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ather； he wants you in the library。'' She was gone directly。
Her father was walking about the room； looking grave and anxious。 ‘‘Lizzy；'' said he； ‘‘what are you doing？ Are you out of your senses； to be accepting this man？ Have not you always hated him？''
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable； her expressions more moderate！ It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give； but they were now necessary； and she assured him； with some confusion； of her attachment to Mr。 Darcy。
‘‘Or； in other words； you are determined to have him。 He is rich； to be sure； and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane。 But will they make you happy？''
‘‘Have you any other objection；'' said Elizabeth； ‘‘than your belief of my indifference？''
‘‘None at all。 We all know him to be a proud； unpleasant sort of man； but this would be nothing if you really liked him。''
‘‘I do； I do like him；'' she replied； with tears in her eyes； ‘‘I love him。 Indeed he has no improper pride。 He is perfectly amiable。 You do not know what he really is； then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms。''
‘‘Lizzy；'' said her father； ‘‘I have given him my consent。 He is the kind of man； indeed； to whom I should never dare refuse any thing； which he condescended to ask。 I now give it to you； if you are resolved on having him。 But let me advise you to think better of it。 I know your disposition； Lizzy。 I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable； unless you truly esteemed your husband； unless you looked up to him as a superior。 Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage。 You could scarcely escape discredit and misery。 My child； let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life。 You know not what you are about。''
Elizabeth； still more affected； was earnest and solemn in her reply； and at length； by repeated assurances that Mr。 Darcy was really the object of her choice； by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone； relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day； but had stood the test of many months suspense； and enumerating with energy all his good qualities； she did conquer her father's incredulity； and reconcile him to the match。
‘‘Well； my dear；'' said he； when she ceased speaking； ‘‘I have no more to say。 If this be the case； he deserves you。 I could not have parted with you； my Lizzy； to any one less worthy。''
To complete the favourable impression； she then told him what Mr。 Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia。 He heard her with astonishment。
‘‘This is an evening of wonders； indeed！ And so； Darcy did every thing： made up the match； gave the money； paid the fellow's debts； and got him his commission！ So much the better。 It will save me a world of trouble and economy。 Had it been your uncle's doing； I must and would have paid him； but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way。 I shall offer to pay him to…morrow； he will rant and storm about his love for you； and there will be an end of the matter。''
He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before； on his reading Mr。 Collins's letter； and after laughing at her some time； allowed her at last to go saying； as she quitted the room； ‘‘If any young men come for Mary or Kitty； send them in； for I am quite at leisure。''
Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight； and； after half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room； she was able to join the others with tolerable composure。 Every thing was too recent for gaiety； but the evening passed tranquilly away； there was no longer any thing material to be dreaded； and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time。
When her mother went up to her dressing…room at night； she followed her； and made the important communication。 Its effect was most extraordinary； for on first hearing it； Mrs。 Bennet sat quite still； and unable to utter a syllable。 Nor was it under many； many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard； though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family； or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them。 She began at length to recover； to fidget about in her chair； get up； sit down again； wonder； and bless herself。
‘‘Good gracious！ Lord bless me！ only think！ dear me！ Mr。 Darcy！ Who would have thought it！ And is it really true？ Oh！ my sweetest Lizzy！ how rich and how great you will be！ What pin…money； what jewels； what carriages you will have！ Jane's is nothing to it nothing at all。 I am so pleased so happy。 Such a charming man！ so handsome！ so tall！ Oh； my dear Lizzy！ pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before。 I hope he will overlook it。 Dear； dear Lizzy。 A house in town！ Every thing that is charming！ Three daughters married！ Ten thousand a year！ Oh； Lord！ What will become of me。 I shall go distracted。''
This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted： and Elizabeth； rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself； soon went away。 But before she had been three minutes in her own room； her mother followed her。
‘‘My dearest child；'' she cried； ‘‘I can think of nothing else！ Ten thousand a year； and very likely more！ 'Tis as good as a Lord！ And a special licence。 You must and shall be married by a special licence。 But my dearest love； tell me what dish Mr。 Darcy is particularly fond of； that I may have it tomorrow。''
This was a sad omen of what her mother's behaviour to the gentleman himself might be； and Elizabeth found that； though in the certain possession of his warmest affection； and secure of her relations' consent； there was still something to be wished for。 But the morrow passed off much better than she expected； for Mrs。 Bennet luckily stood in such awe of her intended son…in…law that she ventured not to speak to him； unless it was in her power to offer him any attention； or mark her deference for his opinion。
Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acquainted with him； and Mr。 Bennet soon assured her that he was rising every hour in his esteem。
‘‘I admire all my three sons…in…law highly；'' said he。 ‘‘Wickham； perhaps； is my favourite； but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane's。''且说伊丽莎白一走进家门，吉英便问她：“亲爱的丽萃，你们到什么地方去了？”等到 他们俩人坐下来的时候，家里所有的人都这样问她，她只得说，他们俩人随便逛逛，后来她 自己也不知道走到什么地方去了。她说话时涨红了脸；可是不管她神色如何，都没有引起大 家怀疑到那件事上面去。
那个下午平平静静地过去了，并没有什么特别的事情。公开的那一对爱人有说有笑；没 有公开的那一对不声不响。达西生性沉静，喜悦不形于色；伊丽莎白心慌意乱，只知道自己 很幸福，却没有确切体味到究竟如何幸福，因为除了眼前这一阵别扭以外，还有种种麻烦等 在前头。她预料事情公开以后，家里人有何种感觉。她知道除了吉英以外，家里没有一个人 喜欢他，她甚至顾虑到家里人都会讨厌他，哪怕凭他的财产地位，也是无法挽救。
晚上，她把真心话说给吉英听。虽说吉英一向并不多疑，可是对这件事却简直不肯相 信。
“你在开玩笑！丽萃。不会有这种事！跟达西先生订婚！不行，不行，你不要骗我；我 知道这件事不可能。”
“一开头就这样糟糕�