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去看看小说网>傲慢与偏见1995版全集在线观看 > 第104章(第1页)

第104章(第1页)

Ifgratitudeandesteemaregoodfoundationsofaffection,Elizabethschangeofsentimentwillbeneitherimprobablenorfaulty。Butifotherwise—ifregardspringingfromsuchsourcesisunreasonableorunnatural,incomparisonofwhatissooftendescribedasarisingonafirstinterviewwithitsobject,andevenbeforetwowordshavebeenexchanged,nothingcanbesaidinherdefence,exceptthatshehadgivensomewhatofatrialtothelattermethodinherpartialityforWickham,andthatitsillsuccessmight,perhaps,authorisehertoseektheotherlessinterestingmodeofattachment。Bethatasitmay,shesawhimgowithregret;andinthisearlyexampleofwhatLydiasinfamymustproduce,foundadditionalanguishasshereflectedonthatwretchedbusiness。Never,sincereadingJanessecondletter,hadsheentertainedahopeofWickhamsmeaningtomarryher。NoonebutJane,shethought,couldflatterherselfwithsuchanexpectation。Surprisewastheleastofherfeelingsonthisdevelopment。Whilethecontentsofthefirstletterremainedonhermind,shewasallsurprise—allastonishmentthatWickhamshouldmarryagirlwhomitwasimpossiblehecouldmarryformoney;andhowLydiacouldeverhaveattachedhimhadappearedincomprehensible。Butnowitwasalltoonatural。Forsuchanattachmentasthis,shemighthavesufficientcharms;andthoughshedidnotsupposeLydiatobedeliberatelyengaginginanelopementwithouttheintentionofmarriage,shehadnodifficultyinbelievingthatneitherhervirtuenorherunderstandingwouldpreserveherfromfallinganeasyprey。

Shehadneverperceived,whiletheregimentwasinHertfordshire,thatLydiahadanypartialityforhim;butshewasconvincedthatLydiawantedonlyencouragementtoattachherselftoanybody。Sometimesoneofficer,sometimesanother,hadbeenherfavourite,astheirattentionsraisedtheminheropinion。Heraffectionshadcontinuallybeenfluctuatingbutneverwithoutanobject。Themischiefofneglectandmistakenindulgencetowardssuchagirl—oh!howacutelydidshenowfeelit!

Shewaswildtobeathome—tohear,tosee,tobeuponthespottosharewithJaneinthecaresthatmustnowfallwhollyuponher,inafamilysoderanged,afatherabsent,amotherincapableofexertion,andrequiringconstantattendance;andthoughalmostpersuadedthatnothingcouldbedoneforLydia,herunclesinterferenceseemedoftheutmostimportance,andtillheenteredtheroomherimpatiencewassevere。Mr。andMrs。Gardinerhadhurriedbackinalarm,supposingbytheservantsaccountthattheirniecewastakensuddenlyill;butsatisfyingtheminstantlyonthathead,sheeagerlycommunicatedthecauseoftheirsummons,readingthetwolettersaloud,anddwellingonthepostofthelastwithtremblingenergy,thoughLydiahadneverbeenafavouritewiththem,Mr。andMrs。Gardinercouldnotbutbedeeplya?icted。NotLydiaonly,butallwereconcernedinit;andafterthefirstexclamationsofsurpriseandhorror,Mr。Gardinerpromisedeveryassistanceinhispower。Elizabeth,thoughexpectingnoless,thankedhimwithtearsofgratitude;andallthreebeingactuatedbyonespirit,everythingrelatingtotheirjourneywasspeedilysettled。Theyweretobeoffassoonaspossible。“ButwhatistobedoneaboutPemberley?”criedMrs。Gardiner。“JohntoldusMr。Darcywasherewhenyousentforus;wasitso?”

“Yes;andItoldhimweshouldnotbeabletokeepourengagement。Thatisallsettled。”

“Whatisallsettled?”repeatedtheother,assheranintoherroomtoprepare。“Andaretheyuponsuchtermsasforhertodisclosetherealtruth?Oh,thatIknewhowitwas!”

Butwisheswerevain,oratbestcouldonlyservetoamuseherinthehurryandconfusionofthefollowinghour。HadElizabethbeenatleisuretobeidle,shewouldhaveremainedcertainthatallemploymentwasimpossibletoonesowretchedasherself;butshehadhershareofbusinessaswellasheraunt,andamongsttheresttherewerenotestobewrittentoalltheirfriendsatLambton,withfalseexcusesfortheirsuddendeparture。Anhour,however,sawthewholecompleted;andMr。Gardinermeanwhilehavingsettledhisaccountattheinn,nothingremainedtobedonebuttogo;andElizabeth,afterallthemiseryofthemorning,foundherself,inashorterspaceoftimethanshecouldhavesupposed,seatedinthecarriage,andontheroadtoLongbourn。

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