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Mr. Bennet had very often wished before this period of his life that, instead of spending his whole income, he had laid by an annual sum for the better provision of his children, and of his wife, if she survived him. He now wished it more than ever. Had he done his duty in that respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of honour or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place.
过去，班纳特先生常常希望每年都能存上一笔钱，好让女儿和妻子（如果她能活得比他长的话）将来能衣食无忧，最好不要年年都吃尽花光。现在，他的这一愿望更为迫切了。倘若他以前在这方面做得好一些，丽迪雅就不必为了赎回名誉或是面子而让她的舅舅给予资助了，也不必让舅舅费心地去说服一个全英国最差劲的年轻人做她的丈夫了。
He was seriously concerned that a cause of so little advantage to anyone should be forwarded at the sole expense of his brother-in-law, and he was determined, if possible, to find out the extent of his assistance, and to discharge the obligation as soon as he could.
班纳特先生心里非常的不安：为办成这件几乎对谁都没有什么好处的事情，竟然让内弟独自破费，做出了那么大的牺牲，他决定要尽可能打听出人家到底给垫付了多少钱，以便能尽快还上这笔人情债。
When first Mr. Bennet had married, economy was held to be perfectly useless, for, of course, they were to have a son. The son was to join in cutting off the entail, as soon as he should be of age, and the widow and younger children would by that means be provided for. Five daughters successively entered the world, but yet the son was to come; and Mrs. Bennet, for many years after Lydia’s birth, had been certain that he would. This event had at last been despaired of, but it was then too late to be saving. Mrs. Bennet had no turn for economy, and her husband’s love of independence had alone prevented their exceeding their income.
在班纳特先生刚结婚时，节俭被认为是完全没有必要的。因为他们夫妇自然会生出一个儿子。儿子一旦成年，外人继承财产的事便可取消。寡妇孺子也就可以不愁吃穿了。五个女儿接连来到这个世界，可儿子还有待出世。在生了丽迪雅以后，班纳特太太一直认定就会有个儿子生出来了。最后，这儿子梦终于成了泡影，而这时再攒钱已为时太晚。班纳特太太不会节省，好在她的丈夫喜爱节俭，才算没有入不敷出。
Five thousand pounds was settled by marriage articles on Mrs. Bennet and the children. But in what proportions it should be divided amongst the latter depended on the will of the parents. This was one point, with regard to Lydia, at least, which was now to be settled, and Mr. Bennet could have no hesitation in acceding to the proposal before him. In terms of grateful acknowledgment for the kindness of his brother, though expressed most concisely, he then delivered on paper his perfect approbation of all that was done, and his willingness to fulfil the engagements that had been made for him. He had never before supposed that, could Wickham be prevailed on to marry his daughter, it would be done with so little inconvenience to himself as by the present arrangement. He would scarcely be ten pounds a year the loser by the hundred that was to be paid them; for, what with her board and pocket allowance, and the continual presents in money which passed to her through her mother’s hands, Lydia’s expenses had been very little within that sum.
当年他们的结婚条约上规定了班纳特太太和她的孩子们一共享有五千英镑的遗产。至于这份遗产将怎样分给孩子们，再由父母在遗书上规定。但是现在，至少是关于丽迪雅的那一部分必须马上决定了，班纳特先生毫不犹豫地同意了嘉丁纳先生提出的建议。在信中他对内弟的帮助表示了真诚的感谢，尽管措辞相当简洁。他对一切既成的事实都十二分地赞同，对要让他做的事情他都非常乐意去完成。他无论如何也没想到，威科汉姆能被说服娶他的女儿，而照现在的安排，几乎没给他这方面造成任何的不便。虽说他每年要给丽迪雅一百英镑，可他每年实际损失的还不到十镑。就是以前丽迪雅待在家里时，吃用开销再加上她母亲常常塞给她的零用钱，算起来也快是这个数目了。
That it would be done with such trifling exertion on his side, too, was another very welcome surprise; for his wish at present was to have as little trouble in the business as possible. When the first transports of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over, he naturally returned to all his former indolence. His letter was soon dispatched; for, though dilatory in undertaking business, he was quick in its execution. He begged to know further particulars of what he was indebted to his brother, but was too angry with Lydia to send any message to her.
这桩事情的解决竟会无须班纳特先生这方面花什么力气，这也让他感到又惊又喜。现在他最大的心愿，就是在这件事情上越能落得清静越好。在激起他去寻找女儿的一阵愤怒和冲动过后，他又回到了从前那种懒散的状态。他写的信很快寄出了。虽然做事前喜欢一拖再拖，可是一旦做起来班纳特先生倒也很快。他在信上请内弟把一切代劳之处详细地告诉他。可对丽迪雅还是气愤不已，没有给她写一句话。
The good news spread quickly through the house, and with proportionate speed through the neighbourhood. It was borne in the latter with decent philosophy. To be sure, it would have been more for the advantage of conversation had Miss Lydia Bennet come upon the town; or, as the happiest alternative, been secluded from the world, in some distant farmhouse. But there was much to be talked of in marrying her; and the good-natured wishes for her well-doing which had proceeded before from all the spiteful old ladies in Meryton lost but a little of their spirit in this change of circumstances, because with such an husband her misery was considered certain.
好消息立刻在全家传开了，而且也很快传到了左邻右舍。邻居们对这件事抱着一种体面的哲人态度。当然，丽迪雅·班纳特小姐要是做了妓女，那他们在街头巷尾闲聊的内容会丰富得多。或者她远离尘世，住到一幢偏僻的农舍里去，那聊起来也会饶有兴味。尽管现在等来的结果只是要结婚了，还是有许多的话题可谈。那些尖酸刻薄的麦里屯的妇人们，先前是假惺惺地祝愿丽迪雅不遭厄运，现在这一情势的改变也并没有减少她们的兴致，因为找了这样一个丈夫，她将来受罪是无疑的了。
It was a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had been downstairs; but on this happy day she again took her seat at the head of her table, and in spirits oppressively high. No sentiment of shame gave a damp to her triumph. The marriage of a daughter, which had been the first object of her wishes since Jane was sixteen, was now on the point of accomplishment, and her thoughts and her words ran wholly on those attendants of elegant nuptials, fine muslins, new carriages, and servants. She was busily searching through the neighbourhood for a proper situation for her daughter, and, without knowing or considering what their income might be, rejected many as deficient in size and importance.
班纳特太太已经有两个星期没有下楼吃饭，在今天这样的喜庆日子，她又坐在了饭桌的首席，显得神采飞扬。她那洋洋得意的神情里，没有半点儿羞愧的影子。自从吉英满了十六岁，班纳特太太最大的心愿就是看到女儿出嫁。现在这一愿望就要成为现实，她心里想的、嘴上说的，全是婚礼的排场讲究啦，上好的细纱棉布啦，崭新的车子和众多的男仆女佣啦。她在附近一带到处奔走，要为女儿找一所体面的住宅，丝毫也不考虑他们自己有多少收入，不是嫌这所房子规格太小，就是嫌那所房子不够气派。
“Haye Park might do,” said she, “if the Gouldings could quit it—or the great house at Stoke, if the drawing-room were larger; but Ashworth is too far off! I could not bear to have her ten miles from me; and as for Pulvis Lodge, the attics are dreadful.”
“要是戈尔丁一家能搬走，”班纳特太太说，“海叶花园倒还不错。或者若是客厅再大一点儿的话，斯托克的那幢大宅院也可以；阿西渥斯就有点儿远了！丽迪雅就是离开我十里，我也不愿意；至于说到帕尔维斯住宅，它的顶楼实在是太糟糕了。”
Her husband allowed her to talk on without interruption while the servants remained. But when they had withdrawn, he said to her: “Mrs. Bennet, before you take any or all of these houses for your son and daughter, let us come to a right understanding. Into one house in this neighbourhood they shall never have admittance. I will not encourage the impudence of either, by receiving them at Longbourn.”
仆人在的时候，班纳特先生没有打断妻子的谈话。等仆人一走，班纳特先生便对她说：“我的夫人，在你给女儿女婿找房子之前，先让我们把一件事谈清楚。他们绝对不可以住进邻近地区的任何一所房子。他们也休想指望我在浪博恩接待他们。”
A long dispute followed this declaration; but Mr. Bennet was firm. It soon led to another; and Mrs. Bennet found, with amazement and horror, that her husband would not advance a guinea to buy clothes for his daughter. He protested that she should receive from him no mark of affection whatever on the occasion. Mrs. Bennet could hardly comprehend it. That his anger could be carried to such a point of inconceivable resentment as to refuse his daughter a privilege without which her marriage would scarcely seem valid, exceeded all she could believe possible. She was more alive to the disgrace which her want of new clothes must reflect on her daughter’s nuptials, than to any sense of shame at her eloping and living with Wickham a fortnight before they took place.
这番宣告立即引来一场持久的争执。班纳特先生寸步不让，结果很快又导致了另一场争吵。班纳特太太发现丈夫不愿拿出一分钱给女儿置办嫁妆，不禁大为惊骇。他声明说在这件事情上，丽迪雅甭想得到一丁点儿的父爱。班纳特太太对此简直无法理解。他对女儿的愤怒和怨恨竟会到了这样不通情理的地步，连她出嫁也不肯管了，而没有嫁妆，女儿的婚礼成何体统，这确实太出乎她的预料了。丽迪雅在婚礼上没有新衣服穿，这给班纳特太太带来的羞辱，比之于两个星期前女儿与威科汉姆私奔和同居的耻辱，更叫她难以忍受。
Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot.
伊丽莎白在这个时候才感到了真正的懊恼。她当时实在不该因为一时的痛苦，便把对她妹妹的担心告诉了达西先生。既然丽迪雅的婚礼马上就要举行，她私奔的那一幕就要过去，他们自然希望那段不光彩的过去尽可能少地被外人知道了。
