按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ith no greater events than these in the Longbourn
Wfamily； and otherwise diversified by little beyond the
walks to Meryton； sometimes dirty and sometimes
cold； did January and February pass away。 March was to take
Elizabeth to Hunsford。 She had not at first thought very seriously
of going thither； but Charlotte； she soon found； was depending on
the plan； and she gradually learned to consider it herself with
greater pleasure as well as greater certainty。 Absence had
increased her desire of seeing Charlotte again； and weakened her
disgust of Mr。 Collins。 There was novelty in the scheme； and as；
with such a mother and such uncompanionable sisters； home
could not be faultless； a little change was not unwelcome for its
own sake。 The journey would moreover give her a peep at Jane；
and； in short； as the time drew near； she would have been very
sorry for any delay。 Every thing； however； went on smoothly； and
was finally settled according to Charlotte’s first sketch。 She was to
accompany Sir William and his second daughter。 The
improvement of spending a night in London was added in time；
and the plan became perfect as plan could be。
The only pain was in leaving her father； who would certainly
miss her； and who； when it came to the point； so little liked her
going； that he told her to write to him； and almost promised to
answer her letter。
The farewell between herself and Mr。 Wickham was perfectly
friendly； on his side even more。 His present pursuit could not
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 178…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 178
make him forget that Elizabeth had been the first to excite and to
deserve his attention； the first to listen and to pity； the first to be
admired； and in his manner of bidding her adieu； wishing her
every enjoyment； reminding her of what she was to expect in Lady
Catherine de Bourgh； and trusting their opinion of her—their
opinion of every body—would always coincide； there was a
solicitude； an interest which she felt must ever attach her to him
with a most sincere regard； and she parted from him convinced；
that whether married or single； he must always be her model of
the amiable and pleasing。
Her fellow…travellers the next day； were not of a kind to make
her think him less agreeable。 Sir William Lucas； and his daughter
Maria； a good humoured girl； but as empty…headed as himself； had
nothing to say that could be worth hearing； and were listened to
with about as much delight as the rattle of the chaise。 Elizabeth
loved absurdities； but she had known Sir William’s too long。 He
could tell her nothing new of the wonders of his presentation and
knighthood； and his civilities were worn out like his information。
It was a journey of only twenty…four miles； and they began it so
early as to be in Gracechurch…street by noon。 As they drove to Mr。
Gardiner’s door； Jane was at a drawing…room window watching
their arrival； when they entered the passage she was there to
welcome them； and Elizabeth； looking earnestly in her face； was
pleased to see it healthful and lovely as ever。 On the stairs were a
troop of little boys and girls； whose eagerness for their cousin’s
appearance would not allow them to wait in the drawing…room；
and whose shyness； as they had not seen her for a twelvemonth；
prevented their coming lower。 All was joy and kindness。 The day
passed most pleasantly away； the morning in bustle and shopping；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 179…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 179
and the evening at one of the theatres。
Elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt。 Their first subject
was her sister； and she was more grieved than astonished to hear；
in reply to her minute enquiries； that though Jane always
struggled to support her spirits； there were periods of dejection。 It
was reasonable； however； to hope； that they would not continue
long。 Mrs。 Gardiner gave her the particulars also of Miss Bingley’s
visit in Gracechurch…street； and repeated conversations occurring
at different times between Jane and herself； which proved that the
former had； from her heart； given up the acquaintance。
Mrs。 Gardiner then rallied her niece on Wickham’s desertion；
and complimented her on bearing it so well。
‘But； my dear Elizabeth；’ she added； ‘what sort of girl is Miss
King？ I should be sorry to think our friend mercenary。’
‘Pray； my dear aunt； what is the difference in matrimonial
affairs； between the mercenary and the prudent motive？ Where
does discretion end； and avarice begin？ Last Christmas you were
afraid of his marrying me； because it would be imprudent； and
now； because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand
pounds； you want to find out that he is mercenary。’
‘If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is； I shall
know what to think。’
‘She is a very good kind of girl； I believe。 I know no harm of
her。’
‘But he paid her not the smallest attention； till her grand…
father’s death made her mistress of this fortune。’
‘No—why should he？ If it was not allowable for him to gain my
affections； because I had no money； what occasion could there be
for making love to a girl whom he did not care about； and who was
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 180…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 180
equally poor？’
‘But there seems indelicacy in directing his attentions towards
her； so soon after this event。’
‘A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those
elegant decorums which other people may observe。 If she does not
object to it； why should he