English
Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as soon as she possibly could. She was no sooner in possession of it, than hurrying into the little copse, where she was least likely to be interrupted, she sat down on one of the benches, and prepared to be happy; for the length of the letter convinced her that it did not contain a denial.
“Gracechurch Street, Sept. 6.”
“My dear Niece,
“I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning to answering it, as I foresee that a little writing will not comprise what I have to tell you. I must confess myself surprised by your application; I did not expect it from you. Don’t think me angry, however, for I only mean to let you know, that I had not imagined such inquiries to be necessary on your side. If you do not choose to understand me, forgive my impertinence. Your uncle is as much surprised as I am; and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned would have allowed him to act as he has done. But if you are really innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit. On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with him several hours. It was all over before I arrived; so my curiosity was not so dreadfully racked as yours seems to have been. He came to tell Mr. Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, and that he had seen and talked with them both--Wickham repeatedly, Lydia once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to himself that Wickham’s worthlessness had not been so well known as to make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private actions open to the world. His character was to speak for itself. He called it, therefore, his duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy an evil which had been brought on by himself. If he had another motive, I am sure it would never disgrace him. He had been some days in town before he was able to discover them; but he had something to direct his search, which was more than we had; and the consciousness of this was another reason for his resolving to follow us. There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her charge on some cause of disapprobation, though he did not say what. She then took a large house in Edward Street, and has since maintained herself by letting lodgings. This Mrs. Younge was, he knew, intimately acquainted with Wickham; and he went to her for intelligence of him, as soon as he got to town. But it was two or three days before he could get from her what he wanted. She would not betray her trust, I suppose, without bribery and corruption, for she really did know where her friend was to be found. Wickham, indeed, had gone to her on their first arrival in London; and had she been able to receive them into her house, they would have taken up their abode with her. At length, however, our kind friend procured the wished-for direction. They were in ---- Street. He saw Wickham, and afterwards insisted on seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he acknowledged, had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation, and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to receive her, offering his assistance as far as it would go. But he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was. She cared for none of her friends; she wanted no help of his; she would not hear of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be married some time or other, and it did not much signify when. Since such were her feelings, it only remained, he thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which, in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily learnt had never been his design. He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment on account of some debts of honour which were very pressing; and scrupled not to lay all the ill consequences of Lydia’s flight on her own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission immediately; and as to his future situation, he could conjecture very little about it. He must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he knew he should have nothing to live on. Mr. Darcy asked why he did not marry your sister at once. Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have been able to do something for him, and his situation must have been benefited by marriage. But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage, in some other country. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief. They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham, of course, wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable. Everything being settled between them, Mr. Darcy’s next step was to make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch Street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be seen; and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your father was still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and till the next day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business. On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together. They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It was not all settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been accused of many faults at different times; but this is the true one. Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it) your uncle would most readily have settled the whole. They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece, was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no further than yourself, or Jane at most. You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young people. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own settled upon her, and his commission purchased. The reason why all this was to be done by him alone, was such as I have given above. It was owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that Wickham’s character had been so misunderstood, and consequently that he had been received and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth in this; though I doubt whether his reserve, or anybody’s reserve can be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, my dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for another interest in the affair. When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding took place, and all money matters were then to receive the last finish. I believe I have now told you everything. It is a relation which you tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us, and Wickham had constant admission to the house. He was exactly what he had been when I knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with her behaviour while she stayed with us, if I had not perceived, by Jane’s letter last Wednesday, that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a piece with it, and therefore what I now tell you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner, representing to her the wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness she had brought on her family. If she heard me, it was by good luck, for I am sure she did not listen. I was sometimes quite provoked; but then I recollected my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sakes had patience with her. Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and, as Lydia informed you, attended the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave town again on Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him? His behaviour to us has, in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him very sly; he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion. Pray forgive me, if I have been very presuming, or at least do not punish me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy till I have been all round the park. A low phaeton with a nice little pair of ponies would be the very thing. But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half hour.
“Yours, very sincerely,
“M. GARDINER.”
The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits, in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore the greatest share. The vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty had produced, of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her sister’s match--which she had feared to encourage, as an exertion of goodness too great to be probable, and at the same time dreaded to be just, from the pain of obligation--were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true! He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken on himself all the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research; in which supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason with, persuade, and finally bribe the man whom he always most wished to avoid, and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations; and she soon felt that even her vanity was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her, for a woman who had already refused him, as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law of Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection. He had, to be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think how much. But he had given a reason for his interference, which asked no extraordinary stretch of belief. It was reasonable that he should feel he had been wrong; he had liberality, and he had the means of exercising it; and though she would not place herself as his principal inducement, she could perhaps believe, that remaining partiality for her might assist his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially concerned. It was painful, exceedingly painful, to know that they were under obligations to a person who could never receive a return. They owed the restoration of Lydia, her character, everything to him. Oh, how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him! For herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him,--proud that in a cause of compassion and honour he had been able to get the better of himself. She read over her aunt’s commendation of him again and again. It was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even sensible of some pleasure, though mixed with regret, on finding how steadfastly both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted between Mr. Darcy and herself.
She was roused from her seat and her reflections, by someone’s approach; and, before she could strike into another path, she was overtaken by Wickham.
“I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?” said he, as he joined her.
“You certainly do,” she replied with a smile; “but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome.”
“I should be sorry, indeed, if it were. We were always good friends, and now we are better.”
“True. Are the others coming out?”
“I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that you have actually seen Pemberley.”
She replied in the affirmative.
“I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very fond of me. But of course she did not mention my name to you.”
“Yes, she did.”
“And what did she say?”
“That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had--not turned out well. At such a distance as that, you know, things are strangely misrepresented.”
“Certainly,” he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him; but he soon afterwards said,--
“I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there.”
“Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh,” said Elizabeth. “It must be something particular to take him there at this time of year.”
“Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I understood from the Gardiners that you had.”
“Yes; he introduced us to his sister.”
“And do you like her?”
“Very much.”
“I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this year or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad you liked her. I hope she will turn out well.”
“I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age.”
“Did you go by the village of Kympton?”
“I do not recollect that we did.”
“I mention it because it is the living which I ought to have had. A most delightful place! Excellent parsonage-house! It would have suited me in every respect.”
“How should you have liked making sermons?”
“Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to repine; but, to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The quiet, the retirement of such a life, would have answered all my ideas of happiness! But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance when you were in Kent?”
“I have heard from authority, which I thought as good, that it was left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron.”
“You have! Yes, there was something in that; I told you so from the first, you may remember.”
“I did hear, too, that there was a time when sermon-making was not so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business had been compromised accordingly.”
“You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember what I told you on that point, when first we talked of it.”
They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked fast to get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister’s sake, to provoke him, she only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile,--
“Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one mind.”
She held out her hand: he kissed it with affectionate gallantry, though he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house.
中文
伊丽莎白尽可能快地收到了姨妈的回信，十分满意。信一到手，她便匆匆走进小树林，那里最不容易被打扰；她在一张长椅上坐下，准备让自己高兴起来，因为信的篇幅使她相信，里面并不是拒绝回答。
“格雷斯丘奇街，九月六日。”
“我亲爱的外甥女：”
“我刚收到你的信，打算用整个上午来回复，因为我预见要告诉你的事情绝不是几行字能写完的。必须承认，你这样来问我，使我很惊讶；我没有料到你会这样做。不过别以为我生气，我只是想让你知道，我原本没有想到你这边还需要这样的说明。如果你不愿意明白我的意思，请原谅我的冒昧。你舅舅和我一样惊讶；若不是相信你也是当事人之一，他本不会允许自己像这样处理。可是，如果你真的清白无知，我就必须说得更明白。就在我从朗伯恩回家的当天，你舅舅来了一位极出乎意料的访客。达西先生来访，同他关在一起谈了好几个小时。等我回来时，一切已经结束；所以我的好奇并没有像你的似乎那样被折磨得那么厉害。他来告诉加德纳先生，他已经查到你妹妹和威克姆先生住在哪里，并且已经见过、同他们两人都谈过——威克姆谈过不止一次，莉迪亚谈过一次。根据我能搜集到的情况，他只比我们晚一天离开德比郡，到城里来时便下定决心要寻找他们。他公开说明的动机，是他确信威克姆的无价值之所以没有广为人知，以至于任何有名誉的年轻女子都不可能爱他或信任他，这件事归咎于自己。他慷慨地把整件事都归因于自己错误的骄傲，并承认自己从前以为把私人行为公开给世人有失身份。他认为自己的品格应当自己说明一切。因此，他称这是自己的责任，必须出面努力补救一个由自己造成的恶果。如果他还有别的动机，我确信那动机也绝不会使他丢脸。他在城里待了好几天才查到他们；但他手里有一点可指引寻找的线索，这是我们所没有的，而意识到这一点，也是他决定跟着我们来的另一个原因。看来有一位杨太太，曾经做过达西小姐的家庭女教师，后来因某种令人不满的原因被辞退，尽管他没有说明是什么原因。她随后在爱德华街租下一所大房子，靠出租房间维持生活。达西先生知道，这位杨太太同威克姆相当熟悉；他一到城里，便去她那里打听威克姆的消息。但过了两三天，他才从她那里得到想要的东西。我想，她若没有贿赂和收买，是不会出卖托付给她的秘密的；因为她确实知道她那位朋友在哪里可以找到。实际上，威克姆初到伦敦时就去找过她；若她能接纳他们住进自己家，他们便会在她那里落脚。最后，我们这位好心朋友终于得到了所需地址。他们住在某街。他见了威克姆，随后坚持要见莉迪亚。他承认，自己同莉迪亚谈话的首要目的，是劝她离开眼下这种可耻处境，尽快回到朋友身边，只要她的朋友们愿意接纳她，他愿意尽力帮助。可是他发现莉迪亚绝对决心留在原处。她不在乎任何亲友；她不需要他的帮助；她不愿听到离开威克姆这件事。她确信他们迟早会结婚，至于什么时候并不很要紧。既然她这样想，他认为剩下的只能是保证并加快一场婚礼；而在他同威克姆第一次谈话中，他就很容易得知，这从来不是威克姆的打算。威克姆承认，自己因某些逼得很紧的赌债而不得不离开军团；又毫不犹豫地把莉迪亚私奔造成的一切坏后果全归到她自己的愚蠢头上。他打算立刻辞去军职；至于未来处境，他几乎说不出什么。他必须去某个地方，却不知道去哪里，也知道自己没有任何东西可维持生活。达西先生问他为什么不立刻娶你妹妹。班纳特先生虽不被认为很富有，却总能为他做点什么；而结婚至少能改善他的处境。但这个问题得到的回答是，威克姆仍怀着希望，想在别的地方通过婚姻更有效地发财。不过，在这样的情形下，他也不大可能抵挡住立即得到救济的诱惑。他们见过好几次，因为要讨论的事情很多。威克姆当然想要更多；但最后也不得不变得合理。两人把一切谈定之后，达西先生下一步便是让你舅舅知道此事。他第一次到格雷斯丘奇街，是我回家前一天晚上。但那时见不到加德纳先生；再进一步打听后，达西先生发现你父亲仍和他在一起，不过第二天早晨会离开城里。他认为，与你舅舅相比，你父亲并不是一个他能同样适当地商量的人，因此很乐意把见面推迟到你父亲离开之后。他没有留下姓名，所以直到第二天，只知道有一位绅士因事务来访。星期六他又来了。你父亲已经走了，你舅舅在家；正如我前面说过的，他们谈了很久。星期日他们又见面，那时我也见到了他。事情到星期一才全部定下；一定下，急信便发往朗伯恩。可是我们的客人非常固执。我想，莉齐，固执终究是他性格中真正的缺点。他在不同时候被指责过许多毛病；可这才是真的。凡是他自己能做的，绝不许别人做；尽管我确信（我不是为了让你感谢才这样说，所以你不要提）你舅舅本会非常乐意把整件事处理好。他们就此争执了很久，而这比那位先生和那位女士本身值得的都多得多。最后你舅舅被迫让步；他本来想真正帮助自己的外甥女，却只好勉强接受那份可能归到他身上的功劳，这非常违背他的意愿。我真相信，你今早的来信给了他极大快乐，因为它要求解释，能把他那借来的羽毛剥下，把赞美还给真正该得的人。不过，莉齐，这件事绝不能再传给你自己以外的人，最多只能告诉简。我想你大概已经相当清楚，为那对年轻人做了什么。他的债要还清，我相信数目远超一千镑；除她自己的财产之外，还要另有一千镑安置给她；他的军职也要购买。所有这些由他一人完成的理由，正如上面所说。正是因为他，因为他的沉默保留和缺乏适当考虑，威克姆的品格才被误解，因而被人那样接纳和看重。这其中也许有些道理；不过我怀疑，他的保留或任何人的保留是否能对最后发生的事负责。可是，亲爱的莉齐，尽管他说得这么漂亮，你完全可以放心：如果不是我们相信他在这件事里另有一层关切，你舅舅绝不会让步。这一切决定以后，他又回到仍住在彭伯里的朋友们那里；不过已经约定，婚礼举行时他会再次到伦敦，所有钱款事项也会在那里最后办妥。我相信我现在已经把一切都告诉你了。你说这件事会使你非常惊讶；我希望至少它不会使你不快。莉迪亚来到我们这里，威克姆也经常获准进门。他正如我在赫特福德郡认识他时一样；至于她在我们这里期间的行为，我本不想告诉你我有多不满意，若不是我从上星期三简的信里看出她回家后的表现完全一致，因此我现在告诉你的不会给你添新的痛苦。我多次极严肃地同她谈话，向她说明她所做事情的邪恶，以及给全家带来的不幸。若她听见了我说的话，那也是侥幸；因为我敢肯定她并没有用心听。我有时真被激怒；但随后想起我亲爱的伊丽莎白和简，为了你们便对她保持耐心。达西先生按时回来，正如莉迪亚告诉你的那样，参加了婚礼。第二天他在我们这里用餐，星期三或星期四又要离开城里。亲爱的莉齐，如果我借此机会说一句从前从未大胆说出的话——我多么喜欢他——你会很生我的气吗？他对我们的一切举止都和在德比郡时一样令人愉快。他的理解力和见解全都使我满意；他只缺一点更活泼的东西，而如果他娶得谨慎，他的妻子可以教他这一点。我觉得他很狡猾；他几乎从不提你的名字。不过狡猾似乎正是时髦。若我太冒昧，请原谅我；或者至少不要惩罚我到不许我去 P. 的地步。我若不能绕完整个园林一圈，就永远不会完全快乐。一辆低矮轻便马车，再配上一对可爱的小矮马，正合适不过。可我不能再写了。孩子们已经找了我半个小时。”
“你真诚的，”
“M. 加德纳。”
这封信的内容使伊丽莎白心绪激荡，几乎难以分辨其中快乐与痛苦哪一方更多。她在不确定中对达西先生为促成妹妹婚事所做之事曾有模糊而不安的猜测；她不敢鼓励这些猜测，因为那样大的善行似乎太不可能，同时又害怕它们是真的，因为那会带来受恩的痛苦。如今这些猜测被证明远超过她最大胆的想象！他是有意跟着她们到城里来的；他把这种寻找中所有麻烦和屈辱都揽到自己身上；在这过程中，他不得不向一个他必定憎恶轻视的女人请求，又不得不见、反复见、同他最想避开的人讲理、劝说，最后贿赂他——而那人的名字对他说出来本身都是惩罚。他为一个自己既不能看重也不能敬重的姑娘做了这一切。她的心低声说，他是为了她才这样做的。可是这个希望很快被其他考虑压下；她很快感到，甚至自己的虚荣也不足以让她相信，他对一个已经拒绝过他的女人的感情，能战胜同威克姆结亲这样自然的厌恶。威克姆的连襟！任何一种骄傲都必定反抗这层关系。诚然，他做了许多。她羞愧地想到他做了多少。可是他给自己的干预提出了一个不需要特别费力便能相信的理由。觉得自己有错，这是合理的；他有慷慨，也有实践慷慨的手段；而虽然她不愿把自己看作他的主要动机，她也许仍可以相信，他对自己残留的偏爱，曾帮助他努力处理一件会深深影响她内心平静的事情。知道她们欠了一个永远无法回报的人，这令人痛苦，极其痛苦。她们欠他莉迪亚的恢复、她的名誉，几乎一切。啊，她多么诚心地为自己从前对他怀有过的每一种不亲切情绪、对他说过的每一句傲慢俏皮话而难过！她为自己感到谦卑；却为他感到骄傲——骄傲于他能在一件出于怜悯和荣誉的事情上战胜自己。她一遍又一遍读姨妈对他的称赞。那些称赞几乎还不够；但使她高兴。她甚至意识到一种夹杂着遗憾的快乐：舅舅和姨妈竟始终坚信达西先生和她之间存在感情与信任。
有人走近，把她从座位和沉思中惊醒；还没等她转入另一条小路，威克姆已经追上了她。
“我恐怕打扰了你独自散步吧，亲爱的妹妹？”他走到她身边说。
“你确实打扰了，”她微笑着回答，“但打扰不一定就不受欢迎。”
“若真不受欢迎，我可要遗憾了。我们一向是好朋友，如今关系更近了。”
“不错。其他人也出来了吗？”
“我不知道。班纳特太太和莉迪亚要坐车去麦里屯。那么，亲爱的妹妹，我从舅舅和姨妈那里听说，你竟然真的见过彭伯里。”
她回答说是。
“我几乎羡慕你那份乐趣；不过我想那对我来说也许太难受，否则我也可以在去纽卡斯尔途中顺路看看。你大概见到了那位老管家吧？可怜的雷诺兹，她从前一直很喜欢我。不过她当然不会向你提我的名字。”
“她提了。”
“她说了什么？”
“她说你参了军；而且她担心你后来——没有走上好路。你知道，隔着这样远，事情总会被奇怪地歪曲。”
“当然。”他咬着嘴唇回答。伊丽莎白希望自己已经让他闭嘴；但不久后他又说——
“上个月在城里看见达西，我很惊讶。我们擦肩而过好几次。我真想知道他在那里做什么。”
“也许是在为他同德·包尔小姐的婚事作准备，”伊丽莎白说，“这个季节能把他带到伦敦，一定是件特别的事。”
“无疑如此。你在兰姆顿时见过他吗？我以为从加德纳夫妇那里听说，你见过。”
“是的；他把我们介绍给他妹妹认识。”
“你喜欢她吗？”
“非常喜欢。”
“我确实听说，她这一两年大有进步。我上次见到她时，她还不怎么有前途。我很高兴你喜欢她。我希望她会成长得好。”
“我敢说她会的；她已经过了最难经受考验的年龄。”
“你们经过金普顿村了吗？”
“我不记得经过。”
“我提它，是因为那是本该属于我的牧师职位。那地方非常可爱！牧师住宅也极好！各方面都很适合我。”
“你会喜欢写布道稿吗？”
“非常喜欢。我会把它看作职责的一部分，努力很快就算不得什么。人不该抱怨；不过，那对我来说确实会是件好事！那种生活的安静、隐退，会完全符合我对幸福的全部想法！可是命中注定不是这样。你在肯特时，有没有听达西提起这件事？”
“我从一个我认为同样可靠的权威那里听说，那职位只是有条件地留给你，并取决于现任授予人的意愿。”
“你听说了！是的，里面确实有那么一点；你也许还记得，我一开始就是这样告诉你的。”
“我还听说，曾有一段时间，写布道稿对你并不像现在这样合胃口；你实际宣布过自己决心永不受圣职，于是事情便相应作了折中处理。”
“你听说了！这也并非完全没有根据。你或许记得，我们第一次谈这件事时，我在这一点上告诉过你什么。”
她为了摆脱他走得很快，如今已经几乎到了屋门口；又因顾及妹妹，不愿激怒他，便只是带着和善的微笑回答——
“好了，威克姆先生，你知道，我们现在是兄妹了。不要再为过去争吵。以后我希望我们永远同心。”
她伸出手；他以亲切而殷勤的姿态吻了吻，虽然几乎不知道该怎样摆出表情，两人便进了屋。
English
“I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning to answering it, as I foresee that a little writing will not comprise what I have to tell you. I must confess myself surprised by your application; I did not expect it from you. Don’t think me angry, however, for I only mean to let you know, that I had not imagined such inquiries to be necessary on your side. If you do not choose to understand me, forgive my impertinence. Your uncle is as much surprised as I am; and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned would have allowed him to act as he has done. But if you are really innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit. On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with him several hours. It was all over before I arrived; so my curiosity was not so dreadfully racked as yours seems to have been. He came to tell Mr. Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, and that he had seen and talked with them both--Wickham repeatedly, Lydia once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to himself that Wickham’s worthlessness had not been so well known as to make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private actions open to the world. His character was to speak for itself. He called it, therefore, his duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy an evil which had been brought on by himself. If he had another motive, I am sure it would never disgrace him. He had been some days in town before he was able to discover them; but he had something to direct his search, which was more than we had; and the consciousness of this was another reason for his resolving to follow us. There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her charge on some cause of disapprobation, though he did not say what. She then took a large house in Edward Street, and has since maintained herself by letting lodgings. This Mrs. Younge was, he knew, intimately acquainted with Wickham; and he went to her for intelligence of him, as soon as he got to town. But it was two or three days before he could get from her what he wanted. She would not betray her trust, I suppose, without bribery and corruption, for she really did know where her friend was to be found. Wickham, indeed, had gone to her on their first arrival in London; and had she been able to receive them into her house, they would have taken up their abode with her. At length, however, our kind friend procured the wished-for direction. They were in ---- Street. He saw Wickham, and afterwards insisted on seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he acknowledged, had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation, and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to receive her, offering his assistance as far as it would go. But he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was. She cared for none of her friends; she wanted no help of his; she would not hear of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be married some time or other, and it did not much signify when. Since such were her feelings, it only remained, he thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which, in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily learnt had never been his design. He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment on account of some debts of honour which were very pressing; and scrupled not to lay all the ill consequences of Lydia’s flight on her own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission immediately; and as to his future situation, he could conjecture very little about it. He must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he knew he should have nothing to live on. Mr. Darcy asked why he did not marry your sister at once. Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have been able to do something for him, and his situation must have been benefited by marriage. But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage, in some other country. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief. They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham, of course, wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable. Everything being settled between them, Mr. Darcy’s next step was to make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch Street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be seen; and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your father was still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and till the next day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business. On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together. They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It was not all settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been accused of many faults at different times; but this is the true one. Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it) your uncle would most readily have settled the whole. They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece, was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no further than yourself, or Jane at most. You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young people. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own settled upon her, and his commission purchased. The reason why all this was to be done by him alone, was such as I have given above. It was owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that Wickham’s character had been so misunderstood, and consequently that he had been received and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth in this; though I doubt whether his reserve, or anybody’s reserve can be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, my dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for another interest in the affair. When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding took place, and all money matters were then to receive the last finish. I believe I have now told you everything. It is a relation which you tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us, and Wickham had constant admission to the house. He was exactly what he had been when I knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with her behaviour while she stayed with us, if I had not perceived, by Jane’s letter last Wednesday, that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a piece with it, and therefore what I now tell you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner, representing to her the wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness she had brought on her family. If she heard me, it was by good luck, for I am sure she did not listen. I was sometimes quite provoked; but then I recollected my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sakes had patience with her. Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and, as Lydia informed you, attended the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave town again on Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him? His behaviour to us has, in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him very sly; he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion. Pray forgive me, if I have been very presuming, or at least do not punish me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy till I have been all round the park. A low phaeton with a nice little pair of ponies would be the very thing. But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half hour.
中文
“我刚收到你的信，打算用整个上午来回复，因为我预见要告诉你的事情绝不是几行字能写完的。必须承认，你这样来问我，使我很惊讶；我没有料到你会这样做。不过别以为我生气，我只是想让你知道，我原本没有想到你这边还需要这样的说明。如果你不愿意明白我的意思，请原谅我的冒昧。你舅舅和我一样惊讶；若不是相信你也是当事人之一，他本不会允许自己像这样处理。可是，如果你真的清白无知，我就必须说得更明白。就在我从朗伯恩回家的当天，你舅舅来了一位极出乎意料的访客。达西先生来访，同他关在一起谈了好几个小时。等我回来时，一切已经结束；所以我的好奇并没有像你的似乎那样被折磨得那么厉害。他来告诉加德纳先生，他已经查到你妹妹和威克姆先生住在哪里，并且已经见过、同他们两人都谈过——威克姆谈过不止一次，莉迪亚谈过一次。根据我能搜集到的情况，他只比我们晚一天离开德比郡，到城里来时便下定决心要寻找他们。他公开说明的动机，是他确信威克姆的无价值之所以没有广为人知，以至于任何有名誉的年轻女子都不可能爱他或信任他，这件事归咎于自己。他慷慨地把整件事都归因于自己错误的骄傲，并承认自己从前以为把私人行为公开给世人有失身份。他认为自己的品格应当自己说明一切。因此，他称这是自己的责任，必须出面努力补救一个由自己造成的恶果。如果他还有别的动机，我确信那动机也绝不会使他丢脸。他在城里待了好几天才查到他们；但他手里有一点可指引寻找的线索，这是我们所没有的，而意识到这一点，也是他决定跟着我们来的另一个原因。看来有一位杨太太，曾经做过达西小姐的家庭女教师，后来因某种令人不满的原因被辞退，尽管他没有说明是什么原因。她随后在爱德华街租下一所大房子，靠出租房间维持生活。达西先生知道，这位杨太太同威克姆相当熟悉；他一到城里，便去她那里打听威克姆的消息。但过了两三天，他才从她那里得到想要的东西。我想，她若没有贿赂和收买，是不会出卖托付给她的秘密的；因为她确实知道她那位朋友在哪里可以找到。实际上，威克姆初到伦敦时就去找过她；若她能接纳他们住进自己家，他们便会在她那里落脚。最后，我们这位好心朋友终于得到了所需地址。他们住在某街。他见了威克姆，随后坚持要见莉迪亚。他承认，自己同莉迪亚谈话的首要目的，是劝她离开眼下这种可耻处境，尽快回到朋友身边，只要她的朋友们愿意接纳她，他愿意尽力帮助。可是他发现莉迪亚绝对决心留在原处。她不在乎任何亲友；她不需要他的帮助；她不愿听到离开威克姆这件事。她确信他们迟早会结婚，至于什么时候并不很要紧。既然她这样想，他认为剩下的只能是保证并加快一场婚礼；而在他同威克姆第一次谈话中，他就很容易得知，这从来不是威克姆的打算。威克姆承认，自己因某些逼得很紧的赌债而不得不离开军团；又毫不犹豫地把莉迪亚私奔造成的一切坏后果全归到她自己的愚蠢头上。他打算立刻辞去军职；至于未来处境，他几乎说不出什么。他必须去某个地方，却不知道去哪里，也知道自己没有任何东西可维持生活。达西先生问他为什么不立刻娶你妹妹。班纳特先生虽不被认为很富有，却总能为他做点什么；而结婚至少能改善他的处境。但这个问题得到的回答是，威克姆仍怀着希望，想在别的地方通过婚姻更有效地发财。不过，在这样的情形下，他也不大可能抵挡住立即得到救济的诱惑。他们见过好几次，因为要讨论的事情很多。威克姆当然想要更多；但最后也不得不变得合理。两人把一切谈定之后，达西先生下一步便是让你舅舅知道此事。他第一次到格雷斯丘奇街，是我回家前一天晚上。但那时见不到加德纳先生；再进一步打听后，达西先生发现你父亲仍和他在一起，不过第二天早晨会离开城里。他认为，与你舅舅相比，你父亲并不是一个他能同样适当地商量的人，因此很乐意把见面推迟到你父亲离开之后。他没有留下姓名，所以直到第二天，只知道有一位绅士因事务来访。星期六他又来了。你父亲已经走了，你舅舅在家；正如我前面说过的，他们谈了很久。星期日他们又见面，那时我也见到了他。事情到星期一才全部定下；一定下，急信便发往朗伯恩。可是我们的客人非常固执。我想，莉齐，固执终究是他性格中真正的缺点。他在不同时候被指责过许多毛病；可这才是真的。凡是他自己能做的，绝不许别人做；尽管我确信（我不是为了让你感谢才这样说，所以你不要提）你舅舅本会非常乐意把整件事处理好。他们就此争执了很久，而这比那位先生和那位女士本身值得的都多得多。最后你舅舅被迫让步；他本来想真正帮助自己的外甥女，却只好勉强接受那份可能归到他身上的功劳，这非常违背他的意愿。我真相信，你今早的来信给了他极大快乐，因为它要求解释，能把他那借来的羽毛剥下，把赞美还给真正该得的人。不过，莉齐，这件事绝不能再传给你自己以外的人，最多只能告诉简。我想你大概已经相当清楚，为那对年轻人做了什么。他的债要还清，我相信数目远超一千镑；除她自己的财产之外，还要另有一千镑安置给她；他的军职也要购买。所有这些由他一人完成的理由，正如上面所说。正是因为他，因为他的沉默保留和缺乏适当考虑，威克姆的品格才被误解，因而被人那样接纳和看重。这其中也许有些道理；不过我怀疑，他的保留或任何人的保留是否能对最后发生的事负责。可是，亲爱的莉齐，尽管他说得这么漂亮，你完全可以放心：如果不是我们相信他在这件事里另有一层关切，你舅舅绝不会让步。这一切决定以后，他又回到仍住在彭伯里的朋友们那里；不过已经约定，婚礼举行时他会再次到伦敦，所有钱款事项也会在那里最后办妥。我相信我现在已经把一切都告诉你了。你说这件事会使你非常惊讶；我希望至少它不会使你不快。莉迪亚来到我们这里，威克姆也经常获准进门。他正如我在赫特福德郡认识他时一样；至于她在我们这里期间的行为，我本不想告诉你我有多不满意，若不是我从上星期三简的信里看出她回家后的表现完全一致，因此我现在告诉你的不会给你添新的痛苦。我多次极严肃地同她谈话，向她说明她所做事情的邪恶，以及给全家带来的不幸。若她听见了我说的话，那也是侥幸；因为我敢肯定她并没有用心听。我有时真被激怒；但随后想起我亲爱的伊丽莎白和简，为了你们便对她保持耐心。达西先生按时回来，正如莉迪亚告诉你的那样，参加了婚礼。第二天他在我们这里用餐，星期三或星期四又要离开城里。亲爱的莉齐，如果我借此机会说一句从前从未大胆说出的话——我多么喜欢他——你会很生我的气吗？他对我们的一切举止都和在德比郡时一样令人愉快。他的理解力和见解全都使我满意；他只缺一点更活泼的东西，而如果他娶得谨慎，他的妻子可以教他这一点。我觉得他很狡猾；他几乎从不提你的名字。不过狡猾似乎正是时髦。若我太冒昧，请原谅我；或者至少不要惩罚我到不许我去 P. 的地步。我若不能绕完整个园林一圈，就永远不会完全快乐。一辆低矮轻便马车，再配上一对可爱的小矮马，正合适不过。可我不能再写了。孩子们已经找了我半个小时。”
Mrs. Younge：曾经纵容威克姆接近乔治安娜的家庭女教师，也是达西在伦敦找到威克姆的重要线索。
another thousand ... and his commission purchased：达西实际支付威克姆债务、给莉迪亚额外安置一千镑，并购买军职。