pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第65章
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 337
months before； had been almost an angel of light。 He was declared
to be in debt to every tradesman in the place； and his intrigues； all
honoured with the title of seduction； had been extended into every
tradesman’s family。 Every body declared that he was the
wickedest young man in the world； and every body began to find
out； that they had always distrusted the appearance of his
goodness。 Elizabeth； though she did not credit above half of what
was said； believed enough to make her former assurance of her
sister’s ruin still more certain； and even Jane； who believed still
less of it； became almost hopeless； more especially as the time was
now come； when if they had gone to Scotland； which she had
never before entirely despaired of； they must in all probability
have gained some news of them。
Mr。 Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday； on Tuesday； his wife
received a letter from him； it told them； that on his arrival； he had
immediately found out his brother； and persuaded him to come to
Gracechurch…street。 That Mr。 Bennet had been to Epsom and
Clapham； before his arrival； but without gaining any satisfactory
information； and that he was now determined to enquire at all the
principal hotels in town； as Mr。 Bennet thought it possible they
might have gone to one of them； on their first coming to London；
before they procured lodgings。 Mr。 Gardiner himself did not
expect any success from this measure； but as his brother was
eager in it； he meant to assist him in pursuing it。 He added； that
Mr。 Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present； to leave London；
and promised to write again very soon。 There was also a postscript
to this effect。
‘I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out； if
possible； from some of the young man’s intimates in the regiment；
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 338
whether Wickham has any relations or connections； who would be
likely to know in what part of the town he has now concealed
himself。 If there were any one； that one could apply to； with a
probability of gaining such a clue as that； it might be of essential
consequence。 At present we have nothing to guide us。 Colonel
Forster will； I dare say； do every thing in his power to satisfy us on
this head。 But； on second thoughts； perhaps Lizzy could tell us；
what relations he has now living； better than any other person。’
Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this
deference for her authority proceeded； but it was not in her power
to give any information of so satisfactory a nature； as the
compliment deserved。
She had never heard of his having had any relations； except a
father and mother； both of whom had been dead many years。 It
was possible； however； that some of his companions in the —shire；
might be able to give more information； and； though she was not
very sanguine in expecting it； the application was a something to
look forward to。
Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety； but the most
anxious part of each was when the post was expected。 The arrival
of letters was the first grand object of every morning’s impatience。
Through letters； whatever of good or bad was to be told； would be
communicated； and every succeeding day was expected to bring
some news of importance。
But before they heard again from Mr。 Gardiner； a letter arrived
for their father； from a different quarter； from Mr。 Collins； which；
as Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his
absence； she accordingly read； and Elizabeth； who knew what
curiosities his letters always were； looked over her； and read it
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 339
likewise。 It was as follows：
‘My Dear Sir；
‘I feel myself called upon； by our relationship； and my situation
in life； to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now
suffering under； of which we were yesterday informed by a letter
from Hertfordshire。 Be assured； my dear Sir； that Mrs。 Collins and
myself sincerely sympathise with you； and all your respectable
family； in your present distress； which must be of the bitterest
kind； because proceeding from a cause which no time can remove。
No arguments shall be wanting on my part； that can alleviate so
severe a misfortune； or that may comfort you； under a
circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent’s
mind。 The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in
comparison of this。 And it is the more to be lamented； because
there is reason to suppose； as my dear Charlotte informs me； that
this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter； has proceeded
from a faulty degree of indulgence； though； at the same time； for
the consolation of yourself and Mrs。 Bennet； I am inclined to think
that her own disposition must be naturally bad； or she could not
be guilty of such an enormity； at so early an age。 Howsoever that
may be； you are grievously to be pitied； in which opinion I am not
only joined by Mrs。 Collins； but likewise by Lady Catherine and
her daughter； to whom I have related the affair。 They agree with
me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter； will be
injurious to the fortunes of all the others； for who； as Lady
Catherine herself condescendingly says； will connect themselves
with such a family。 And this consideration leads me moreover to
reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 340
November； for had it been otherwise； I must have been involved in
all your sorrow and disgrace。 Let me advise you then； my dear Sir；
to console yourself as much as possible； to throw off your
unworthy child from your affection for ever； and leave her to reap
the fruits of her own heinous offence。
‘I am； dear Sir； &c。 &c。’
Mr。 Gardiner did not write again； till he had received an answer
from Colonel Forster； and then he had nothing of a pleasant
nature to send。 It was not known that Wickham had a single
relation； with whom he kept up any connection； and it was certain
that he had no near one living。 His former acquaintance had been
numerous； but since he had been in the militia； it did not appear
that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them。
There was no one therefore who could be pointed out； as likely to
give any news of him。 And in the wretched state of his own
finances； there was a very powerful motive for secrecy； in addition
to his fear of discovery by Lydia’s relations； for it had just
transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him； to a very
considerable amount。 Colonel Forster believed that more than a
thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expences at
Brighton。 He owed a good deal in the town； but his debts of
honour were still more formidable。 Mr。 Gardiner did not attempt
to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family； Jane
heard them with horror。 ‘A gamester！’ she cried。 ‘This is wholly
unexpected。 I had not an idea of it。’
Mr。 Gardiner added in his letter； that they might expect to see
their father at home on the following day； which was Saturday。
Rendered spiritless by the ill…success of all their endeavours； he
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 341
had yielded to his brother…in…law’s intreaty that he would return to
his family； and leave it to him to do； whatever occasion might
suggest to be advisable for continuing their pursuit。 When Mrs。
Bennet was told of this； she did not express so much satisfaction
as her children expected； considering what her anxiety for his life
had been before。
‘What； is he coming home； and without poor Lydia！’ she cried。
‘Sure he will not leave London before he has found them。 Who is
to fight Wickham； and make him marry her； if he comes away？’
As Mrs。 Gardiner began to wish to be at home； it was settled
that she and her children should go to London； at the same time
that Mr。 Bennet came from it。 The coach； therefore； took them the
first stage of their journey； and brought its master back to
Longbourn。
Mrs。 Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth
and her Derbyshire friend； that had attended her from that part of
the world。 His name had never been voluntarily mentioned before
them by her niece； and the kind of half…expectation which Mrs。
Gardiner had formed； of their being followed by a letter from him；
had ended in nothing。 Elizabeth had received none since her
return； that could come from Pemberley。
The present unhappy state of the family； rendered any other
excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary； nothing；
therefore； could be fairly conjectured from that； though Elizabeth；
who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own
feelings； was perfectly aware； that；
