登陆注册
15812900000113

第113章

Mr.Bennet made no answer,and each of them,deep in thought, continued silent till they reached the house.Their father then went on to the library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room.

“And they are really to be married!”cried Elizabeth,as soon as they were by themselves.“How strange this is!And for this we are to be thankful.That they should marry,small as is their chance of happiness,and wretched as is his character,we are forced to rejoice.Oh,Lydia!”

“I comfort myself with thinking,”replied Jane,“that he certainly would not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her. Though our kind uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten thousand pounds,or anything like it,has been advanced.He has children of his own,and may have more. How could he spare half ten thousand pounds?”

“If we were ever able to learn what Wickham's debts have been,”said Elizabeth,“and how much is settled on his side on our sister, we shall exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done for them, because Wickham has not sixpence of his own.The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be requited.Their taking her home, and affording her their personal protection and countenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge. By this time she is actually with them! If such goodness does not make her miserable now,she will never deserve to be happy!What a meeting for her,when she first sees my aunt!”

“We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side,”said Jane:“I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is a proof,I will believe,that he is come to a right way of thinking.Their mutual affection will steady them;and I flatter myself they will settle so quietly,and live in so rational a manner,as may in time make their past imprudence forgotten.”

“Their conduct has been such,”replied Elizabeth,“as neither you,nor I,nor anybody can ever forget.It is useless to talk of it.”

It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood perfectly ignorant of what had happened.They went to the library,therefore,and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make it known to her. He was writing and, without raising his head,coolly replied:

“Just as you please.”

“May we take my uncle's letter to read to her?”

“Take whatever you like,and get away.”

Elizabeth took the letter from his writing-table, and they went upstairs together. Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet:one communication would,therefore,do for all.After a slight preparation for good news,the letter was read aloud.Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain herself.As soon as Jane had read Mr.Gardiner's hope of Lydia's being soon married,her joy burst forth,and every following sentence added to its exuberance.She was now in an irritation as violent from delight,as she had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation.To know that her daughter would be married was enough.She was disturbed by no fear for her felicity,nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct.

“My dear, dear Lydia!”she cried.“This is delightful indeed! She will be married!I shall see her again!She will be married at sixteen!My good,kind brother!I knew how it would be.I knew he would manage everything!How I long to see her!and to see dear Wickham too!But the clothes,the wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly.Lizzy,my dear, run down to your father,and ask him how much he will give her. Stay,stay,I will go myself.Ring the bell,Kitty,for Hill.I will put on my things in a moment.My dear,dear Lydia!How merry we shall be together when we meet!”

Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr.Gardiner's behaviour laid them all under.

“For we must attribute this happy conclusion,”she added,“in a great measure to his kindness.We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to assist Mr.Wickham with money.”

“Well,”cried her mother,“it is all very right; who should do it but her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money,you know;and it is the first time we have ever had anything from him, except a few presents.Well!I am so happy!In a short time I shall have a daughter married.Mrs.Wickham!How well it sounds!And she was only sixteen last June.My dear Jane,I am in such a flutter, that I am sure I can't write;so I will dictate,and you write for me. We will settle with your father about the money afterwards;but the things should be ordered immediately.”

She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico,muslin, and cambric,and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her father was at leisure to be consulted. One day's delay,she observed,would be of small importance;and her mother was too happy to be quite so obstinate as usual. Other schemes,too,came into her head.

“I will go to Meryton,”said she,“as soon as I am dressed,and tell the good,good news to my sister Philips.And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage.An airing would do me a great deal of good,I am sure.Girls,can I do anything for you in Meryton?Oh!Here comes Hill! My dear Hill, have you heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married; and you shall all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding.”

Mrs.Hill began instantly to express her joy.Elizabeth received her congratulations amongst the rest,and then,sick of this folly, took refuge in her own room,that she might think with freedom.

Poor Lydia's situation must, at best, be bad enough; but that it was no worse,she had need to be thankful.She felt it so;and though,in looking forward,neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had feared,only two hours ago,she felt all the advantages of what they had gained.

同类推荐
  • 仲夏夜之梦:莎士比亚经典故事集

    仲夏夜之梦:莎士比亚经典故事集

    在欧洲,每个家庭必有两本书,一本是《圣经》,一本就是《莎士比亚全集》,而在其全集中,戏剧占了绝大部分,可以说莎士比亚更多是以其戏剧而闻名的。本书包含的十六篇故事是由莎士比亚的戏剧改编而来的,包括《仲夏夜之梦》、《李尔王》、《第十二夜》、《哈姆雷特》、《冬天的故事》等。其虽然是故事的形式,读来却丝毫不比戏剧逊色,而且更多了一些平易近人的味道。
  • 人性的证明

    人性的证明

    《人性的证明》是森村诚一所作,与《青春的证明》、《野性的证明》合称“证明”三部曲。书中作者不单单是表现了一个八杉恭子,同时也表现了她的两个儿子,以及那个刑警的人性。作者所表现的是社会中的人性扭曲的现象。作者的描写是为了表现悲哀的母子的感情在利益面前是那样的脆弱。还有良知被唤醒的刑警选择了死亡的情节,是出于让人们感悟生命中的意义。
  • 王牌特卫3

    王牌特卫3

    中南海保镖李建,经过血与火的洗礼,荣升特卫团团长。为了铲除教廷组织在南州的势力,在京都和南州大飙赌石技艺,展现了翡翠鉴别等方面的天赋和高超的赌石能力,巧妙地引出恐怖组织并粉碎其刺杀阴谋,成功地肃清南州黑恶势力,成功护卫A首长南巡的安全。带队远赴R国,乔装保护石油大亨女郎玛利亚,粉碎R国黑帮、光头党、J国黑山会、M国教廷组织多股恐怖组织的阴谋,成功保卫石油管道铺设……为祖国的建设和安全做出卓越的贡献。
  • 因为爱情

    因为爱情

    《因为爱情》那些青春燃烧的岁月,总是透过伤害折射出唯美的光芒!每个人都有属于自己的故事,那些真实存在过的点点滴滴,是属于你的、独一无二的不老的传说!
  • 时间证人(故事会经典悬疑系列4)

    时间证人(故事会经典悬疑系列4)

    经典日本、欧美悬系系列。勇气、善恶、欲望、假象,原以以为一切都设计得天衣无缝。
热门推荐
  • 最后一座忠灵塔

    最后一座忠灵塔

    【灵异潜力作品,快来关注!】我快要窒息的醒过来,窒息是因为一个噩梦,置身其中,面对最恐怖的封闭环境却无法逃离的窒息感,让我的心里一直笼罩阴霾,我要寻找这个地方,梦发生的地方,我醒来依稀记得,那是一座至今无人踏足的血红的塔,,☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
  • 恋恋四季

    恋恋四季

    栖霞山庄住着一户林姓人家,男主人退休后工作由大女儿接替。二女儿考上了师范学院,在凤城扎根;小儿子则在山庄务农,三人不同的生活道路成就了不同的人生,不同生活环境对她们的生活和成长有着不可忽视的影响。
  • 诛梦记

    诛梦记

    浩瀚星宇,亿万生灵,或是在不同的维度,或是在不同的星海中,但都拥有自身的规则维护着空间的稳定,平和,因此,每个生物总是把自己当作是宇宙的中心,主角,成圣,化神,妄图称霸一切,可是,从古至今,谁又知道,即使成圣化神,称霸了自己的一方大陆,在浩瀚的星宇中,那又算的了什么,不过是沧海一粟而已,可笑之极。
  • 乡父已逝

    乡父已逝

    讲述我的故乡与父亲的故事。紫罗兰和水手之间究竟有什么关系?父辈的爱恨情仇究竟如何演绎?
  • 重生之IT巨头崛起

    重生之IT巨头崛起

    微软与苹果还未成就牢不可破的霸权,谷歌公司才刚刚引领互联网公司走上快速扩张的道路,在20世纪90年代的初期这个难得的窗口期,且看一个来自中国的天才少年在群狼环伺之下,如何建立世界IT业第四大巨头。这是一个“IT神童”的巨头崛起之路,这是一家伟大公司的成长历程。这是一头在不到十年的时间里估值就已经突破200亿美元的“十角兽”。这是一个诺基亚铁粉,微软的“死忠”对世界以及中国IT业的妄想。小说所构建的世界是基于“多宇宙理论”的并行分支世界,请勿对号入座。第一个粉丝QQ交流群:罗宾之歌530691018,期待各书友加入!!!
  • 故事茶馆

    故事茶馆

    故事茶馆,可以用故事支付茶点的费用。茶晓晓自从有了记忆以来,就一直守在这个茶馆里,倾听每一个愿意敞开心扉的客人的故事。尽管这些故事或是幸福、或是悲伤、或是遗憾、或是悔恨、或是无奈、或是凄凉,却是最为普通平常的人生。
  • 谪仙岚

    谪仙岚

    一生愁,终不过三尺青锋;一世兴,终不荒知命花甲。既已手提七啸逆鳞,又何以畏那八方绿宇。非皇非帝非君非诸侯,非仙非妖非人非六道;此之谓神也。三生欢歌,三生清梦。既相逢,许相守,几回魂梦与君同;六道轮回,六值倾覆。虽兵来,遣将挡,何时忠义两相全;九重天涯,九重地蛊。提玄灯,再回首,多少豪杰载青史。悲世苍凉,混世婪劣,盛世清政,乱世敢为。问世路飘尘尘雪,歌廖哀愿重重恩。若矣天会之于我,世必惟沙独龙。曾高人作千殇横诗,妙笔叹尽,无物殇许:半杯月影半似梦,半壁江山半边愁。千殇弹默皇天尽,风华鹊兮泪斩花。
  • 时空旅行季

    时空旅行季

    原是无人触碰的尘封古书,却因为有缘之人的不经意触碰从而得到了释放。从穿越到萤火虫森林,看遍世间百态,再到泡沫兰海,看透人心丑恶,最后到血色枫林,看不懂这个夏天的颜色…在书中的点点滴滴都是那么令人不敢去面对,然而却又不得不去面对,生活又何尝不是…她,总该去面对的,不是吗?正文第一卷萤火虫森林
  • 情到深处乃自知

    情到深处乃自知

    她魂魄不全,即使肉体重塑,性格却截然不同。她舍爱,舍情,却不知何时爱才能回归。“离我远点。”白羽移开了脚,走向另一个方向。“娘子,你我已经定亲,悔婚,万万不可啊。”
  • 冷色无心

    冷色无心

    寒梓夜,他无心,腹黑。不面瘫的冰山。不会爱上任何人。是男是女?“你猜吧。。。”