pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第50部分
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！
CHAPTER XIII
f Elizabeth； when Mr。 Darcy gave her the letter； did not
expect it to contain a renewal of his offers； she had formed no
I
expectation at all of its contents。 But such as they were； it
may be well supposed how eagerly she went through them； and
what a contrariety of emotion they excited。 Her feelings as she
read were scarcely to be defined。 With amazement did she first
understand that he believed any apology to be in his power； and
steadfastly was she persuaded that he could have no explanation
to give； which a just sense of shame would not conceal。 With a
strong prejudice against every thing he might say； she began his
account of what had happened at Netherfield。 She read； with an
eagerness which hardly left her power of comprehension； and
from impatience of knowing what the next sentence might bring；
was incapable of attending to the sense of the one before her eyes。
His belief of her sister’s insensibility； she instantly resolved to be
false； and his account of the real； the worst objections to the
match； made her too angry to have any wish of doing him justice。
He expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied her；
his style was not penitent； but haughty。 It was all pride and
insolence。
But when this subject was succeeded by his account of Mr。
Wickham； when she read with somewhat clearer attention； a
relation of events； which； if true； must overthrow every cherished
opinion of his worth； and which bore so alarming an affinity to his
own history of himself； her feelings were yet more acutely painful
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 239…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 239
and more difficult of definition。 Astonishment； apprehension； and
even horror； oppressed her。 She wished to discredit it entirely；
repeatedly exclaiming； ‘This must be false！ This cannot be！ This
must be the grossest falsehood！’—and when she had gone through
the whole letter； though scarcely knowing any thing of the last
page or two； put it hastily away； protesting that she would not
regard it； that she would never look in it again。
In this perturbed state of mind； with thoughts that could rest on
nothing； she walked on； but it would not do； in half a minute the
letter was unfolded again； and collecting herself as well as she
could； she again began the mortifying perusal of all that related to
Wickham； and commanded herself so far as to examine the
meaning of every sentence。 The account of his connection with the
Pemberley family； was exactly what he had related himself； and
the kindness of the late Mr。 Darcy； though she had not before
known its extent； agreed equally well with his own words。 So far
each recital confirmed the other： but when she came to the will；
the difference was great。 What Wickham had said of the living was
fresh in her memory； and as she recalled his very words； it was
impossible not to feel that there was gross duplicity on one side or
the other； and； for a few moments； she flattered herself that her
wishes did not err。 But when she read； and re…read with the
closest attention； the particulars immediately following of
Wickham’s resigning all pretensions to the living； of his receiving
in lieu； so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds； again
was she forced to hesitate。 She put down the letter； weighed every
circumstance with what she meant to be impartiality—deliberated
on the probability of each statement—but with little success。 On
both sides it was only assertion。 Again she read on。 But every line
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 240…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 240
proved more clearly that the affair； which she had believed it
impossible that any contrivance could so represent； as to render
Mr。 Darcy’s conduct in it less than infamous； was capable of a turn
which must make him entirely blameless throughout the whole。
The extravagance and general profligacy which he scrupled not
to lay to Mr。 Wickham’s charge； exceedingly shocked her； the
more so； as she could bring no proof of its injustice。 She had never
heard of him before his entrance into the —shire Militia； in which
he had engaged at the persuasion of the young man； who； on
meeting him accidentally in town； had there renewed a slight
acquaintance。 Of his former way of life； nothing had been known
in Hertfordshire but what he told himself。 As to his real character；
had information been in her power； she had never felt a wish of
enquiring。 His countenance； voice； and manner； had established
him at once in the possession of every virtue。 She tried to recollect
some instance of goodness； some distinguished trait of integrity or
benevolence； that might rescue him from the attacks of Mr。 Darcy；
or at least； by the predominance of virtue； atone for those casual
errors； under which she would endeavour to class； what Mr。 Darcy
had described as the idleness and vice of many years continuance。
But no such recollection befriended her。 She could see him
instantly before her； in every charm of air and address； but she
could remember no more substantial good than the general
approbation of the neighbourhood； and the regard which his social
powers had gained him in the mess。 After pausing on this point a
considerable while； she once more continued to read。 But； alas！
the story which followed of his designs on Miss Darcy； received
some confirmation from what had passed between Colonel
Fitzwilliam and herself only the morning before； and at last she
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 241…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 241
was referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel
Fitzwilliam himself—from whom she had previously received the
information of his near concern in all his cousin’s affairs； and
whose character she had no reason to question。 At one time she
had almost resolved on applying to him； but the idea was checked
by the awkwardness of the application； and at length wholly
banished by the conviction that Mr。 Darcy would never have
hazarded such a proposal； if he had not been well assured of his
cousin’s corroboration。
She perfectly remembered every thing that had passed in
conversation between Wickham and herself； in their first evening
at Mr。 Philips’s。 Many of his expressions were still fresh in her
memory。 She was now struck with the impropriety of such
communications to a stranger； and wondered it had escaped her
before。 She saw the indelicacy of putting himself forward as he
had done； and the inconsistency of his professions with his
conduct。 She remembered that he had boasted of having no fear of
seeing Mr。 Darcy—that Mr。 Darcy might leave the country； but
that he should stand his ground； yet he had avoided the
Netherfield ball the very next week。 She remembered also； that till
the Netherfield family had quitted the country； he had told his
story to no one but herself； but that after their removal； it had
been every where discussed； that he had then no reserves； no
scruples in sinking Mr。 Darcy’s character； though he had assured
her that respect for the father； would always prevent his exposing
the son。
How differently did every thing now appear in which he was
concerned！ His attentions to Miss King were now the consequence
of views solely and hatefully mercenary； and the mediocrity of her
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 242…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 242
fortune proved no longer the moderation of his wishes； but his
eagerness to grasp at any thing。 His behaviour to herself could
now have had no tolerable motive； he had either been deceived
with regard to her fortune； or had been gratifying his vanity by
encouraging the preference which she believed she had most
incautiously shewn。 Every lingering struggle in his favour grew
fainter and fainter； and in farther justification of Mr。 Darcy； she
could not
