1、傲慢与偏见 (PRIDE AND PREJUDICE)第五十九章MY dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to? was a question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, and from all the others when they sat down to table. She had only to say in reply, that they had wandered about, till she was beyond
2、 her own knowledge. She coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor any thing else, awakened a suspicion of the truth. The evening passed quietly, unmarked by any thing extraordinary. The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent. Darcy was not of a disposition in which
3、 happiness overflows in mirth; and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy than felt herself to be so; for, besides the immediate embarrassment, there were other evils before her. She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known; she was aware
4、 that no one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away.At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennets general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here. You are joking, L
5、izzy. This cannot be! - engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible. This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you; and I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am in earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He st
6、ill loves me, and we are engaged. Jane looked at her doubtingly. Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much you dislike him. You know nothing of the matter. That is all to be forgot. Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This
7、is the last time I shall ever remember it myself. Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and more seriously assured her of its truth. Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you, cried Jane. My dear, dear Lizzy, I would - I do congratulate you - but are you certain
8、? forgive the question - are you quite certain that you can be happy with him? There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother? Very, very much. Nothing could give ei
9、ther Bingley or myself more delight. But we considered it, we talked of it as impossible. And do you really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy! do any thing rather than marry without affection. Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought to do? Oh, yes! You will only think I feel more than I
10、ought to do, when I tell you all. What do you mean? Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid you will be angry. My dearest sister, now be serious. I want to talk very seriously. Let me know every thing that I am to know, without delay. Will you tell me how long you h
11、ave loved him? It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley. Another intreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the desired effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assur
12、ances of attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennet had nothing farther to wish. Now I am quite happy, said she, for you will be as happy as myself. I always had a value for him. Were it for nothing but his love of you, I must always have esteemed him; but now, as Bingleys friend and yo
13、ur husband, there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me. But Lizzy, you have been very sly, very reserved with me. How little did you tell me of what passed at Pemberley and Lambton! I owe all that I know of it to another, not to you. Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy. She had
14、 been unwilling to mention Bingley; and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made her equally avoid the name of his friend. But now she would no longer conceal from her his share in Lydias marriage. All was acknowledged, and half the night spent in conversation. -Good gracious! cried Mrs. Ben
15、net, as she stood at a window the next morning, if that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with our dear Bingley! What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always coming here? I had no notion but he would go a-shooting, or something or other, and not disturb us with his company. Wh
16、at shall we do with him? Lizzy, you must walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingleys way. Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal; yet was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an epithet. As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her so
17、expressively, and shook hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information; and he soon afterwards said aloud, Mrs. Bennet, have you no more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day? I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty, said Mrs. Bennet, to walk to Oakham Moun
18、t this morning. It is a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has never seen the view. It may do very well for the others, replied Mr. Bingley; but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty. Wont it, Kitty? Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home. Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view from th
19、e Mount, and Elizabeth silently consented. As she went up stairs to get ready, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying, I am quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is all for Janes sake, you know; and there is no occa
20、sion for talking to him, except just now and then. So, do not put yourself to inconvenience. During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennets consent should be asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved to herself the application for her mothers. She could not determine how her mother
21、 would take it; sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man. But whether she were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense; a
22、nd she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her disapprobation. -In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet withdrew to the library, she saw Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation on seeing it was extreme. She did not fear
23、 her fathers opposition, but he was going to be made unhappy; and that it should be through her means - that she, his favourite child, should be distressing him by her choice, should be filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her - was a wretched reflection, and she sat in misery till Mr.
24、 Darcy appeared again, when, looking at him, she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few minutes he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, while pretending to admire her work said in a whisper, Go to your father, he wants you in the library. She was gone directly. Her fathe
25、r was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. Lizzy, said he, what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be accepting this man? Have not you always hated him? How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would
26、 have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy. Or, in other words, you are determined to have him. He is rich, to be sure, and you may have more fine c
27、lothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy? Have you any other objection, said Elizabeth, than your belief of my indifference? None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him. I do, I do like him, she replie
28、d, with tears in her eyes, I love him. Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms. Lizzy, said her father, I have given him my consent. He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never da
29、re refuse any thing, which he condescended to ask. I now give it to you, if you are resolved on having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked u
30、p to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about. Elizabeth, still more
31、affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day, but had s
32、tood the test of many months suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did conquer her fathers incredulity, and reconcile him to the match. Well, my dear, said he, when she ceased speaking, I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted w
33、ith you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy. To complete the favourable impression, she then told him what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment. This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And so, Darcy did every thing: made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellows
34、 debts, and got him his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy. Had it been your uncles doing, I must and would have paid him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about his
35、love for you, and there will be an end of the matter. He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before, on his reading Mr. Collinss letter; and after laughing at her some time, allowed her at last to go - saying, as she quitted the room, If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in,
36、for I am quite at leisure. Elizabeths mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight; and, after half an hours quiet reflection in her own room, she was able to join the others with tolerable composure. Every thing was too recent for gaiety, but the evening passed tranquilly away; there was no longe
37、r any thing material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time. When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night, she followed her, and made the important communication. Its effect was most extraordinary; for on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, and
38、unable to utter a syllable. Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard; though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her cha
39、ir, get up, sit down again, wonder, and bless herself. Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Janes is nothin
40、g to it - nothing at all. I am so pleased - so happy. Such a charming man! - so handsome! so tall! - Oh, my dear Lizzy! pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Every thing that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten
41、thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me. I shall go distracted. This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted: and Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, her mother fol
42、lowed her. My dearest child, she cried, I can think of nothing else! Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! Tis as good as a Lord! And a special licence. You must and shall be married by a special licence. But my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, that I may have
43、it tomorrow. This was a sad omen of what her mothers behaviour to the gentleman himself might be; and Elizabeth found that, though in the certain possession of his warmest affection, and secure of her relations consent, there was still something to be wished for. But the morrow passed off much bette
44、r than she expected; for Mrs. Bennet luckily stood in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to him, unless it was in her power to offer him any attention, or mark her deference for his opinion. Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acqua
45、inted with him; and Mr. Bennet soon assured her that he was rising every hour in his esteem. I admire all my three sons-in-law highly, said he. Wickham, perhaps, is my favourite; but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Janes. 且说伊丽莎白一走进家门，吉英便问她： 亲爱的丽萃，你们到什么地方去了？ 等到他们俩人坐下来的时候，家里所有的人都这样问
46、她，她只得说，他们俩人随便逛逛，后来她自己也不知道走到什么地方去了。她说话时涨红了脸；可是不管她神色如何，都没有引起大家怀疑到那件事上面去。 那个下午平平静静地过去了，并没有什么特别的事情。公开的那一对爱人有说有笑；没有公开的那一对不声不响。达西生性沉静，喜悦不形于色；伊丽莎白心慌意乱，只知道自己很幸福，却没有确切体味到究竟如何幸福，因为除了眼前这一阵别扭以外，还有种种麻烦等在前头。她预料事情公开以后，家里人有何种感觉。她知道除了吉英以外，家里没有一个人喜欢他，她甚至顾虑到家里人都会讨厌他，哪怕凭他的财产地位，也是无法挽救。晚上，她把真心话说给吉英听。虽说吉英一向并不多疑，可是对这件事却简直不
47、肯相信。你在开玩笑！丽萃。不会有这种事！跟达西先生订婚！不行，不行，你不要骗我；我知道这件事不可能。 一开头就这样糟糕，可真要命！我唯一希望全寄托在你身上，要是你不相信我，就没有人会相信我了。我决不是跟你胡说。我说的都是真话。他仍然爱我，我们已经讲定了。 吉英半信半疑地看着她。 噢，丽萃，不会有这种事的。我知道你非常厌恶他。 你一点也不明白这里面的曲折，这种话不必再提。也许我一向并不象现在这样爱他。可是这一类的事，总不应该把宿怨记得太牢。我从今以后也一定要把它忘记得干干净净。 班纳特小姐仍然显出非常诧异的样子。于是伊丽莎白更加一本正经地重新跟她说，这是事实。吉英不禁大声叫道： 老天爷呀！真有这
48、件事吗？这一下我可应该相信你了，我的好丽萃，亲丽萃，我要恭喜你，我一定得恭喜你；可是，对不起，让我问你一声：你能不能断定能不能百分之百地断定，嫁了他是否幸福？ 这当然毫无疑问。我们俩都认为我们是世界上最幸福的一对。可是你高兴吗，吉英？你愿意要这样一位妹夫吗？ 非常非常愿意。彬格莱和我真是再高兴也没有了。这件事我们也考虑过，谈论过，都认为不可能。你当真非常爱他吗？噢，丽萃，什么事都可以随便，没有爱情可千万不能结婚。你确实感觉到你应该这样做吗？ 的确如此！等我把详情细节都告诉了你，你只会觉得我还做得不够呢。 你这话是什么意思？ 嗳，我得承认，我爱他要比爱彬格莱更深切。我怕你要生气吧。 好妹妹，请你
49、严肃一些。我要听你严肃地谈一谈。凡是可以对我说的话，赶快对我说个明白，你是否愿意告诉我，你爱他有多久了？这是慢慢儿发展起来的，我也说不出从什么时候开始，不过我觉得，应该从看到彭伯里他那美丽的花园算起。 姐姐又叫她严肃些，这一次总算产生了效果；她立刻依了吉英的意见，郑重其事地把自己爱他的经过讲给吉英听。班纳特小姐弄明白了这一点以后，便万事放心了。她说： 我现在真是太幸福了，因为你也会同我一样幸福。我一向很器重他。不说别的，光是为了他爱你，我也就要永远敬重他了；他既是彬格莱的朋友，现在又成了你的丈夫，那么除了彬格莱和你以外，我最喜欢的当然就是他啦。可是丽萃，你太狡猾了，平常连一点口风也不向我吐露。彭伯里的事和蓝白屯的事从来没有说给我听过！我所知道的一些情形，都是别人说给我听的，不是你自己说的。 伊丽莎白只得把保守秘密的原因告诉了她。原来她以前不愿意提起彬格莱，加上她又心绪不宁，所以也不讲起达西，可是现在，她大可
