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nity　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。　Your's；　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；　every　thing；　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　some　one'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。伊丽莎白果然如愿以偿，很快就接到了回信。她一接到信，就跑到那清静的小树林里　去，在一张长凳上坐下来，准备读个痛快，因为她看到信写得那么长，便断定舅母没有拒绝　她的要求。
亲爱的甥女：
刚刚接到你的来信，我便决定以整个上午的时间来给你写回信，因为我估料三言两语不　能够把我要跟你讲的话讲个明白。我得承认，你所提出的要求很使我诧异，我没有料到提出　这个要求的竟会是你。请你不要以为我这是生气的话，我不过说，我实在想象不到你居然还　要来问。如果你一定装作听不懂我的话，那只有请你原谅我失礼了。你舅父也跟我同样地诧　异，我们都认为，达西所以要那样做，完全是为了你的缘故。如果你当真一点也不知道，那　也只好让我来跟你说说明白了。就在我从浪搏恩回家的那一天，有一个意想不到的客人来见　你舅父。那人原来就是达西先生，他跟你舅父关起门来，密谈了好几个钟头。等我到家的时　候，事情已经过去了，我当时倒并没有象你现在这样好奇。他是因为发觉了你妹妹和韦翰的　下落，特地赶来告诉嘉丁纳先生一声。他说，他已经看到过他们，而且跟他们谈过话──跟　韦翰谈过好多次，跟丽迪雅谈过一次。据我看，我们离开德比郡的第二天，达西就动身赶到　城里来找他们了。他说，事情弄到如此地步，都怪他不好，没有及早揭露韦翰的下流品格，　否则就不会有哪一位正派姑娘会把他当作知心，会爱上他了。他概然引咎自责，认为这次的　事情都得怪他当初太傲慢，因为他以前认为韦翰的品格自然而然会让别人看穿，不必把他的　私人行为都一一揭露出来，免得使他自己有失体统，他认为这都是他自己一手造成的罪恶，　因此他这次出面调停，设法补救实在是义不容辞。他自己承认他要干预这件事的动机就是如　此。如果他当真别有用心，也不会使他丢脸。他在城里待了好几天才找到他们；可是他有线　索可找，我们可没有。他也是因为自信有这点把握，才下定决心紧跟着我们而来。好象有一　位扬吉太太，她早先做过达西小姐的家庭教师，后来犯了什么过错（他没有讲明）被解雇　了，便在爱德华街弄了一幢大房子，分租过活。达西知道这位杨吉太太跟韦翰极其相熟，于　是他一到城里，便上她那儿去打听他的消息。他花了两三天工夫，才从她那儿把事情探听明　白。我想，杨吉太太早就知道韦翰的下落，可是不给她贿赂她决不肯讲出来。他们俩确实是　一到伦敦便到她那里去，要是她能够留他们住，他们早就住在她那儿了。我们这位好心的朋　友终于探听出了他们在某某街的住址，于是他先去看韦翰，然后