pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第77节
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‘And my mother—How is she？ How are you all？’
‘My mother is tolerably well； I trust； though her spirits are
greatly shaken。 She is up stairs； and will have great satisfaction in
seeing you all。 She does not yet leave her dressing…room。 Mary and
Kitty； thank Heaven！ are quite well。’
‘But you—How are you？’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘You look pale。 How
much you must have gone through！’
Her sister； however； assured her； of her being perfectly well；
and their conversation； which had been passing while Mr。 and
Mrs。 Gardiner were engaged with their children； was now put an
end to； by the approach of the whole party。 Jane ran to her uncle
and aunt； and welcomed and thanked them both； with alternate
smiles and tears。
When they were all in the drawing room； the questions which
Elizabeth had already asked； were of course repeated by the
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others； and they soon found that Jane had no intelligence to give。
The sanguine hope of good； however； which the benevolence of
her heart suggested； had not yet deserted her； she still expected
that it would all end well； and that every morning would bring
some letter； either from Lydia or her father； to explain their
proceedings； and perhaps announce the marriage。
Mrs。 Bennet； to whose apartment they all repaired； after a few
minutes conversation together； received them exactly as might be
expected； with tears and lamentations of regret； invectives against
the villanous conduct of Wickham； and complaints of her own
sufferings and ill usage； blaming every body but the person to
whose ill judging indulgence the errors of her daughter must be
principally owing。
‘If I had been able；’ said she； ‘to carry my point of going to
Brighton； with all my family； this would not have happened； but
poor dear Lydia had nobody to take care of her。 Why did the
Forsters ever let her go out of their sight？ I am sure there was
some great neglect or other on their side； for she is not the kind of
girl to do such a thing； if she had been well looked after。 I always
thought they were very unfit to have the charge of her； but I was
over…ruled； as I always am。 Poor dear child！ And now here’s Mr。
Bennet gone away； and I know he will fight Wickham； wherever
he meets him； and then he will be killed； and what is to become of
us all？ The Collinses will turn us out； before he is cold in his grave；
and if you are not kind to us； brother； I do not know what we shall
do。’
They all exclaimed against such terrific ideas； and Mr。
Gardiner； after general assurances of his affection for her and all
her family； told her that he meant to be in London the very next
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day； and would assist Mr。 Bennet in every endeavour for
recovering Lydia。
‘Do not give way to useless alarm；’ added he； ‘though it is right
to be prepared for the worst； there is no occasion to look on it as
certain。 It is not quite a week since they left Brighton。 In a few
days more； we may gain some news of them； and till we know that
they are not married； and have no design of marrying； do not let us
give the matter over as lost。 As soon as I get to town； I shall go to
my brother； and make him come home with me to Gracechurch…
street； and then we may consult together as to what is to be done。’
‘Oh！ my dear brother；’ replied Mrs。 Bennet； ‘that is exactly what
I could most wish for。 And now do； when you get to town； find
them out； wherever they may be； and if they are not married
already； make them marry。 And as for wedding clothes； do not let
them wait for that； but tell Lydia she shall have as much money as
she chuses； to buy them； after they are married。 And； above all
things； keep Mr。 Bennet from fighting。 Tell him what a dreadful
state I am in；—that I am frightened out of my wits； and have such
tremblings； such flutterings； all over me； such spasms in my side；
and pains in my head； and such beatings at heart； that I can get no
rest by night nor by day。 And tell my dear Lydia； not to give any
directions about her clothes； till she has seen me； for she does not
know which are the best warehouses。 Oh； brother； how kind you
are！ I know you will contrive it all。’
But Mr。 Gardiner； though he assured her again of his earnest
endeavours in the cause； could not avoid recommending
moderation to her； as well in her hopes as her fears； and； after
talking with her in this manner till dinner was on table； they left
her to vent all her feelings on the housekeeper； who attended； in
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the absence of her daughters。
Though her brother and sister were persuaded that there was
no real occasion for such a seclusion from the family； they did not
attempt to oppose it； for they knew that she had not prudence
enough to hold her tongue before the servants； while they waited
at table； and judged it better that one only of the household； and
the one whom they could most trust； should comprehend all her
fears and solicitude on the subject。
In the dining…room they were soon joined by Mary and Kitty；
who had been too busily engaged in their separate apartments； to
make their appearance before。 One came from her books； and the
other from her toilette。 The faces of both； however； were tolerably
calm； and no change was visible in either； except that the loss of
her favourite sister； or the anger which she had herself incurred in
the business； had given something more of fretfulness than usual；
to the accents of Kitty。 As for Mary； she was mistress enough of
herself to whisper to Elizabeth with a countenance of grave
reflection； soon after they were seated at table；
‘This is a most unfortunate affair； and will probably be much
talked of。 But we must stem the tide of malice； and pour into the
wounded bosoms of each other； the balm of sisterly consolation。’
Then； perceiving in Elizabeth no inclination of replying； she
added； ‘Unhappy as the event must be for Lydia； we may draw
from it this useful lesson； that loss of virtue in a female is
irretrievable—that one false step involves her in endless ruin—
that her reputation is no less brittle than it is beautiful；—and that
she cannot be too much guarded in her behaviour towards the
undeserving of the other sex。’
Elizabeth lifted up her eyes in amazement； but was too much
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oppressed to make any reply。 Mary； however； continued to console
herself with such kind of moral extractions from the evil before
them。
In the afternoon； the two elder Miss Bennets were able to be for
half an hour by themselves； and Elizabeth instantly availed herself
of the opportunity of making many enquiries； which Jane was
equally eager to satisfy。 After joining in general lamentations over
the dreadful sequel of this event； which Elizabeth considered as all
but certain； and Miss Bennet could not assert to be wholly
impossible； the former continued the subject； by saying； ‘But tell
me all and every thing about it； which I have not already heard。
Give me farther particulars。 What did Colonel Forster say？ Had
they no apprehension of any thing before the elopement too
