傲慢與偏見15 A Young Lady Recovered
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A Young Lady Recovered
Two days after Mr. Bennet's return, Jane andElizabeth came upon their father as they were walkingin the woods. He held a letter in his hand.
"Papa. is this news?" cried Elizabeth. "Good orbad?"
"I am not sure, my dear, but perhaps you wouldlike to read it - read it aloud so that Jane can hear itand tell me her thoughts. I hardly know myself what itis about. "
Gracechurch Street ,
Monday , August 2nd
My Dear Brother ,
At last I am able to send you news about yourdaughter. Soon after you left me , I was able to findout that they were in a certain part of London. I havealready been to see both of them .
They are not married , nor is there any hope ofmaking them do so. But, if -you agree to thearrangements I have made for you , I hope they willmarry before long . You must guarantee your daughterher equal share of the five thousand pounds that hasbeen promised to your daughters- after the death ofyourself and my sister. Also , you must agree to giveher one hundred pounds every year, as long as you arealive.
Mr. Wickham says that he hopes to leave themilitary and become an officer in the regular army.This he has agreed to do as soon as his marriage isfixed. He has old friends that are both able andwilling to help him in the army. General Lambrey ,who is now based in the north , has promised to placehim under his care .
There is not the smallest reason for you to come totown again. We think it best that my niece be marriedfrom this house. When they are married , they willthen move to the north , unless they are first invited toLongbourn . I know that Lydia really wants to see youall before she goes to the north . She is well, and begsthat you and her mother remember her .
Yours, etc.
E . Gardiner
"Have you written an answer to this letter yet,Papa?" Elizabeth asked.
"No, but I must do so soon. "
"May we take my uncle's letter to Mother?" sheasked .
"Do so," he replied. "I am quite interested inhearing what she has to say. "
Elizabeth and Jane went upstairs together. Maryand Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet and the letterwas read aloud to them. Mrs. Bennet was notdisturbed in any way by Lydia's shameful actions. Sheseemed happy to know that she was to be married.
"My dear, dear Lydia!" she cried. "This isdelightful, indeed! She will soon be married! How Ilong to see her! And to see dear Mr. Wickham too!But what about the wedding clothes? Lizzy, my dear,please run downstairs and ask your father how much hewill give her for clothes. No, wait. Stay and I will gomyself. I will put on my things after a moment. Oh,my dear, dear Lydia! How happy I shall be when wemeet ! "
It had been a fortnight since Mrs. Bennet had lefther room and gone downstairs. But she was so happythat she again took her seat at the head of the dinnertable. Imagine her horror and surprise when Mr.Bennet refused her requests! He said that he would notreceive either Lydia or her husband at Longbourn, andthat he would certainly not give any money for weddingclothes .
Mrs. Bennet immediately began to argue withMr. Bennet. But Jane and Elizabeth calmed theirfather, saying that her marriage should be noticed bythe family. At last, Mr. Bennet agreed. As for Mrs.Bennet, she was happy that she would be able to showoff her married daughter before Lydia was sent off tolive in the north.
On the day of their sister's wedding, the familygathered in the living room. Mrs. Bennet was smilingas the carriage drove up to the door. Her husband,however, looked serious and unhappy, and herdaughters uncomfortable .
Everyone heard Lydia's voice in the hall. Soon,the door was thrown open, and she came running intothe room. Mrs. Bennet stepped forward, hugged her,and then greeted Wickham with a warm smile.
Mr. Bennet remained serious, and hardly said aword. Elizabeth found herself disgusted at Lydia'sbehavior. Lydia was still the same - uncontrolled,noisy, and without fear. Wickham was all smiles andconversation. He seemed no more uncomfortable thanhis wife.
"I had no idea," cried Lydia, "that I would bemarried when I came back. But I often thought itwould be good fun if I was!"
Her good spirits increased as the day went on. Shewanted to see all their neighbors and have them call her"Mrs. Wickham. " After dinner she went to show herring to the housekeeper and the maids, boasting aboutbeing married.
The visitors were to stay for ten days. Wickhamhad to join his army in a fortnight, as his ordersinstructed him to do. Elizabeth knew that his feelingsfor Lydia were not as much as Lydia's for him. Still,this is what she had expected to find.
One morning, Lydia was sitting with her twoelder sisters. She turned to Elizabeth and said, "Lizzy,I never did tell you about my wedding. Aren't youcurious to hear about it?"
"Not really." replied Elizabeth. "I think the lessthat is said about the subject, the better. "
" La, you are so strange! But I do need to tell youhow it happened. Well, it was uncle who found us, asI'm sure you know. He found out that we were stayingwhere Wickham used to live in town. When Unclearrived, he insisted on taking me home. We were goingto be married at St. Clements, and it was finally agreedupon to be there at eleven o'clock. I was in such aworried state! I was so afraid that my dear Wickhamwould not be there. But when uncle and I arrived at thechurch, he was there, looking so handsome, with Mr.Darcy looking very serious beside him. "
"Mr. Darcy!" repeated Elizabeth. She was quiteshocked to hear his name.
"Oh, yes! He came there with Wickham, youknow. But dear me! How I forgot! What willWickham say to me now? It was to be a secret! Ishouldn't tell you this, but it was really Mr. Darcywho came and found us in London. He made Wickhamagree to marry me. At first, Darcy tried to make meleave Wickham and return home to you. I told him thatI loved Wickham and he was the only man for me. Inthe end, Mr. Darcy went to find uncle and the three ofthem argued to see how much money Wickham shouldget if he married me. "
" How - much - he should have?" saidElizabeth. "Oh, that's so horrible! "
"La! Why should you say that? Mr. Darcy's sorich - why shouldn't he make a gift to his father'sgodson? "
"What sort of deal did they make for you, Lydia?"asked Elizabeth, coldly.
"Well, Wickham had debts of more than athousand pounds. Mr. Darcy agreed to pay these off.Then it was agreed that he would pay Wickham onethousand to marry me, plus buy him a job in theregular army.
"But poor Papa can never repay all that money toMr. Darcy!" replied Jane, worried.
"He doesn't ever need to know!" cried Lydiajoyfully. "Mr. Darcy made us promise not to tellanyone .
"Then please do not say another word," said Janequickly.
"Please do not tell Wickham I've told you this.He'd be so angry at me. You know, he doesn't likeMr. Darcy.'
"Do not worry. I won't say a word." saidElizabeth angrily.
"You know, Lizzy," said Lydia, "you and Janeshould make a trip to Brighton. That really is the placeto get husbands. "
"I'm afraid I don't like your way of gettinghusbands." Elizabeth replied coldly. She quickly left theroom .
Lydia's news gave Elizabeth both pain andpleasure. It was painful to know that they could neverreturn Mr. Darcy's favor; that they owed the health ofLydia, her character, everything, to Mr. Darcy.Elizabeth knew that he neither respected nor likedLydia. Something in her heart told her that he haddone it for her. The pain was also strong when sherealized that he could no longer have any feelings forher. She had already refused his offer, and now shewas the sister-in-law of Wickham. whom he hated.There would not be any way to make him want anyconnection with a family that included Wickham!
Elizabeth could hardly bear the rest of Lydia andher husband's visit. When Mr. Wickham saidgoodbye, he became very charming and smiled. lookedhandsome and said many pretty things.
Mrs. Bennet was bored for several days afterLydia left. Then news arrived that made her happyonce more. Mr. Bingley had returned to Netherfield.
