，最快更新傲慢与偏见最新章节！mr.Be madeanswer,and eachthem,deepthought, continued silent till they reachedfather then wentto the librarywrite, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room.
“And they are reallybe married!”cried Elizabeth,as soonthey werethemselves.“How strange this is!And for thisareb they should marry,smallis their chancehappiness,and wretchedis his character,we are forced t,Lydia!”
“I fort myself with thinking,”replied Jane,“thatcertainly would not marry Lydiahe had noeal regardour kind uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten thousand pounds,or anything like it,has bee has childrenhis own,and may hav couldspare half ten thousand pounds?”
“Ifwere ever ablelearn what wickham's debts have been,”said Elizabeth,“and how muchsettledhis sideour sister,shall exactly know what mr. Gardiner has done for them, because wickham has not sixpencehi kindnessmy uncle and aunt can neveaking her home, and affording her their personal protection and countenance,sucacrificeher advantageyearsgratitude cannot enoug this time sheactually with them!such goodness does not make her miserable now,she will never deservebe happy!whaeeting for her,when she first seesaunt!”
“we must endeavourfet all that has passedeither side,”said Jane:“I hope and trust they will yeonsentingmarry hera proof,I will believe,thatisright wautual affection will steady them;and I flatter myself they will settlequietly,and liveso rationaanner,as maytime make their past imprudence fotten.”
“Their conduct has been such,”replied Elizabeth,“as neither you,nor I,nor anybody can eveuselesstalkit.”
It now occurredthe girls that their mother wasall likelihood perfectly ignorantwhatwentthe library,therefore,and asked their father whetherwould not wish themmakeknowas writing and, without raising his head,coolly replied:
“Justyou please.”
“maytakeuncle's letterreadher?”
“Take whatever you like,and get away.”
Elizabeth took the letter from his writing-table, and they went upstair and Kitty were both wit:one munication would,therefore,doa slight preparation for good news,the letter was rea could hardly contai soonJane had read mr.Gardiner's hopeLydia's being soon married,her joy burst forth,and every following sentence addedit was nowan irritationviolent from delight,as she had ever been fidgety from alarmknow that her daughter wouldmarriedwas disturbedno fear for her felicity,nor humbledany remembranceher misconduct.
“my dear, dear Lydia!”she cried.“Thisdelightful indeed! She willmarried!I shall see her again!She willmarriedsixteen!my good,kind brother!I knew howwould be.I knewwould manage everything!How I longsee her!andsee dear wickham too!But the clothes,the wedding clothes! I will writemy sister Gardiner about the,my dear, run downyour father,and ask him how muchwill giv,stay,I wilhe bell,Kitty,fo putmy things dear,dear Lydia!How merryshalltogether whenmeet!”
Her eldest daughter endeavouredgive some reliefthe violencethese transports,leading her thoughtsthe obligations which mr.Gardiner's behaviour laid them all under.
“Formust attribute this happy conclusion,”she added,“ireat measurehi are persuaded thathas pledged himselfassist mr.wickham with money.”
“well,”cried her mother,“itall very right; who shouldit but her own uncle?he had not haamilyhis own, I andchildren must have had all his money,you know;andis the first timehave ever had anything from him, excepe!Iso happy!Ihort time I shall havaughte!How wellsounds!And she was only sixteen las dear Jane,Iin suclutter, that Isure I can't write;so I will dictate,and you write for me.will settle with your father about the money afterwards;but the things shouldordered immediately.”
She was then proceedingall the particularscalico,muslin, and cambric,and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded herwait till her father wasleisureb day's delay,she observed,wouldof small importance;and her mother was too happybe quiteobstinatchemes,too,came into her head.
“I willto meryton,”said she,“as soonIdressed,and tell the good,good newsmy sisteI e back, I can callLady Lucas an, run down and orderairing wouldmreat dealgood,I a,can Ianything for youmeryton?oh!HereHill!dear Hill, have you heard the good news? miss Lydiagoingbe married; and you shall all havowlpunchmake merryher wedding.”
mrs.Hill began instantlyexpressreceived her congratulations amongst the rest,and then,sickthis folly, took refugeher own room,that she might think with freedom.
Poor Lydia's situation must,best,bad enough; but thatwasworse,she had needb feltso;and though,in looking forward,neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity couldjustly expected for her sister,looking backwhat they had feared,only two hours ago,she felt all the advantageswhat they had gained.