pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第44章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
while I had the honour of dancing with you； I was first made
acquainted； by Sir William Lucas’s accidental information； that
Bingley’s attentions to your sister had given rise to a general
expectation of their marriage。 He spoke of it as a certain event； of
which the time alone could be undecided。 From that moment I
observed my friend’s behaviour attentively； and I could then
perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had
ever witnessed in him。 Your sister I also watched。—Her look and
manners were open； cheerful and engaging as ever； but without
any symptom of peculiar regard； and I remained convinced from
the evening’s scrutiny； that though she received his attentions
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 231…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 231
with pleasure； she did not invite them by any participation of
sentiment。—If you have not been mistaken here； I must have been
in an error。 Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the
latter probable。—If it be so； if I have been misled by such error； to
inflict pain on her； your resentment has not been unreasonable。
But I shall not scruple to assert； that the serenity of your sister’s
countenance and air was such； as might have given the most acute
observer； a conviction that； however amiable her temper； her
heart was not likely to be easily touched。—That I was desirous of
believing her indifferent is certain；—but I will venture to say that
my investigations and decisions are not usually influenced by my
hopes or fears。—I did not believe her to be indifferent because I
wished it；—I believed it on impartial conviction； as truly as I
wished it in reason。—My objections to the marriage were not
merely those； which I last night acknowledged to have required
the utmost force of passion to put aside； in my own case； the want
of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me。—
But there were other causes of repugnance；—causes which；
though still existing； and existing to an equal degree in both
instances； I had myself endeavoured to forget； because they were
not immediately before me。 These causes must be stated； though
briefly。—The situation of your mother’s family； though
objectionable； was nothing in comparison of that total want of
propriety so frequently； so almost uniformly betrayed by herself；
by your three younger sisters； and occasionally even by your
father。
Pardon me。—It pains me to offend you。 But amidst your
concern for the defects of your nearest relations； and your
displeasure at this representation of them； let it give you
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 232…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 232
consolation to consider that； to have conducted yourselves so as to
avoid any share of the like censure； is praise no less generally
bestowed on you and your eldest sister； than it is honourable to
the sense and disposition of both。—I will only say farther； that
from what passed that evening； my opinion of all parties was
confirmed； and every inducement heightened； which could have
led me before； to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most
unhappy connection。—He left Netherfield for London； on the day
following； as you； I am certain； remember； with the design of soon
returning。—The part which I acted； is now to be explained。—His
sisters’ uneasiness had been equally excited with my own； our
coincidence of feeling was soon discovered； and； alike sensible that
no time was to be lost in detaching their brother； we shortly
resolved on joining him directly in London。—We accordingly
went—and there I readily engaged in the office of pointing out to
my friend； the certain evils of such a choice。—I described； and
enforced them earnestly。—But； however this remonstrance might
have staggered or delayed his determination； I do not suppose that
it would ultimately have prevented the marriage； had it not been
seconded by the assurance which I hesitated not in giving； of your
sister’s indifference。 He had before believed her to return his
affection with sincere； if not with equal regard。—But Bingley has
great natural modesty； with a stronger dependence on my
judgment than on his own。—To convince him； therefore； that he
had deceived himself； was no very difficult point。 To persuade him
against returning into Hertfordshire； when that conviction had
been given； was scarcely the work of a moment。—I cannot blame
myself for having done thus much。 There is but one part of my
conduct in the whole affair； on which I do not reflect with
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 233…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 233
satisfaction； it is that I condescended to adopt the measures of art
so far as to conceal from him your sister’s being in town。 I knew it
myself； as it was known to Miss Bingley； but her brother is even
yet ignorant of it。—That they might have met without ill
consequence； is perhaps probable；—but his regard did not appear
to me enough extinguished for him to see her without some
danger。—Perhaps this concealment； this disguise； was beneath
me。—It is done； however； and it was done for the best。—On this
subject I have nothing more to say； no other apology to offer。 If I
have wounded your sister’s feelings； it was unknowingly done； and
though the motives which governed me may to you very naturally
appear insufficient； I have not yet learnt to condemn them。—With
respect to that other； more weighty accusation； of having injured
Mr。 Wickham； I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of
his connection with my family。 Of what he has particularly
accused me I am ignorant； but of the truth of what I shall relate； I
can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity。 Mr
Wickham is the son of a very respectable man； who had for many
years the management of all the Pemberley estates； and whose
good conduct in the discharge of his trust； naturally inclined my
father to be of service to him； and on George Wickham； who was
his god…son； his kindness was therefore liberally bestowed。 My
father supported him at school； and afterwards at Cambridge；—
most important assistance； as his own father； always poor from the
extravagance of his wife； would have been unable to give him a
gentleman’s education。 My father was not only fond of this young
man’s society； whose manners were always engaging； he had also
the highest opinion of him； and hoping the church would be his
profession； intended to provide for him in it。 As for myself； it is
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 234…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 234
many； many years since I first began to think of him in a very
different manner。 The vicious propensities—the want of principle
which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his best
friend； could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly
the same age with himself； and who had opportunities of seeing
him in unguarded moments； which Mr。 Darcy could not have。
Here again I shall give you pain—to what degree you only can tell。
But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr。 Wickham has
created； a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from
unfolding his real character。 It adds even another motive。 My
excellent father died about five years ago； and his attachment to
Mr。 Wickham was to the last so steady； that in his will he
particularly recommended it to me； to promote his advancement
in the best manner that his profession might allow； and if he took
orders； desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon
as it became vacant。 There was also a legacy of one thousand
pounds。 His own father did not long survive mine； and within half
a year from these events； Mr。 Wickham wrote to inform me that；
having finally resolved against taking orders； he hoped I should
not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate
pecuniary advantage； in lieu of the preferment； by which he could
not be benefited。 He had some intention； he added； of studying the
law； and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds
would be a very insufficient support therein。 I rather wished； than
believed him to be sincere； but at any rate； was perfectly ready to
accede to his proposal。 I knew that Mr。 Wickham ought not to be a
clergyman。 The business was therefore soon settled。 He resigned
all claim to assistance in the church； were it possible that he could
ever be in a situation to receive it； and accepted in return three
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 235…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 235
thousand pounds。 All connection between us seemed now
dissolved。 I thought too ill of him； to invite him to Pemberley； or
admit his society in town。 In town I believe he chiefly
