pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第81节
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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 butler； who said；
‘If you are looking for my master； ma’am； he is walking towards
the little copse。’
Upon this information； they instantly passed through the hall
once more； and ran across the lawn after their father； who was
deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of
the paddock。
Jane； who was not so light； nor so much in the habit of running
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as Elizabeth； soon lagged behind； while her sister； panting for
breath； came up with him； and eagerly cried out；
‘Oh； Papa； what news？ what news？ have you heard from my
uncle？’
‘Yes； I have had a letter from him by express。’
‘Well； and what news does it bring？ good or bad？’
‘What is there of good to be expected？’ said he； taking the letter
from his pocket； ‘but perhaps you would like to read it。’
Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand。 Jane now came
up。
‘Read it aloud；’ said their father； ‘for I hardly know myself what
it is about。’
‘Gracechurch…street； Monday；
August 2。
‘My Dear Brother；
‘At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece； and
such as； upon the whole； I hope will give you satisfaction。 Soon
after you left me on Saturday； I was fortunate enough to find out
in what part of London they were。 The particulars； I reserve till we
meet。 It is enough to know they are discovered； I have seen them
both—’
‘Then it is； as I always hoped；’ cried Jane； ‘they are married！’
Elizabeth read on； ‘I have seen them both。 They are not
married； nor can I find there was any intention of being so； but if
you are willing to perform the engagements which I have ventured
to make on your side； I hope it will not be long before they are。 All
that is required of you is； to assure to your daughter； by
settlement； her equal share of the five thousand pounds； secured
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among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister；
and； moreover； to enter into an engagement of allowing her；
during your life； one hundred pounds per annum。 These are
conditions； which； considering every thing； I had no hesitation in
complying with； as far as I thought myself privileged； for you。 I
shall send this by express； that no time may be lost in bringing me
your answer。 You will easily comprehend； from these particulars；
that Mr。 Wickham’s circumstances are not so hopeless as they are
generally believed to be。 The world has been deceived in that
respect； and I am happy to say； there will be some little money；
even when all his debts are discharged； to settle on my niece； in
addition to her own fortune。 If； as I conclude will be the case； you
send me full powers to act in your name； throughout the whole of
this business； I will immediately give directions to Haggerston for
preparing a proper settlement。 There will not be the smallest
occasion for your coming to town again； therefore； stay quietly at
Longbourn； and depend on my diligence and care。 Send back your
answer as soon as you can； and be careful to write explicitly。 We
have judged it best； that my niece should be married from this
house； of which I hope you will approve。 She comes to us to…day。 I
shall write again as soon as any thing more is determined on。
Your’s； &c。
‘Edw。 Gardiner。’
‘Is it possible！’ cried Elizabeth； when she had finished。 ‘Can it
be possible that he will marry her？’
‘Wickham is not so undeserving； then； as we have thought him；’
said her sister。 ‘My dear father； I congratulate you。’
‘And have you answered the letter？’ said Elizabeth。
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‘No； but it must be done soon。’
Most earnestly did she then intreat him to lose no more time
before he wrote。
‘Oh！ my dear father；’ she cried； ‘come back； and write
immediately。 Consider how important every moment is； in such a
case。’
‘Let me write for you；’ said Jane； ‘if you dislike the trouble
yourself。’
‘I dislike it very much；’ he replied； ‘but it must be done。’
And so saying； he turned back with them； and walked towards
the house。
‘And may I ask？’ said Elizabeth； ‘but the terms； I suppose； must
be complied with。’
‘Complied with！ I am only ashamed of his asking so little。’
‘And they must marry！ Yet he is such a man！’
‘Yes； yes； they must marry。 There is nothing else to be done。
But there are two things that I want very much to know：—one is；
how much money your uncle has laid down； to bring it about； and
the other； how I am ever to pay him。’
‘Money！ my uncle！’ cried Jane； ‘what do you mean； Sir？’
‘I mean； that no man in his senses； would marry Lydia on so
slight a temptation as one hundred a…year during my life； and fifty
after I am gone。’
‘That is very true；’ said Elizabeth； ‘though it had not occurred
to me before。 His debts to be discharged； and something still to
remain！ Oh！ it must be my uncle’s doings！ Generous； good man； I
am afraid he has distressed himself。 A small sum could not do all
this。’
‘No；’ said her father； ‘Wickham’s a fool； if he takes her with a
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farthing less than ten thousand pounds。 I should be sorry to think
so ill of him； in the very beginning of our relationship。’
‘Ten thousand pounds！ Heaven forbid！ How is half such a sum
to be repaid？’
Mr。 Bennet made no answer； and each of them； deep in
thought； continued silent till they reached the house。 Their father
then went to the library to write； and the girls walked into the
breakfast…room。
‘And they are really to be married！’ cried Elizabeth； as soon as
they were by themselves。 ‘How strange this is！ And for this we are
to be thankful。 That they should marry； small as is their chance of
happiness； and wretched as is his character； we are forced to
rejoice！ Oh； Lydia！’
‘I comfort myself with thinking；’ replied Jane； ‘that he certainly
would not marry Lydia； if he had not a real regard for her。 Though
our kind uncle has done something towards clearing him； I cannot
believe that ten thousand pounds； or any thing like it； has been
advanced。 He has children of his own； and may have more。 How
could he spare half ten thousand pounds？’
‘If we are ever able to learn what Wickham’s debts have been；’
said Elizabeth； ‘and how much is settled on his side on our sister；
we shall exactly know what Mr。 Gardiner has done for them；
because Wickham has not sixpence of his own。 The kindness of my
uncle and aunt can never be requited。 Their taking her home； and
affording her their personal protection and countenance； is such a
sacrifice to her advantage； as years of gratitude cannot enough
acknowledge。 By this time she is actually with them！ If such
goodness does not make her miserable now； she will never deserve
to be happy！ What a meeting for her； when she first sees my aunt！’
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