第 49 章
班納特先生回來兩天了。那天吉英和伊莉莎白正在屋後的矮樹林裏散步，只見管家奶奶朝她倆走來，她們以為是母親打發她來叫她們回去的，於是迎面走上前去。到了那個管家奶奶跟前，才發覺事出意外，原來她並不是來叫她們的。她對吉英說：”小姐，請原諒我打斷了你們的談話，不過，我料想你們一定獲得了從城裏來的好消息，所以我來大膽地問一問。”
”你這話怎麼講，希爾？我們沒有聽到一點兒城裏來的消息。”
希爾奶奶驚奇地嚷道：”親愛的小姐，嘉丁納先生打發了一個專差給主人送來一封信，難道你們不知道嗎？他已經來了半個鐘頭啦。”
兩位小姐拔腳就跑，急急忙忙跑回家去，話也來不及說了。她們倆跑進大門口，來到起坐間，再從起坐間來到書房，兩處地方都沒有見到父親，正要上樓梯到母親那兒去找他，又碰到了廚子，廚子說：
”小姐，你們是在找主人吧，他正往小樹林裏去散步呢。”
她們聽到這話，又走過穿堂，跑過一片草地，去找父親，只見父親正在從容不迫地向圍場旁邊的一座小樹林走去。
吉英沒有伊莉莎白那麼玲瓏，也沒有她那麼會跑，因此一下子就落後了，只見妹妹已經上氣不接下氣地跑到了父親跟前，迫不及待地嚷道：
”爸爸，有了什麼消息？你接到舅父的信了嗎？”
”是的，他打發專人送了封信來。”
”唔，信裏說些什麼消息呢……好消息還是壞消息？”
”哪來好消息？”他一面說，一面從口袋裏掏出信來。”也許你倒高興看一看。”
伊莉莎白性急地從他手裏接過信來。吉英也趕上來了。
”念出來吧，”父親說，”我幾乎也不知道信上講些什麼。”親愛的姐夫：
我終於能夠告訴你一些有關外甥女的消息了，希望這個消息大體上能叫你滿意。總算僥倖，你星期六走了以後，我立刻打聽出他們倆在倫敦的住址。詳細情況等到見面時再告訴你。你只要知道我已經找到了他們就夠啦。我已經看到了他們…
吉英聽到這裏，不禁嚷了起來：”那麼這一下我可盼望到了！他們結婚了吧！”
伊莉莎白接著讀下去：
我已經看到他們倆。他們並沒有結婚，我也看不出他們有什麼結婚的打算；可是我大膽地向你提出條件來，要是你願意照辦的話，他們不久就可以結婚了。我要求你的只有一點。你本來已經為你女兒們安排好五千磅遺產，準備在你和姐姐歸天以後給她們，那麼請你立刻就把這位外甥女應得的一份給她吧。你還得和她訂一個契約，在你生前每年再津貼她一百鎊。這些條件我已經再三考慮，自以為有權利可以代你作主，因此便毫不遲疑地答應了。我特派專人前來送給你這封信，以便可以馬上得到你的回音。你瞭解了這些詳情以後，就會明白韋翰先生並不如一般人所料想的那麼生計維艱，一籌莫展。一般人都把這件事弄錯了。甥女除了自己名下的錢以外，等韋翰把債務償清以後，還可以多些錢並給她，這使我很高興。你如果願意根據我所說的情況，讓我全權代表你處理這件事，那麼，我立刻就吩咐哈斯東去辦理財產過戶的手續。你不必再進城，大可以安心安意地待在浪搏恩。請你放心，我辦起事來既勤快又小心。請趕快給我回信，還得費你的神，寫得清楚明白些。我們以為最好就讓外甥女從這所屋子裏出嫁，想你也會同意。她今天要上我們這兒來。倘有其他情形，容當隨時奉告。餘不多及。
愛德華嘉丁納八月二日
星期一，寫於天恩寺街
伊莉莎白讀完了信問道：”這事可能嗎？他竟會同她結婚？”
她姐姐說：”那麼，韋翰倒並不象我們所想像的那樣不成器啦。親愛的爸爸，恭喜你。”
”你寫了回信沒有？”伊莉莎白問。
”沒有寫回信，可是立刻就得寫。”
於是她極其誠懇地請求他馬上就回家去寫，不要耽擱。
她嚷道：”親愛的爸爸馬上就回去寫吧。你要知道，這種事情是一分鐘一秒鐘也不能耽擱的。”
吉英說：”要是你怕麻煩，讓我代你寫好了。”
父親回答道：”我的確不大願意寫，可是不寫又不行。”
他一邊說，一邊轉過身來跟她們一同回到屋裏去。
伊莉莎白說：”我可以問你一句話嗎？我想，他提出的條件你一定都肯答應吧？”
”一口答應！他要得這麼少，我倒覺得不好意思呢。”
”他們倆非結婚不可了！然而他卻是那樣的一個人。”
”是啊！怎麼不是，他們非結婚不可。沒有別的辦法。可是有兩件事我很想弄個明白──第一件，你舅舅究竟拿出了多少錢，才使這件事有了個著落；第二件，我以後有什麼辦法還他這筆錢？”
吉英嚷道：”錢！舅舅！你這是什麼意思，爸爸？”
”我的意思是說，一個頭腦最清楚的人是不會跟麗迪雅結婚的，因為她沒有哪一點地方可以叫人家看中。我生前每年給她一百鎊，死後一共也只有五千磅。”
伊莉莎白說：”那倒是實話，不過我以前卻從來沒有想到過。他的債務償清了以後，還會多下錢來！噢，那一定是舅舅代他張羅的！好一個慷慨善良的人！我就怕苦了他自己。這樣一來，他得花費不少錢呢。”
父親說：”韋翰要是拿不到一萬鎊就答應娶麗迪雅，那他才是個大傻瓜呢。我同他剛剛攀上親戚，照理不應該多說他的壞話。”
”一萬鎊！天不容！即使半數，又怎麼還得起？”
班納特先生沒有回答。大家都轉著念頭，默不作聲。回到家裏，父親到書房裏去寫信，女兒們都走進飯廳裏去。
姐妹倆一離開父親，妹妹便嚷道：”他們真要結婚了！這真稀奇！不過我們也大可謝天謝地。他們究竟結婚了。雖然他們不一定會過得怎麼幸福，他的品格又那麼壞，然而我們究竟不得不高興。哦，麗迪雅呀！”
吉英說：”我想了一下，也覺得安慰，要不是他真正愛麗迪雅，他是決不肯跟他結婚的。好心的舅舅即使替他清償了一些債務，我可不相信會墊付了一萬鎊那麼大的數目。舅舅有那麼多孩子，也許以後還要養男育女。就是叫他拿也五千鎊，他又怎麼能夠拿出來？”
”我們只要知道韋翰究竟欠下了多少債務，”伊莉莎白說，”用他的名義給我們妹妹的錢有多少，那我們就會知道嘉丁納先生幫了他們多大的忙，因為韋翰自己一個子也沒有。舅舅和舅母的恩典今生今世也報不了。他們把麗迪雅接回家去，親自保護她，給她爭面子，這犧牲了他們自己多少利益，真是一輩子也感恩不盡。麗迪雅現在一定到了他們那兒了！要是這樣一片好心還不能使她覺得慚愧，那她可真不配享受幸福。她一見到舅母，該多麼難為情啊！”
吉英說：”我們應該把他們兩個人過去的事盡力忘掉，我希望他們還是會幸福，也相信這樣。他既然答應跟她結婚，這就可以證明他已經往正路上去想。他們能夠互敬互愛，自然也都會穩重起來。我相信他們倆從此會安安穩穩、規規矩矩地過日子，到時候人們也就會把他們過去的荒唐行為忘了。”
”他們既然已經有過荒唐行為，”伊莉莎白回答道，”那麼無論你我，無論任何人，都忘不了。也不必去談這種事。”
兩姐妹想到她們的母親也許到現在還完全不知道這回事，於是便到書房去，問父親願意不願意讓母親知道。父親正在寫信，頭也沒抬起來，只是冷冷地對她們說：
”隨你們的便。”
”我們可以把舅舅的信拿去讀給她聽嗎？”
”你們愛拿什麼去就拿什麼，快走開。”
伊莉莎白從他的寫字臺上拿起那封信，姐妹倆一塊兒上了樓。曼麗和吉蒂兩人都在班納特太太那裏，因此只要傳達一次，大家都知道了。她們稍微透露出一點好消息，便把那封信念出來。班納特太太簡直喜不自禁。吉英一讀完麗迪雅可能在最近就要結婚的那一段話，她就高興得要命，越往下讀她就越高興。她現在真是無限歡喜，極度興奮，正如前些時候是那樣地憂煩驚恐，坐立不安。只要聽到女兒快要結婚，她就心滿意足。她並沒有因為顧慮到女兒得不到幸福而心神不安，也並沒有因為想起了她的行為失檢而覺得丟臉。
”我的麗迪雅寶貝呀！”她嚷起來了：”這太叫人高興啦！她就要結婚了！我又可以和她見面了！她十六歲就結婚！多虧我那好心好意的弟弟！我早就知道事情不會弄糟……我早就知道他有辦法把樣樣事情都辦好。我多麼想要看到她，看到親愛的韋翰！可是衣服，嫁妝！我要立刻寫信跟弟婦談談。麗萃，乖寶貝，快下樓去，問問你爸爸願意給她多少陪嫁。等一會兒；還是我自己去吧。吉蒂，去拉鈴叫希爾來。我馬上就會把衣服穿好。麗迪雅我的心肝呀！等我們見面的時候，多麼高興啊！”
大女兒見她這樣得意忘形，便談起她們全家應該怎樣感激嘉丁納先生，以便讓她分分心，讓她精神上輕鬆一下。
”哎喲，”母親叫道，”這真是好極了。要不是親舅父，誰肯幫這種忙？你要知道，他要不是有了那麼一家人，他所有的錢都是我和我的孩子們的了；他以前只送些禮物給我們，這一次我們才算真正得到他的好處。哎喲！我太高興啦。過不了多久，我就有一個女兒出嫁了。她就要當上韋翰太太了！這個稱呼多麼動聽！她到六月裏才滿十六歲。我的吉英寶貝，我太激動了，一定寫不出信；還是我來講，你替我寫吧。關於錢的，問題我們以後再跟你爸爸商量，可是一切東西應該馬上就去訂好。”
於是她就一五一十地報出一大篇布的名目：細洋紗、印花布、麻紗，恨不得一下子就把樣樣貨色都購置齊全，吉英好容易才勸住了她，叫她等到父親有空的時候再商量，又說，遲一天完全無關緊要。母親因為一時太高興了，所以也不象平常那麼固執。她又想起了一些別的花樣。
”我一穿好衣服，就要到麥裏屯去一次，”她說，”把這個好消息說給我妹妹腓力普太太聽。我回來的時候，還可以順路去看看盧卡斯太太和朗格太太。吉蒂，快下樓去，吩咐他們給我套好馬車。出去透透空氣，一定會使我精神爽快得多。孩子們，有什麼事兒要我替你們在麥裏屯辦嗎？噢！希爾來了。我的好希爾，你聽到好消息沒有？麗迪雅小姐快要結婚了。她結婚的那天，你們大家都可以喝到一碗’朋趣酒’歡喜歡喜。”
希爾奶奶立即表示非常高興。她向伊莉莎白等一一道賀。後來伊莉莎白對這個蠢局實在看得討厭透了，便躲到自己房間裏去自由自在地恩忖一番。
可憐的麗迪雅，她的處境再好也好不到哪里去，可是總算沒有糟到不可收拾的地步，因此她還要謝天謝地。她確實要謝天謝地；雖說一想到今後的情形，就覺得妹妹既難得到應有的幸福，又難享受到世俗的富貴榮華，不過，只要回想一下，兩個鐘頭以前還是那麼憂慮重重，她就覺得目前的情形真要算是千幸萬幸了。
Chapter 49
TWO days after Mr. Bennet’s return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them, and concluding that she came to call them to their mother, went forward 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, “don’t 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 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, 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 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.
“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 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!”
“We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side,” said Jane. “I hope and trust they will yet be happy. His consenting to marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of thinking. Their mutual affection will steady them; and I flatter myself they will settle so quietly, and live in so rational a manner, as may in time make their past imprudence forgotten.”
“Their conduct has been such,” replied Elizabeth, “as neither you, nor I, nor any body, can ever forget. It is useless to talk of it.”
It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood, perfectly ignorant of what had happened. They went to the library, therefore, and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make it known to her. He was writing, and, without raising his head, coolly replied,
“Just as you please.”
“May we take my uncle’s letter to read to her?”
“Take whatever you like, and get away.”
Elizabeth took the letter from his writing table, and they went up stairs together. Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet: one communication would, therefore, do for all. After a slight preparation for good news, the letter was read aloud. Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain herself. As soon as Jane had read Mr. Gardiner’s hope of Lydia’s being soon married, her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its exuberance. She was now in an irritation as violent from delight, as she had ever been fidgety from alarm and vexation. To know that her daughter would be married was enough. She was disturbed by no fear for her felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct.
“My dear, dear Lydia!” she cried: “This is delightful indeed! — She will be married! — I shall see her again! — She will be married at sixteen! — My good, kind brother! — I knew how it would be — I knew he would manage every thing. How I long to see her! and to see dear Wickham too! But the clothes, the wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him how much he will give her. Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell, Kitty, for Hill. I will put on my things in a moment. My dear, dear Lydia! — How merry we shall be together when we meet!”
Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. Gardiner’s behaviour laid them all under.
“For we must attribute this happy conclusion,” she added, “in a great measure to his kindness. We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to assist Mr. Wickham with money.”
“Well,” cried her mother, “it is all very right; who should do it but her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money, you know, and it is the first time we have ever had any thing from him, except a few presents. Well! I am so happy. In a short time, I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well it sounds. And she was only sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I am in such a flutter that I am sure I can’t write; so I will dictate, and you write for me. We will settle with your father about the money afterwards; but the things should be ordered immediately.”
She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and cambric, and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her father was at leisure to be consulted. One day’s delay, she observed, would be of small importance; and her mother was too happy to be quite so obstinate as usual. Other schemes, too, came into her head.
“I will go to Meryton,” said she, “as soon as I am dressed, and tell the good, good news to my sister Phillips. And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage. An airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure. Girls, can I do any thing for you in Meryton? Oh! here comes Hill. My dear Hill, have you heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married; and you shall all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding.”
Mrs. Hill began instantly to express her joy. Elizabeth received her congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom.
Poor Lydia’s situation must, at best, be bad enough; but that it was no worse, she had need to be thankful. She felt it so; and though, in looking forward, neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had feared, only two hours ago, she felt all the advantages of what they had gained.
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