7k啦言情小说

第104章（第1页）

Ifgratitudeandesteemaregoodfoundationsofaffection，Elizabethschangeofsentimentwillbeneitherimprobablenorfaulty。Butifotherwise—ifregardspringingfromsuchsourcesisunreasonableorunnatural，incomparisonofwhatissooftendescribedasarisingonafirstinterviewwithitsobject，andevenbeforetwowordshavebeenexchanged，nothingcanbesaidinherdefence，exceptthatshehadgivensomewhatofatrialtothelattermethodinherpartialityforWickham，andthatitsillsuccessmight，perhaps，authorisehertoseektheotherlessinterestingmodeofattachment。Bethatasitmay，shesawhimgowithregret;andinthisearlyexampleofwhatLydiasinfamymustproduce，foundadditionalanguishasshereflectedonthatwretchedbusiness。Never，sincereadingJanessecondletter，hadsheentertainedahopeofWickhamsmeaningtomarryher。NoonebutJane，shethought，couldflatterherselfwithsuchanexpectation。Surprisewastheleastofherfeelingsonthisdevelopment。Whilethecontentsofthefirstletterremainedonhermind，shewasallsurprise—allastonishmentthatWickhamshouldmarryagirlwhomitwasimpossiblehecouldmarryformoney;andhowLydiacouldeverhaveattachedhimhadappearedincomprehensible。Butnowitwasalltoonatural。Forsuchanattachmentasthis，shemighthavesufficientcharms;andthoughshedidnotsupposeLydiatobedeliberatelyengaginginanelopementwithouttheintentionofmarriage，shehadnodifficultyinbelievingthatneitherhervirtuenorherunderstandingwouldpreserveherfromfallinganeasyprey。

Shehadneverperceived，whiletheregimentwasinHertfordshire，thatLydiahadanypartialityforhim;butshewasconvincedthatLydiawantedonlyencouragementtoattachherselftoanybody。Sometimesoneofficer，sometimesanother，hadbeenherfavourite，astheirattentionsraisedtheminheropinion。Heraffectionshadcontinuallybeenfluctuatingbutneverwithoutanobject。Themischiefofneglectandmistakenindulgencetowardssuchagirl—oh!howacutelydidshenowfeelit!

Shewaswildtobeathome—tohear，tosee，tobeuponthespottosharewithJaneinthecaresthatmustnowfallwhollyuponher，inafamilysoderanged，afatherabsent，amotherincapableofexertion，andrequiringconstantattendance;andthoughalmostpersuadedthatnothingcouldbedoneforLydia，herunclesinterferenceseemedoftheutmostimportance，andtillheenteredtheroomherimpatiencewassevere。Mr。andMrs。Gardinerhadhurriedbackinalarm，supposingbytheservantsaccountthattheirniecewastakensuddenlyill;butsatisfyingtheminstantlyonthathead，sheeagerlycommunicatedthecauseoftheirsummons，readingthetwolettersaloud，anddwellingonthepostofthelastwithtremblingenergy，thoughLydiahadneverbeenafavouritewiththem，Mr。andMrs。Gardinercouldnotbutbedeeplya?icted。NotLydiaonly，butallwereconcernedinit;andafterthefirstexclamationsofsurpriseandhorror，Mr。Gardinerpromisedeveryassistanceinhispower。Elizabeth，thoughexpectingnoless，thankedhimwithtearsofgratitude;andallthreebeingactuatedbyonespirit，everythingrelatingtotheirjourneywasspeedilysettled。Theyweretobeoffassoonaspossible。“ButwhatistobedoneaboutPemberley?”criedMrs。Gardiner。“JohntoldusMr。Darcywasherewhenyousentforus;wasitso?”

“Yes;andItoldhimweshouldnotbeabletokeepourengagement。Thatisallsettled。”

“Whatisallsettled?”repeatedtheother，assheranintoherroomtoprepare。“Andaretheyuponsuchtermsasforhertodisclosetherealtruth?Oh，thatIknewhowitwas!”

Butwisheswerevain，oratbestcouldonlyservetoamuseherinthehurryandconfusionofthefollowinghour。HadElizabethbeenatleisuretobeidle，shewouldhaveremainedcertainthatallemploymentwasimpossibletoonesowretchedasherself;butshehadhershareofbusinessaswellasheraunt，andamongsttheresttherewerenotestobewrittentoalltheirfriendsatLambton，withfalseexcusesfortheirsuddendeparture。Anhour，however，sawthewholecompleted;andMr。Gardinermeanwhilehavingsettledhisaccountattheinn，nothingremainedtobedonebuttogo;andElizabeth，afterallthemiseryofthemorning，foundherself，inashorterspaceoftimethanshecouldhavesupposed，seatedinthecarriage，andontheroadtoLongbourn。