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伊丽莎白读了这封信,真是心神摇荡。她这种心情,叫人家弄不明白她窨是高兴多于苦痛,还是苦痛多于高兴。她本来也曾隐隐约约、疑疑惑惑地想到达西先生可能会成全她妹妹的好事,可是又不也往这方面多想,怕他不可能好心到这个地步;另一方面她又顾虑到,如果他当真这样做了,那又未免情意太重,报答不了人家,因此她又痛苦。如今这些揣测却成了千真万确的事实!想不到他那天竟会跟随着她和舅父母赶到城里去。他不惜担当起一切的麻烦和艰苦,来探索这件事。他不得不向一个他所深恶痛绝、极其鄙视的女人去求情。他不得不委曲求全,同一个他极力要国以回避、而且连名字也不愿意提起的人去见面,常常见面,跟他说理,规劝他,最后还不得不贿赂他。他这般仁至义尽,只不过是为了一个他既无好感又不器重的姑娘。她心里轻轻地说,他这样做,都是为了她。但是,再想到一些别的方面,她立刻就不敢再存这个希望。她马上感觉到,她本可以从虚荣心出发,认为他确实爱她,可是她哪能存着那么大的虚荣心,指望他会爱上一个已经拒绝过他的女人!他不愿意跟韦翰做亲戚,这种情绪本来也极其自然,又哪能指望他去迁就!何况是跟韦翰做连襟!凡是稍有自尊心的人,都容忍不了这种亲戚关系。毫无问题,他为这件事出了很大的力。她简直不好意思去想象他究竟出了多大的力。他所以要过问这件事,理由已经由他自己加以说明,你不必多费思索就可以深信无疑。他怪他自己当初做事欠妥,这自然讲得通;他很慷慨,而且有资格可以慷慨;虽然她不愿意认为他这次主要就是为了她,可是她也许可以相信,他对她依旧未能忘情,因此遇到这样一件与她心境攸关的事情,他还是愿意尽心竭力。一想起这样一个人对她们情意隆重,而她们却无法报答他,这真是痛苦,说不尽的痛苦。丽迪雅能够回来,能够保全了人格,这一切都得归功于他。她一想起自己以前竟会那样厌恶他,竟会对他那样出言唐突,真是万分伤心!她不胜自愧,同时又为他感到骄傲。骄傲的是,他竟会一本同情之心,崇尚义气,委曲求全。于是她把舅母信上恭维他的那段话读了又读,只觉还嫌说得不够,可是也足以叫她十分高兴。她发觉舅父母都断定她跟达西先生感情深切,推心置腹。她虽然不免因此而感到几分懊恼,却也颇为得意。 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. 这时已经有人走近前来,打断了她的深思,使她从座位上站起来;她刚要从另一条小径过去,只见韦翰却赶了上来。 "I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?" said he, as he joined her. 他走到她身边说道:“我怕打扰了你清静的散步吧,亲爱的姐姐。” "You certainly do," she replied with a smile; "but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome." 她笑着回答道:“的确是这样,不过,打扰未必就不受欢迎。” "I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better." “要是这样,我真过意不去。我们一向是好朋友,现在更加亲近了。” 
“你说得是。他们都出来了吗?” "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." “不知道。妈妈和丽迪雅乘着马车到麦里屯去了。亲爱的姐姐,听舅父母说起,你当真到彭伯里去玩过了。” She replied in the affirmative. 她说,当真去过了。 "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." “你这眼福几乎叫我嫉妒,可惜我又消受不了,否则,我到纽卡斯尔去的时候,也可以顺道一访。我想,你看到了那位年老的管家奶奶吧?可怜的雷诺奶奶!她从前老是那么喜欢我。不过,她当然不会在你面前提起我的名字。” "Yes, she did." “她倒提到了。” 
“她怎么说来着?” "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." “她说你进了军队,就怕──-就怕你情形不大好。路隔得那么远,传来的话十分靠不住。” "Certainly," he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him; but he soon afterwards said, “当然罗,”他咬着嘴唇回答道。伊丽莎白满以为这一下可以叫他住嘴了;但是过不了一会儿,他又说道: "I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there." “上个月真出乎意料,在城里碰到了达西。我们见了好几次面。我不知道他到城里有什么事。” "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." “或许是准备跟德·包尔结婚吧,”伊丽莎白说。“他在这样的季节到城里去,一定是为了什么特别的事。” 
“毫无疑问。你在蓝白屯见到过他吗?听嘉丁纳夫妇说,你见到过他的” "Yes; he introduced us to his sister." “见过,他还把我们介绍给他的妹妹。” "And do you like her?" “你喜欢她吗?” "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." “真的,我听说她这一两年来有了很大的长进。以前看到他的时候,我真觉得她没有什么出息。你喜欢她,我很高兴。但愿她能够改好得象个人样。” 
“她一定会那样;她那最容易惹祸的年龄已经过去了。” "Did you go by the village of Kympton?" “你们经过金泊屯村的吗?” "I do not recollect that we did." “我记不得是否到过那个地方。” "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." “我所以要提到那个地方,就因为我当初应该得到的一份牧师俸禄就在那儿。那是个非常好玩的地方!那所牧师住宅也好极了!各方面都适合我。” "How should you have liked making sermons?" “你竟喜欢讲道吗?” 
“喜欢极了。我本当把它看作我自己本份的职务,即使开头要费点力气,过不了多久也就无所谓了。一个人不应该后悔;可是,这的确是我的一份好差事!这样安闲清静的生活,完全合乎我幸福的理想!只可惜已经事过境迁。你在肯特郡的时候,有没有听到达西谈起过这件事?” "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." “听到过的,而且我认为他的话很靠得住,听说那个位置给你是有条件的,而且目前这位施主可以自由处理。”
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