pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第88节
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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。
Bennet was forced to submit to a separation； which； as her
husband by no means entered into her scheme of their all going to
Newcastle； was likely to continue at least a twelvemonth。
‘Oh！ my dear Lydia；’ she cried； ‘when shall we meet again？’
‘Oh； lord！ I don’t know。 Not these two or three years perhaps。’
‘Write to me very often； my dear。’
‘As often as I can。 But you know married women have never
much time for writing。 My sisters may write to me。 They will have
nothing else to do。’
Mr。 Wickham’s adieus were much more affectionate than his
wife’s。 He smiled； looked handsome； and said many pretty things。
‘He is as fine a fellow；’ said Mr。 Bennet； as soon as they were
out of the house； ‘as ever I saw。 He simpers； and smirks； and
makes love to us all。 I am prodigiously proud of him。 I defy even
Sir William Lucas himself； to produce a more valuable son…in…law。’
The loss of her daughter made Mrs。 Bennet very dull for several
days。
‘I often think；’ said she； ‘that there is nothing so bad as parting
with one’s friends。 One seems so forlorn without them。’
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‘This is the consequence you see； Madam； of marrying a
daughter；’ said Elizabeth。 ‘It must make you better satisfied that
your other four are single。’
‘It is no such thing。 Lydia does not leave me because she is
married； but only because her husband’s regiment happens to be
so far off。 If that had been nearer； she would not have gone so
soon。’
But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into； was
shortly relieved； and her mind opene
