pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第51章
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disagreeable。’
‘A little sea…bathing would set me up for ever。’
‘And my aunt Philips is sure it would do me a great deal of
good；’ added Kitty。
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Such were the kind of lamentations resounding perpetually
through Longbourn…house。 Elizabeth tried to be diverted by them；
but all sense of pleasure was lost in shame。 She felt anew the
justice of Mr。 Darcy’s objections； and never had she before been so
much disposed to pardon his interference in the views of his
friend。
But the gloom of Lydia’s prospect was shortly cleared away； for
she received an invitation from Mrs。 Forster； the wife of the
Colonel of the regiment； to accompany her to Brighton。 This
invaluable friend was a very young woman； and very lately
married。 A resemblance in good humour and good spirits had
recommended her and Lydia to each other； and out of their three
months’ acquaintance they had been intimate two。
The rapture of Lydia on this occasion； her adoration of Mrs。
Forster； the delight of Mrs。 Bennet； and the mortification of Kitty；
are scarcely to be described。 Wholly inattentive to her sister’s
feelings； Lydia flew about the house in restless ecstasy； calling for
every one’s congratulations； and laughing and talking with more
violence than ever； whilst the luckless Kitty continued in the
parlour repining at her fate in terms as unreasonable as her accent
was peevish。
‘I cannot see why Mrs。 Forster should not ask me as well as
Lydia；’ said she； ‘though I am not her particular friend。 I have just
as much right to be asked as she has； and more too； for I am two
years older。’
In vain did Elizabeth attempt to make her reasonable； and Jane
to make her resigned。 As for Elizabeth herself； this invitation was
so far from exciting in her the same feelings as in her mother and
Lydia； that she considered it as the death…warrant of all possibility
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of common sense for the latter； and detestable as such a step must
make her were it known； she could not help secretly advising her
father not to let her go。 She represented to him all the
improprieties of Lydia’s general behaviour； the little advantage
she could derive from the friendship of such a woman as Mrs。
Forster； and the probability of her being yet more imprudent with
such a companion at Brighton； where the temptations must be
greater than at home。 He heard her attentively； and then said；
‘Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some
public place or other； and we can never expect her to do it with so
little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present
circumstances。’
‘If you were aware；’ said Elizabeth； ‘of the very great dis…
advantage to us all； which must arise from the public notice of
Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner； nay； which has
already arisen from it； I am sure you would judge differently in the
affair。’
‘Already arisen！’ repeated Mr。 Bennet。 ‘What； has she
frightened away some of your lovers？ Poor little Lizzy！ But do not
be cast down。 Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be
connected with a little absurdity； are not worth a regret。 Come； let
me see the list of the pitiful fellows who have been kept aloof by
Lydia’s folly。’
‘Indeed you are mistaken。 I have no such injuries to resent。 It is
not of peculiar； but of general evils； which I am now complaining。
Our importance； our respectability in the world； must be affected
by the wild volatility； the assurance and disdain of all restraint
which mark Lydia’s character。 Excuse me—for I must speak
plainly。 If you； my dear father； will not take the trouble of checking
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her exuberant spirits； and of teaching her that her present
pursuits are not to be the business of her life； she will soon be
beyond the reach of amendment。 Her character will be fixed； and
she will； at sixteen； be the most determined flirt that ever made
herself and her family ridiculous。 A flirt too； in the worst and
meanest degree of flirtation； without any attraction beyond youth
and a tolerable person； and from the ignorance and emptiness of
her mind； wholly unable to ward off any portion of that universal
contempt which her rage for admiration will excite。 In this danger
Kitty is also comprehended。 She will follow wherever Lydia leads。
Vain； ignorant； idle； and absolutely uncontrouled！ Oh！ my dear
father； can you suppose it possible that they will not be censured
and despised wherever they are known； and that their sisters will
not be often involved in the disgrace？’
Mr。 Bennet saw that her whole heart was in the subject； and
affectionately taking her hand； said in reply；
‘Do not make yourself uneasy； my love。 Wherever you and Jane
are known； you must be respected and valued； and you will not
appear to less advantage for having a couple of—or I may say；
three very silly sisters。 We shall have no peace at Longbourn if
Lydia does not go to Brighton。 Let her go then。 Colonel Forster is
a sensible man； and will keep her out of any real mischief； and she
is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to any body。 At Brighton
she will be of less importance even as a common flirt than she has
been here。 The officers will find women better worth their notice。
Let us hope； therefore； that her being there may teach her her own
insignificance。 At any rate； she cannot grow many degrees worse；
without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life。’
With this answer Elizabeth was forced to be content； but her
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own opinion continued the same； and she left him disappointed
and sorry。 It was not in her nature； however； to increase her
vexations； by dwelling on them。 She was confident of having
performed her duty； and to fret over unavoidable evils； or augment
them by anxiety； was no part of her disposition。
Had Lydia and her mother known the substance of her
conference with her father； their indignation would hardly have
found expression in their united volubility。 In Lydia’s imagination；
a visit to Brighton comprised every possibility of earthly
happiness。 She saw with the creative eye of fancy； the streets of
that gay bathing place covered with officers。 She saw herself the
object of attention； to tens and to scores of them at present
unknown。 She saw all the glories of the camp； its tents stretched
forth in beauteous uniformity of lines； crowded with the young
and the gay； and dazzling with scarlet； and to complete the view；
she saw herself seated beneath a tent； tenderly flirting with at
least six officers at once。
Had she known that her sister sought to tear her from such
prospects and such realities as these； what would have been her
sensations？ They could have been understood only by her mother；
who might have felt nearly the same。 Lydia’s going to Brighton
was all that consoled her for the melancholy conviction of her
husband’s never intending to go there himself。
But they were entirely ignorant of what had passed； and their
raptures continued with little intermission to the very day of
Lydia’s leaving home。
Elizabeth was now to see Mr。 Wickham for the last time。 Having
been frequently in company with him since her return； agitation
was pretty well over； the agitations of former partiality entirely so。
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She had even learnt to detect； in the very gentleness which had
first delighted her； an affectation and a sameness to disgust and
weary。 In his present behaviour to herself； moreover； she had a
fresh source of displeasure； for the inclination he soon testified of
renewing those attentions which had marked the early part of
their acquaintance； could only serve； after what had since passed；
to provoke her。 She lost all concern for him in finding herself thus
selected as the object of such idle and frivolous gallantry and while
she steadily repressed it； could not but feel the reproof contained
in his believing； that however long； and for whatever cause； his
attentions had been withdrawn； her vanity would be gratified and
her preference secured at any time by their renewal。
On the very last day of the regiment’s remaining in Meryton； he
dined with others of the officers at Longbourn； and so little was
Elizabeth disposed to part from him in good humour； that on his
making some enquiry as to the manner in which her time had
passed at Hunsford； she mentioned Colonel Fitzwilliam’s and Mr。
Darcy’s having both spent three weeks at Rosings； and asked him
if he were acquainted with the former。
He looked surpri
