扎实实地赚进一笔钱。不过，他目前的情况既是 如此，如果有救急的办法，他也未始不会心动。他们见了好几次面，因为有好多地方都得当 面商讨。韦翰当然漫天讨价，结果总算减少到一个合理的数目。他们之间一切都商谈好了， 达西先生的下一个步骤就是把这件事告诉你舅父，于是他就在我回家的前一天晚上，到天恩 寺街来进行第一次访问。当时嘉丁纳先生不在家；达西先生打听到你父亲那天还住在这儿， 不过第二天早晨就要走。他以为你父亲不是象你舅父那样一个好商量的人，因此，决定等到 你父亲走了以后，再来看你舅父。他当时没有留下姓名，直到第二天，我们还只知道有位某 某先生到这儿来过，找他有事，星期六他又来了。那天你父亲已经走了，你舅父在家，正如 我刚才说过的，他们俩便在一起谈了许久。他们星期天又见了面，当时我也看见他的。事情 一直到星期一才完全谈妥。一谈妥之后，就派专人送信到浪搏恩来。但是我们这位贵客实在 太固执。人们都纷纷指责他的错处，今天说他有这个错处，明天又说他有那个错处，可是这 一个才是他真正的错处。样样事情都非得由他亲自来办不可；其实你舅父非常愿意全盘包办 （我这样说并不是为了讨你的好，所以请你不要跟别人提起）。他们为这件事争执了好久， 其实对当事人来说，无论是男方女方，都不配享受这样的对待。可是你舅父最后还是不得不 依从他，以致非但不能替自己的外甥女稍微尽点力，而且还要无劳居功，这完全和他的心�
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示： 温看小说的同时发表评论，说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦！发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励，认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦！