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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Chapter 48
The whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr. Bennet the next morning, but the post came in without bringing a single line from him. His family knew him to be, on all common occasions, a most negligent1 and dilatory2 correspondent; but at such a time they had hoped for exertion3. They were forced to conclude that he had no pleasing intelligence to send; but even of that they would have been glad to be certain. Mr. Gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off.
When he was gone, they were certain at least of receiving constant information of what was going on, and their uncle promised, at parting, to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn, as soon as he could, to the great consolation4 of his sister, who considered it as the only security for her husband's not being killed in a duel5.
Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a few days longer, as the former thought her presence might be serviceable to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet, and was a great comfort to them in their hours of freedom. Their other aunt also visited them frequently, and always, as she said, with the design of cheering and heartening them up—though, as she never came without reporting some fresh instance of Wickham's extravagance or irregularity, she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she found them.
All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man who, but three months before, had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debt to every tradesman in the place, and his intrigues6, all honoured with the title of seduction, had been extended into every tradesman's family. Everybody declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world; and everybody began to find out that they had always distrusted the appearance of his goodness. Elizabeth, though she did not credit above half of what was said, believed enough to make her former assurance of her sister's ruin more certain; and even Jane, who believed still less of it, became almost hopeless, more especially as the time was now come when, if they had gone to Scotland, which she had never before entirely7 despaired of, they must in all probability have gained some news of them.
Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday; on Tuesday his wife received a letter from him; it told them that, on his arrival, he had immediately found out his brother, and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch Street; that Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham, before his arrival, but without gaining any satisfactory information; and that he was now determined8 to inquire at all the principal hotels in town, as Mr. Bennet thought it possible they might have gone to one of them, on their first coming to London, before they procured9 lodgings10. Mr. Gardiner himself did not expect any success from this measure, but as his brother was eager in it, he meant to assist him in pursuing it. He added that Mr. Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present to leave London and promised to write again very soon. There was also a postscript11 to this effect:
"I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out, if possible, from some of the young man's intimates in the regiment12, whether Wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to know in what part of town he has now concealed14 himself. If there were anyone that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a clue as that, it might be of essential consequence. At present we have nothing to guide us. Colonel Forster will, I dare say, do everything in his power to satisfy us on this head. But, on second thoughts, perhaps, Lizzy could tell us what relations he has now living, better than any other person."
Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference16 to her authority proceeded; but it was not in her power to give any information of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved. She had never heard of his having had any relations, except a father and mother, both of whom had been dead many years. It was possible, however, that some of his companions in the ——shire might be able to give more information; and though she was not very sanguine17 in expecting it, the application was a something to look forward to.
Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters was the grand object of every morning's impatience18. Through letters, whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated, and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance.
But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner, a letter arrived for their father, from a different quarter, from Mr. Collins; which, as Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence, she accordingly read; and Elizabeth, who knew what curiosities his letters always were, looked over her, and read it likewise. It was as follows:
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I feel myself called upon, by our relationship, and my situation in life, to condole19 with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under, of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire. Be assured, my dear sir, that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathise with you and all your respectable family, in your present distress20, which must be of the bitterest kind, because proceeding21 from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part that can alleviate22 so severe a misfortune—or that may comfort you, under a circumstance that must be of all others the most afflicting23 to a parent's mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing24 in comparison of this. And it is the more to be lamented25, because there is reason to suppose as my dear Charlotte informs me, that this licentiousness26 of behaviour in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty degree of indulgence; though, at the same time, for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet, I am inclined to think that her own disposition27 must be naturally bad, or she could not be guilty of such an enormity, at so early an age. Howsoever that may be, you are grievously to be pitied; in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins, but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter, to whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending28 that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others; for who, as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says, will connect themselves with such a family? And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect, with augmented29 satisfaction, on a certain event of last November; for had it been otherwise, I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me then advise you, dear sir, to console yourself as much as possible, to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever, and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous30 offense31.
"I am, dear sir, etc., etc."
Mr. Gardiner did not write again till he had received an answer from Colonel Forster; and then he had nothing of a pleasant nature to send. It was not known that Wickham had a single relationship with whom he kept up any connection, and it was certain that he had no near one living. His former acquaintances had been numerous; but since he had been in the militia32, it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them. There was no one, therefore, who could be pointed33 out as likely to give any news of him. And in the wretched state of his own finances, there was a very powerful motive34 for secrecy35, in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations, for it had just transpired36 that he had left gaming debts behind him to a very considerable amount. Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expenses at Brighton. He owed a good deal in town, but his debts of honour were still more formidable. Mr. Gardiner did not attempt to conceal13 these particulars from the Longbourn family. Jane heard them with horror. "A gamester!" she cried. "This is wholly unexpected. I had not an idea of it."
Mr. Gardiner added in his letter, that they might expect to see their father at home on the following day, which was Saturday. Rendered spiritless by the ill-success of all their endeavours, he had yielded to his brother-in-law's entreaty37 that he would return to his family, and leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable for continuing their pursuit. When Mrs. Bennet was told of this, she did not express so much satisfaction as her children expected, considering what her anxiety for his life had been before.
"What, is he coming home, and without poor Lydia?" she cried. "Sure he will not leave London before he has found them. Who is to fight Wickham, and make him marry her, if he comes away?"
As Mrs. Gardiner began to wish to be at home, it was settled that she and the children should go to London, at the same time that Mr. Bennet came from it. The coach, therefore, took them the first stage of their journey, and brought its master back to Longbourn.
Mrs. Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her Derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world. His name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece; and the kind of half-expectation which Mrs. Gardiner had formed, of their being followed by a letter from him, had ended in nothing. Elizabeth had received none since her return that could come from Pemberley.
The present unhappy state of the family rendered any other excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary; nothing, therefore, could be fairly conjectured38 from that, though Elizabeth, who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings, was perfectly39 aware that, had she known nothing of Darcy, she could have borne the dread40 of Lydia's infamy41 somewhat better. It would have spared her, she thought, one sleepless42 night out of two.
When Mr. Bennet arrived, he had all the appearance of his usual philosophic43 composure. He said as little as he had ever been in the habit of saying; made no mention of the business that had taken him away, and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of it.
It was not till the afternoon, when he had joined them at tea, that Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject; and then, on her briefly44 expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured, he replied, "Say nothing of that. Who should suffer but myself? It has been my own doing, and I ought to feel it."
"You must not be too severe upon yourself," replied Elizabeth.
"You may well warn me against such an evil. Human nature is so prone45 to fall into it! No, Lizzy, let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame. I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression. It will pass away soon enough."
"Do you suppose them to be in London?"
"Yes; where else can they be so well concealed?"
"And Lydia used to want to go to London," added Kitty.
"She is happy then," said her father drily; "and her residence there will probably be of some duration."
Then after a short silence he continued:
"Lizzy, I bear you no ill-will for being justified46 in your advice to me last May, which, considering the event, shows some greatness of mind."
They were interrupted by Miss Bennet, who came to fetch her mother's tea.
"This is a parade," he cried, "which does one good; it gives such an elegance47 to misfortune! Another day I will do the same; I will sit in my library, in my nightcap and powdering gown, and give as much trouble as I can; or, perhaps, I may defer15 it till Kitty runs away."
"I am not going to run away, papa," said Kitty fretfully. "If I should ever go to Brighton, I would behave better than Lydia."
"You go to Brighton. I would not trust you so near it as Eastbourne for fifty pounds! No, Kitty, I have at last learnt to be cautious, and you will feel the effects of it. No officer is ever to enter into my house again, nor even to pass through the village. Balls will be absolutely prohibited, unless you stand up with one of your sisters. And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner."
Kitty, who took all these threats in a serious light, began to cry.
"Well, well," said he, "do not make yourself unhappy. If you are a good girl for the next ten years, I will take you to a review at the end of them."
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1
negligent
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| adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的 | |
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dilatory
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| adj.迟缓的，不慌不忙的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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7
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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10
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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11
postscript
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| n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明 | |
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12
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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14
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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15
defer
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| vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从 | |
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16
deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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18
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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19
condole
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| v.同情；慰问 | |
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20
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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21
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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23
afflicting
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| 痛苦的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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25
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
licentiousness
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| n.放肆，无法无天 | |
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27
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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28
apprehending
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的现在分词 )； 理解 | |
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29
Augmented
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| adj.增音的 动词augment的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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30
heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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31
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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32
militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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33
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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34
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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35
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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36
transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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37
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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38
conjectured
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| 推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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40
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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41
infamy
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| n.声名狼藉，出丑，恶行 | |
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42
sleepless
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| adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的 | |
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43
philosophic
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| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
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44
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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45
prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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46
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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47
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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