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“I believe I have now told you every thing. It is a relation which you tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us; and Wickham had constant admission to the house. He was exactly what he had been, when I knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with her behaviour while she staid with us, if I had not perceived, by Jane’s letter last Wednesday, that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a piece with it, and therefore what I now tell you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner, representing to her all the wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness she had brought on her family. If she heard me, it was by good luck, for I am sure she did not listen. I was sometimes quite provoked, but then I recollected my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sakes had patience with her.
现在我把所有的情况都讲给你听了。你说我的叙述将会令你感到莫大的惊奇。我希望我的这番话至少不会给你带来任何的不悦。丽迪雅住到了我们这里。威科汉姆也经常来。他还是从前的那副样子，一点儿也没有变。丽迪雅在这儿的行为也叫人一点儿不能满意，如果不是从吉英上星期三的来信中得知她在家的表现也是如此，因而我现在告诉你也不会给你带来新的苦恼的话，我就不会对你说了。我非常严肃地跟丽迪雅谈了好多次，反复向她说明她的这些所作所为的危害性，以及她给全家人带来的不幸。如若她要是听进去了我的话那就是万幸了，可是我敢肯定她根本就没有在听。有几次我真的生气了，可是一想起我的伊丽莎白和吉英，就是为了她们将来的名誉，我也得耐住性子。
“Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and as Lydia informed you, attended the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave town again on Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has, in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him very sly;—he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion.
达西先生准时回到了伦敦，并且正如丽迪雅告诉你的，参加了他们的结婚典礼。第二天达西跟我们一块儿吃了饭，计划在星期三、四离开城里。我亲爱的丽萃，如果我在这里说（以前我从来不曾敢提起过）我是多么喜欢达西，你会生我的气吗？他对待我们还像是在德比郡时一样，处处讨人喜爱。他的见解和聪颖也让我感到很惬意。他唯一美中不足的地方，是性情稍欠活泼，如果他伴侣找得合适，这一点他的妻子便可以带给他的。我想他非常的害羞，他几乎没有提到过你的名字。不过怕羞似乎已成为现在的时尚。
“Pray forgive me if I have been very presuming, or at least do not punish me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy till I have been all round the park. A low phaeton, with a nice little pair of ponies, would be the very thing.
如果我说得太冒昧了一点儿还请你原谅，或者，至少不要用将来不让我们去到彭伯利的办法来惩罚我。在没有游遍那整个庄园之前，我是不会觉得尽兴的。一辆轻便的双轮小马车，驾上两匹漂亮的小马，便足矣。
“But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half hour.
现在我必须搁笔了。孩子们已经嚷着要我有半个钟头了。
“Yours, very sincerely,
你的舅母M·嘉丁纳
“M. GARDINER.”
九月六日写于天恩寺街
The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits, in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore the greatest share. The vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty had produced of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her sister’s match, which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of goodness too great to be probable, and at the same time dreaded to be just, from the pain of obligation, were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true! He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken on himself all the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research; in which supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason with, persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always most wished to avoid, and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations, and she soon felt that even her vanity was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her—for a woman who had already refused him—as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law of Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection. He had, to be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think how much. But he had given a reason for his interference, which asked no extraordinary stretch of belief. It was reasonable that he should feel he had been wrong; he had liberality, and he had the means of exercising it; and though she would not place herself as his principal inducement, she could, perhaps, believe that remaining partiality for her might assist his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially concerned. It was painful, exceedingly painful, to know that they were under obligations to a person who could never receive a return. They owed the restoration of Lydia, her character, every thing, to him. Oh! how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him. For herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him. Proud that in a cause of compassion and honour, he had been able to get the better of himself. She read over her aunt’s commendation of him again and again. It was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even sensible of some pleasure, though mixed with regret, on finding how steadfastly both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted between Mr. Darcy and herself.
这封信使伊丽莎白陷入一种百感交集的境地中，她理不清是喜悦还是痛苦在她感情中占据着上风。对达西先生在促成妹妹的这桩婚事中所起的作用，她曾产生过种种模糊不定的想法，她既不敢怂恿这些猜测，担心他不可能好到那样的程度，同时又害怕这都是真的，因为那样，她会报答不了人家的恩情，如今这些怀疑却证明是千真万确的事实！达西曾有意地追随舅父母来到城里，把在寻觅这对男女中所遇到的麻烦和羞辱都一股脑儿地承担下来。他不得不向一个他一向讨厌和鄙视的女人去求情，他必须一而再，再而三地与他最不愿意见面的人（连他的名字也耻于听到）会晤，据理说服他，甚至到后来用金钱贿赂他。他做这一切只是为了一个对他既无好感又不尊重的姑娘。伊丽莎白的心里在轻轻地说，他做这一切都是为了她自己。可是这一想法很快就被其他的考虑给打消了，不久便觉得她把自己未免估计得太高了，她岂能指望达西对她（一个曾经拒绝过他的女人）的感情，能够战胜了他那种憎厌与威科汉姆连襟的本能情绪。做威科汉姆的姐夫！他的全部自尊都一定会反对这种关系的。他无疑是出了许多的力。她都羞于去想他究竟出了多大的力。不过他为他自己干预这件事已经给出了一个理由，这个理由完全合情合理。他怪他当初做事欠妥当，这当然讲得通。他慷慨地拿出了不少的钱，他有条件这么做。尽管伊丽莎白不再愿意认为她自己是达西要这样做的主要动因了，她却或许相信，他对她还有的情意会促使他在这样一件影响到她心境之平和的事情上，去尽他的努力。一想到他们全家对一个永远不可能给予回报的人欠下了这么重的人情，伊丽莎白就感到十分痛苦。丽迪雅的平安归来，她的人格和全家名誉的保全，所有这一切都要归功于达西。啊！可她曾经对他是那样厌恶、对他说话是那般出言不逊，这真是令她追悔莫及。她替自己感到羞愧，却为他感到骄傲。他能够本着同情之心和崇高之义，自己做出牺牲。她一遍又一遍地读着她舅母赞扬达西的话，虽然觉得还不够劲儿，可足以让她高兴的了。舅父母两个人都认为在她和达西之间有着情意，这也使她感到了一丝得意，尽管这得意中又夹杂着懊恼。
She was roused from her seat, and her reflections, by some one’s approach; and before she could strike into another path, she was overtaken by Wickham.
听到有人走近的声音，她从长凳上站起来，打断了自己的思绪。她还没来得及走到另一条小径上，就被威科汉姆追了上来。
“I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?” said he, as he joined her.
“我是不是打搅了你这自个儿散步的清静了，我亲爱的姐姐？”威科汉姆走到她身边时说道。
“You certainly do,” she replied with a smile; “but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome.”
“是的，”伊丽莎白笑着回答，“不过打扰了，也未必就一定不受欢迎。”
“I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better.”
“要是这样，我真感到抱歉了。我们从前一直是好朋友，现在我们更是亲上加亲了。”
“True. Are the others coming out?”
“你说的对。别人也出来了吗？”
“I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that you have actually seen Pemberley.”
“我不知道。班纳特太太和丽迪雅乘着马车去麦里屯了。喂，我亲爱的姐姐，我从我们的舅父母那儿听说，你们当真拜访过彭伯利了。”
She replied in the affirmative.
伊丽莎白表示肯定。
“I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very fond of me. But of course she did not mention my name to you.”
“我为此都快要嫉妒你了，可我怕是享不上这份福了。否则的话，我到纽卡斯尔时就可以顺路去看看了。我想你见到那位老管家奶奶了吧？可怜的雷诺尔德太太，她一直都是那么的喜欢我。当然她不会向你提到我了。”
“Yes, she did.”
“不，她提到了。”
“And what did she say?”
“她怎么说我呢？”
“That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had—not turned out well. At such a distance as that, you know, things are strangely misrepresented.”
“她说你离开家以后就进了部队，她担心你在部队上的情况并不太好。不过，这你也知道，路途隔得远了，事情难免会有些走样。”
“Certainly,” he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him; but he soon afterwards said:
“说得是。”威科汉姆咬着嘴唇回答。伊丽莎白想这下该叫他住口了吧。可是不多一会儿他又开口了：
“I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there.”
“上个月我在城里意外地碰到了达西。我们照了几次面。我不知道他在那里会有什么事。”
“Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh,” said Elizabeth. “It must be something particular, to take him there at this time of year.”
“或许是在准备他与德·包尔小姐的婚事吧，”伊丽莎白说，“他一年中的这个季节到那里，一定是有什么特别的事情要办。”
“Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I understood from the Gardiners that you had.”
“说得一点儿也不错。你在兰姆屯时见到达西先生了吗？我从嘉丁纳夫妇的口中得知，你似乎见过他了。”
“Yes; he introduced us to his sister.”
“是的。他还把我们介绍给了他妹妹。”
“And do you like her?”
“你喜欢他妹妹吗？”
“Very much.”
“非常喜欢。”
“I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this year or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad you liked her. I hope she will turn out well.”
“我听说，她在这一两年里长进了很多。我上次见到她的时候，她还不怎么样呢。我很高兴你喜欢她。我希望她将来能有出息。”
“I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age.”
“我敢说她会的。她已经度过了困惑她的那个年龄。”
“Did you go by the village of Kympton?”
“你们路过基姆普屯村了吗？”
“I do not recollect that we did.”
“我不记得啦。”
“I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had. A most delightful place!—Excellent Parsonage House! It would have suited me in every respect.”
“我之所以提它，是因为当初应该得到的那份牧师职位就在那里。一个非常怡人的地方！那么棒的牧师住宅！对我真是再合适不过了。”
“How should you have liked making sermons?”
“你竟然会喜欢布道？”
“Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to repine;—but, to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The quiet, the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas of happiness! But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance, when you were in Kent?”
“非常喜欢。我会把它作为我的职责的一部分，即便开始时费点劲，不久也就习惯了。一个人不应该发牢骚——不过，这对我来说的确是件美差事！那种恬静幽雅的生活，完全合乎我对幸福的憧憬！但是这一切都成了泡影。你在肯特时，达西跟你提起过这件事吗？”
“I have heard from authority, which I thought as good, that it was left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron.”
“提到过的，而且很具权威性；那个位置留给你是有条件的，而且可以由现在的庇护人自由处置。”
“You have. Yes, there was something in that; I told you so from the first, you may remember.”
“你都听说了。是的，这话说得有些根据。你还记得吧，我一开始就是这样告诉你的嘛。”
“I did hear, too, that there was a time, when sermon-making was not so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business had been compromised accordingly.”
“我也听说，曾有一段时期，布道这份职业并不像现在这样合你的口味。听说你曾宣布你决心永远不再当牧师了，于是这件事就折中解决了。”
“You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember what I told you on that point, when first we talked of it.”
“这你也听说了！这话并非是完全没有根据。你或许记得我们俩第一次谈到这件事的时候，我也提到过的。”
They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked fast to get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister’s sake, to provoke him, she only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile:
他们现在快要走到家门口了，想摆脱威科汉姆，伊丽莎白走得很快；为了她妹妹的缘故，她不愿意得罪他，于是她只是笑了笑回答说：
“Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one mind.”
“威科汉姆，我们现在已是兄弟姐妹了。让我们不要再为过去的事争吵了。我希望在以后的日子里，我们能想到一块去。”
She held out her hand; he kissed it with affectionate gallantry, though he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house.
她伸出手来，他亲切而殷勤地吻了一下。他这时候简直有些啼笑皆非。他们就这样走进了屋子。
