pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第79部分
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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 uncertainty had produced of what Mr。 Darcy 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！
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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
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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
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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？’
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‘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。
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CHAPTER XI
r。 Wickham was so perfectly satisfied with this
conversation； that he never again distressed himself；
M
or provoked his dear sister Elizabeth； by introducing
the subject of it； and she was pleased to find that she had said
enough to keep him quiet。
The day of his and Lydia’s departure soon came； and Mrs。
