pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第49部分
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Mr。 Wickham； I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of
his connection with my family。 Of what he has particularly
accused me I am ignorant； but of the truth of what I shall relate； I
can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity。 Mr
Wickham is the son of a very respectable man； who had for many
years the management of all the Pemberley estates； and whose
good conduct in the discharge of his trust； naturally inclined my
father to be of service to him； and on George Wickham； who was
his god…son； his kindness was therefore liberally bestowed。 My
father supported him at school； and afterwards at Cambridge；—
most important assistance； as his own father； always poor from the
extravagance of his wife； would have been unable to give him a
gentleman’s education。 My father was not only fond of this young
man’s society； whose manners were always engaging； he had also
the highest opinion of him； and hoping the church would be his
profession； intended to provide for him in it。 As for myself； it is
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many； many years since I first began to think of him in a very
different manner。 The vicious propensities—the want of principle
which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his best
friend； could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly
the same age with himself； and who had opportunities of seeing
him in unguarded moments； which Mr。 Darcy could not have。
Here again I shall give you pain—to what degree you only can tell。
But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr。 Wickham has
created； a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from
unfolding his real character。 It adds even another motive。 My
excellent father died about five years ago； and his attachment to
Mr。 Wickham was to the last so steady； that in his will he
particularly recommended it to me； to promote his advancement
in the best manner that his profession might allow； and if he took
orders； desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon
as it became vacant。 There was also a legacy of one thousand
pounds。 His own father did not long survive mine； and within half
a year from these events； Mr。 Wickham wrote to inform me that；
having finally resolved against taking orders； he hoped I should
not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate
pecuniary advantage； in lieu of the preferment； by which he could
not be benefited。 He had some intention； he added； of studying the
law； and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds
would be a very insufficient support therein。 I rather wished； than
believed him to be sincere； but at any rate； was perfectly ready to
accede to his proposal。 I knew that Mr。 Wickham ought not to be a
clergyman。 The business was therefore soon settled。 He resigned
all claim to assistance in the church； were it possible that he could
ever be in a situation to receive it； and accepted in return three
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thousand pounds。 All connection between us seemed now
dissolved。 I thought too ill of him； to invite him to Pemberley； or
admit his society in town。 In town I believe he chiefly lived； but his
studying the law was a mere pretence； and being now free from all
restraint； his life was a life of idleness and dissipation。 For about
three years I heard little of him； but on the decease of the
incumbent of the living which had been designed for him； he
applied to me again by letter for the presentation。 His
circumstances； he assured me； and I had no difficulty in believing
it； were exceedingly bad。 He had found the law a most
unprofitable study； and was now absolutely resolved on being
ordained； if I would present him to the living in question—of
which he trusted there could be little doubt； as he was well
assured that I had no other person to provide for； and I could not
have forgotten my revered father’s intentions。 You will hardly
blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty； or for resisting
every repetition of it。 His resentment was in proportion to the
distress of his circumstances—and he was doubtless as violent in
his abuse of me to others； as in his reproaches to myself。 After this
period； every appearance of acquaintance was dropt。 How he lived
I know not。 But last summer he was again most painfully obtruded
on my notice。 I must now mention a circumstance which I would
wish to forget myself； and which no obligation less than the
present should induce me to unfold to any human being。 Having
said thus much； I feel no doubt of your secrecy。 My sister； who is
more than ten years my junior； was left to the guardianship of my
mother’s nephew； Colonel Fitzwilliam； and myself。 About a year
ago； she was taken from school； and an establishment formed for
her in London； and last summer she went with the lady who
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presided over it； to Ramsgate； and thither also went Mr。 Wickham；
undoubtedly by design； for there proved to have been a prior
acquaintance between him and Mrs。 Younge； in whose character
we were most unhappily deceived； and by her connivance and aid；
he so far recommended himself to Georgiana； whose affectionate
heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a
child； that she was persuaded to believe herself in love； and to
consent to an elopement。 She was then but fifteen； which must be
her excuse； and after stating her imprudence； I am happy to add；
that I owed the knowledge of it to herself。 I joined them
unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement； and
then Georgiana； unable to support the idea of grieving and
offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father；
acknowledged the whole to me。 You may imagine what I felt and
how I acted。 Regard for my sister’s credit and feelings prevented
any public exposure； but I wrote to Mr。 Wickham； who left the
place immediately； and Mrs。 Younge was of course removed from
her charge。 Mr。 Wickham’s chief object was unquestionably my
sister’s fortune； which is thirty thousand pounds； but I cannot help
supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me； was a strong
inducement。 His revenge would have been complete indeed。 This；
madam； is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have
been concerned together； and if you do not absolutely reject it as
false； you will； I hope； acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr。
Wickham。 I know not in what manner； under what form of
falsehood he has imposed on you； but his success is not perhaps to
be wondered at。 Ignorant as you previously were of every thing
concerning either； detection could not be in your power； and
suspicion certainly not in your inclination。 You may possibly
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wonder why all this was not told you last night。 But I was not then
master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be
revealed。 For the truth of every thing here related； I can appeal
more particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam； who
from our near relationship and constant intimacy； and still more
as one of the executors of my father’s will； has been unavoidably
acquainted with every particular of these transactions。 If your
abhorrence of me should make my assertions valueless； you cannot
be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin； and
that there may be the possibility of consulting him； I shall
endeavour to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your
hands in the course of the morning。 I will only add； God bless you。
‘Fitzwilliam Darcy。’
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CHAPTER XIII
f Elizabeth； when Mr。 Darcy gave
