pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第80节
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all your sorrow and disgrace。 Let me advise you then； my dear Sir；
to console yourself as much as possible； to throw off your
unworthy child from your affection for ever； and leave her to reap
the fruits of her own heinous offence。
‘I am； dear Sir； &c。 &c。’
Mr。 Gardiner did not write again； till he had received an answer
from Colonel Forster； and then he had nothing of a pleasant
nature to send。 It was not known that Wickham had a single
relation； with whom he kept up any connection； and it was certain
that he had no near one living。 His former acquaintance had been
numerous； but since he had been in the militia； it did not appear
that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them。
There was no one therefore who could be pointed out； as likely to
give any news of him。 And in the wretched state of his own
finances； there was a very powerful motive for secrecy； in addition
to his fear of discovery by Lydia’s relations； for it had just
transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him； to a very
considerable amount。 Colonel Forster believed that more than a
thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expences at
Brighton。 He owed a good deal in the town； but his debts of
honour were still more formidable。 Mr。 Gardiner did not attempt
to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family； Jane
heard them with horror。 ‘A gamester！’ she cried。 ‘This is wholly
unexpected。 I had not an idea of it。’
Mr。 Gardiner added in his letter； that they might expect to see
their father at home on the following day； which was Saturday。
Rendered spiritless by the ill…success of all their endeavours； he
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had yielded to his brother…in…law’s intreaty that he would return to
his family； and leave it to him to do； whatever occasion might
suggest to be advisable for continuing their pursuit。 When Mrs。
Bennet was told of this； she did not express so much satisfaction
as her children expected； considering what her anxiety for his life
had been before。
‘What； is he coming home； and without poor Lydia！’ she cried。
‘Sure he will not leave London before he has found them。 Who is
to fight Wickham； and make him marry her； if he comes away？’
As Mrs。 Gardiner began to wish to be at home； it was settled
that she and her children should go to London； at the same time
that Mr。 Bennet came from it。 The coach； therefore； took them the
first stage of their journey； and brought its master back to
Longbourn。
Mrs。 Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth
and her Derbyshire friend； that had attended her from that part of
the world。 His name had never been voluntarily mentioned before
them by her niece； and the kind of half…expectation which Mrs。
Gardiner had formed； of their being followed by a letter from him；
had ended in nothing。 Elizabeth had received none since her
return； that could come from Pemberley。
The present unhappy state of the family； rendered any other
excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary； nothing；
therefore； could be fairly conjectured from that； though Elizabeth；
who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own
feelings； was perfectly aware； that； had she known nothing of
Darcy； she could have borne the dread of Lydia’s infamy
somewhat better。 It would have spared her； she thought； one
sleepless night out of two。
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When Mr。 Bennet arrived； he had all the appearance of his
usual philosophic composure。 He said as little as he had ever been
in the habit of saying； made no mention of the business that had
taken him away； and it was some time before his daughters had
courage to speak of it。
It was not till the afternoon； when he joined them at tea； that
Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject； and then； on her
briefly expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured； he
replied； ‘Say nothing of that。 Who should suffer but myself？ It has
been my own doing； and I ought to feel it。’
‘You must not be too severe upon yourself；’ replied Elizabeth。
‘You may well warn me against such an evil。 Human nature is
so prone to fall into it！ No； Lizzy； let me once in my life feel how
much I have been to blame。 I am not afraid of being overpowered
by the impression。 It will pass away soon enough。’
‘Do you suppose them to be in London ？’
‘Yes； where else can they be so well concealed？’
‘And Lydia used to want to go to London；’ added Kitty。
‘She is happy； then；’ said her father； drily； ‘and her residence
there will probably be of some duration。’
Then； after a short silence； he continued； ‘Lizzy； I bear you no
ill…will for being justified in your advice to me last May； which；
considering the event； shews some greatness of mind。’
They were interrupted by Miss Bennet； who came to fetch her
mother’s tea。
‘This is a parade；’ cried he； ‘which does one good； it gives such
an elegance to misfortune！ Another day I will do the same； I will
sit in my library； in my night cap and powdering gown； and give as
much trouble as I can；—or； perhaps； I may defer it； till Kitty runs
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away。’
‘I am not going to run away； Papa；’ said Kitty； fretfully； ‘if I
should ever go to Brighton； I would behave better than Lydia。’
‘You go to Brighton！—I would not trust you so near it as East
Bourne； for fifty pounds！ No； Kitty； I have at last learnt to be
cautious； and you will feel the effects of it。 No officer is ever to
enter my house again； nor even to pass through the village。 Balls
will be absolutely prohibited； unless you stand up with one of your
sisters。 And you are never to stir out of doors； till you can prove；
that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational
manner。’
Kitty； who took all these threats in a serious light； began to cry。
‘Well； well；’ said he； ‘do not make yourself unhappy。 If you are a
good girl for the next ten years； I will take you to a review at the
end of them。’
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CHAPTER VII
wo days after Mr。 Bennet’s return； as Jane and Elizabeth
were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house；
T
they saw the housekeeper coming towards them； and；
concluding that she came to call them to their mother； went for…
ward to meet her； but； instead of the expected summons； when
they approached her； she said to Miss Bennet； ‘I beg your pardon；
madam； for interrupting you； but I was in hopes you might have
got some good news from town； so I took the liberty of coming to
ask。’
‘What do you mean； Hill？ We have heard nothing from town。’
‘Dear madam；’ cried Mrs。 Hill； in great astonishment； ‘dont you
know there is an express come for master from Mr。 Gardiner？ He
has been here this half hour； and master has had a letter。’
Away ran the girls； too eager to get in to have time for speech。
They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast room； from
thence to the library；—their father was in neither； and they were
on the point of seeking him up stairs with their mother； when they
were met by the
