啦啦中文网

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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