去看看小说网>傲慢与偏见英文版 > 第88章（第1页）
第88章（第1页）
OntheverylastdayoftheregimentsremainingatMeryton，hedined，withotheroftheofficers，atLongbourn;andsolittlewasElizabethdisposedtopartfromhimingoodhumour，thatonhismakingsomeinquiryastothemannerinwhichhertimehadpassedatHunsford，shementionedColonelFitzwilliamsandMr。DarcyshavingbothspentthreeweeksatRosings，andaskedhim，ifhewasacquaintedwiththeformer。
Helookedsurprised，displeased，alarmed;butwithamomentsrecollectionandareturningsmile，replied，thathehadformerlyseenhimoften;and，afterobservingthathewasaverygentlemanlikeman，askedherhowshehadlikedhim。Heranswerwaswarmlyinhisfavour。Withanairofindifference，hesoonafterwardsadded:
“HowlongdidyousayhewasatRosings?”
“Nearlythreeweeks。”
“Andyousawhimfrequently?”
“Yes，almosteveryday。”
“Hismannersareverydifferentfromhiscousins。”
“Yes，verydifferent。ButIthinkMr。Darcyimprovesuponacquaintance。”
“Indeed!”criedMr。Wickhamwithalookwhichdidnotescapeher。“Andpray，mayIask?—”Butcheckinghimself，headded，inagayertone，“Isitinaddressthatheimproves?Hashedeignedtoaddaughtofcivilitytohisordinarystyle?—forIdarenothope，”hecontinuedinalowerandmoreserioustone，“thatheisimprovedinessentials。”
“Oh，no!”saidElizabeth。“Inessentials，Ibelieve，heisverymuchwhatheeverwas。”
Whileshespoke，Wickhamlookedasifscarcelyknowingwhethertorejoiceoverherwords，ortodistrusttheirmeaning。Therewasasomethinginhercountenancewhichmadehimlistenwithanapprehensiveandanxiousattention，whilesheadded:
“WhenIsaidthatheimprovedonacquaintance，Ididnotmeanthathismindorhismannerswereinastateofimprovement，butthat，fromknowinghimbetter，hisdispositionwasbetterunderstood。”
Wickhamsalarmnowappearedinaheightenedcomplexionandagitatedlook;forafewminuteshewassilent，till，shakingoffhisembarrassment，heturnedtoheragain，andsaidinthegentlestofaccents:
“You，whosowellknowmyfeelingtowardsMr。Darcy，willreadilycomprehendhowsincerelyImustrejoicethatheiswiseenoughtoassumeeventheappearanceofwhatisright。Hispride，inthatdirection，maybeofservice，ifnottohimself，tomanyothers，foritmustonlydeterhimfromsuchfoulmisconductasIhavesufferedby。Ionlyfearthatthesortofcautiousnesstowhichyou，Iimagine，havebeenalluding，ismerelyadoptedonhisvisitstohisaunt，ofwhosegoodopinionandjudgementhestandsmuchinawe。Hisfearofherhasalwaysoperated，Iknow，whentheyweretogether;andagooddealistobeimputedtohiswishofforwardingthematchwithMissdeBourgh，whichIamcertainhehasverymuchatheart。”
Elizabethcouldnotrepressasmileatthis，butsheansweredonlybyaslightinclinationofthehead。Shesawthathewantedtoengageherontheoldsubjectofhisgrievances，andshewasinnohumourtoindulgehim。Therestoftheeveningpassedwiththeappearance，onhisside，ofusualcheerfulness，butwithnofurtherattempttodistinguishElizabeth;andtheypartedatlastwithmutualcivility，andpossiblyamutualdesireofnevermeetingagain。
Whenthepartybrokeup，LydiareturnedwithMrs。ForstertoMeryton，fromwhencetheyweretosetoutearlythenextmorning。Theseparationbetweenherandherfamilywasrathernoisythanpathetic。Kittywastheonlyonewhoshedtears;butshedidweepfromvexationandenvy。Mrs。Bennetwasdiffuseinhergoodwishesforthefelicityofherdaughter，andimpressiveinherinjunctionsthatsheshouldnotmisstheopportunityofenjoyingherselfasmuchaspossible—advicewhichtherewaseveryreasontobelievewouldbeattendedto;andintheclamoroushappinessofLydiaherselfinbiddingfarewell，themoregentleadieusofhersisterswereutteredwithoutbeingheard。
