pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第58部分
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which her wishes and hopes might be fixed； and by again enjoying
the pleasure of anticipation； console herself for the present； and
prepare for another disappointment。 Her tour to the Lakes was
now the object of her happiest thoughts； it was her best consola…
tion for all the uncomfortable hours； which the discontentedness
of her mother and Kitty made inevitable； and could she have
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included Jane in the scheme； every part of it would have been
perfect。
‘But it is fortunate；’ thought she； ‘that I have something to wish
for。 Were the whole arrangement complete； my disappointment
would be certain。 But here； by my carrying with me one ceaseless
source of regret in my sister’s absence； I may reasonably hope to
have all my expectations of pleasure realized。 A scheme of which
every part promises delight； can never be successful； and general
disappointment is only warded off by the defence of some little
peculiar vexation。’
When Lydia went away； she promised to write very often and
very minutely to her mother and Kitty； but her letters were always
long expected； and always very short。 Those to her mother；
contained little else； than that they were just returned from the
library； where such and such officers had attended them； and
where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made her quite
wild； that she had a new gown； or a new parasol； which she would
have described more fully； but was obliged to leave off in a violent
hurry； as Mrs。 Forster called her； and they were going to the
camp；—and from her correspondence with her sister； there was
still less to be learnt—for her letters to Kitty； though rather longer；
were much too full of lines under the words to be made public。
After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence； health；
good humour and cheerfulness began to re…appear at Longbourn。
Everything wore a happier aspect。 The families who had been in
town for the winter came back again； and summer finery and
summer engagements arose。 Mrs。 Bennet was restored to her
usual querulous serenity； and by the middle of June Kitty was so
much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without tears； an
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event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope； that by
the following Christmas； she might be so tolerably reasonable as
not to mention an officer above once a day； unless by some cruel
and malicious arrangement at the war…office； another regiment
should be quartered in Meryton。
The time fixed for the beginning of their Northern tour was
now fast approaching； and a fortnight only was wanting of it； when
a letter arrived from Mrs。 Gardiner； which at once delayed its
commencement and curtailed its extent。 Mr。 Gardiner would be
prevented by business from setting out till a fortnight later in July；
and must be in London again within a month； and as that left too
short a period for them to go so far； and see so much as they had
proposed； or at least to see it with the leisure and comfort they had
built on； they were obliged to give up the Lakes； and substitute a
more contracted tour； and； according to the present plan； were to
go no farther northward than Derbyshire。 In that county； there
was enough to be seen； to occupy the chief of their three weeks；
and to Mrs。 Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction。 The
town where she had formerly passed some years of her life； and
where they were now to spend a few days； was probably as great
an object of her curiosity； as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock；
Chatsworth； Dovedale； or the Peak。
Elizabeth was excessively disappointed； she had set her heart
on seeing the Lakes； and still thought there might have been time
enough。 But it was her business to be satisfied—and certainly her
temper to be happy； and all was soon right again。
With the mention of Derbyshire； there were many ideas
connected。 It was impossible for her to see the word without
thinking of Pemberley and its owner。 ‘But surely；’ said she； ‘I may
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enter his county with impunity； and rob it of a few petrified spars
without his perceiving me。’
The period of expectation was now doubled。 Four weeks were
to pass away before her uncle and aunt’s arrival。 But they did pass
away； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Gardiner； with their four children； did at
length appear at Longbourn。 The children； two girls of six and
eight years old； and two younger boys； were to be left under the
particular care of their cousin Jane； who was the general favourite；
and whose steady sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted
her for attending to them in every way—teaching them； playing
with them； and loving them。
The Gardiners staid only one night at Longbourn； and set off
the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and
amusement。 One enjoyment was certain—that of suitableness as
companions； a suitableness which comprehended health and
temper to bear inconveniences—cheerfulness to enhance every
pleasure—and affection and intelligence； which might supply it
among themselves if there were disappointments abroad。
It is not the object of this work to give a description of
Derbyshire； nor of any of the remarkable places through which
their route thither lay； Oxford； Blenheim； Warwick； Kenelworth；
Birmingham； &c。 are sufficiently known。 A small part of
Derbyshire is all the present concern。 To the little town of
Lambton； the scene of Mrs。 Gardiner’s former residence； and
where she had lately learned that some acquaintance still
remained； they bent their steps； after having seen all the principal
wonders of the country； and within five miles of Lambton；
Elizabeth found from her aunt； that Pemberley was situated。 It
was not in their direct road； nor more than a mile or two out of it。
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In talking over their route the evening before； Mrs。 Gardiner
expressed an inclination to see the place again。 Mr。 Gardiner
declared his willingness； and Elizabeth was applied to for her
approbation。
‘My love； should not you like to see a place of which you have
heard so much？’ said her aunt。 ‘A place too； with which so many of
your acquaintance are connected。 Wickham passed all his youth
there； you know。’
Elizabeth was distressed。 She felt that she had no business at
Pemberley； and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing
it。 She must own that she was tired of great houses； after going
over so many； she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin
curtains。
Mrs。 Gardiner abused her stupidity。 ‘If it were merely a fine
house richly furnished；’ said she； ‘I should not care about it myself；
but the grounds are delightful。 They have some of the finest woods
in the country。’
Elizabeth said no more—but her mind could not acquiesce。 The
possibility of meeting Mr。 Darcy； while viewing the place； instantly
occurred。 It would be dreadful！ She blushed at the very idea； and
thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt； than to run
such a risk。 But against this； there were objections； and she finally
resolved that it could be the last resource； if her private enquiries
as to the absence of the family； were unfavourably answered。
Accordingly； when she retired at night； she asked the
chambermaid whether Pemberley were not a very fine place； what
was the name of its proprietor； and with no little alarm； whether
the family were down for the summer。 A most welcome negative
followed the last question—and her alarms being now removed；
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she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house
herself； and when the subject was revived the next morning； and
she was again applied to； could readily answer； and with a proper
air of
