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tion； and it was certain that he had no near one living。 His former acquaintance had been numerous； but since he had been in the militia； it did not appear that he was on terms of particular friendship with any of them。 There was no one therefore who could be pointed out as likely to give any news of him。 And in the wretched state of his own finances there was a very powerful motive for secrecy； in addition to his fear of discovery by Lydia's relations； for it had just transpired that he had left gaming debts behind him； to a very considerable amount。 Colonel Forster believed that more than a thousand pounds would be necessary to clear his expences at Brighton。 He owed a good deal in the town； but his debts of honour were still more formidable。 Mr。 Gardiner did not attempt to conceal these particulars from the Longbourn family； Jane heard them with horror。 ‘‘A gamester！'' she cried。 ‘‘This is wholly unexpected。 I had not an idea of it。''
Mr。 Gardiner added； in his letter； that they might expect to see their father at home on the following day； which was Saturday。 Rendered spiritless by the ill…success of all their endeavours； he had yielded to his brother…in…law's intreaty that he would return to his family； and leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable for continuing their pursuit。 When Mrs。 Bennet was told of this； she did not express so much satisfaction as her children expected； considering what her anxiety for his life had been before。
‘‘What； is he coming home； and without poor Lydia！'' she cried。 ‘‘Sure he will not leave London before he has found them。 Who is to fight Wickham； and make him marry her； if he comes away？''
As Mrs。 Gardiner began to wish to be at home； it was settled that she and her children should go to London at the same time that Mr。 Bennet came from it。 The coach； therefore； took them the first stage of their journey； and brought its master back to Longbourn。
Mrs。 Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her Derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world。 His name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece； and the kind of half…expectation which Mrs。 Gardiner had formed； of their being followed by a letter from him； had ended in nothing。 Elizabeth had received none since her return； that could come from Pemberley。
The present unhappy state of the family； rendered any other excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary； nothing； therefore； could be fairly conjectured from that； though Elizabeth； who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings； was perfectly aware that； had she known nothing of Darcy； she could have borne the dread of Lydia's infamy somewhat better。 It would have spared her； she thought； one sleepless night out of two。
When Mr。 Bennet arrived； he had all the appearance of his usual philosophic composure。 He said as little as he had ever been in the habit of saying； made no mention of the business that had taken him away； and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of it。
It was not till the afternoon； when he joined them at tea； that Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject； and then； on her briefly expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured； he replied； ‘‘Say nothing of that。 Who would suffer but myself？ It has been my own doing； and I ought to feel it。''
‘‘You must not be too severe upon yourself；'' replied Elizabeth。
‘‘You may well warn me against such an evil。 Human nature is so prone to fall into it！ No； Lizzy； let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame。 I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression。 It will pass away soon enough。''
‘‘Do you suppose them to be in London？''
‘‘Yes； where else can they be so well concealed？''
‘‘And Lydia used to want to go to London；'' added Kitty。
‘‘She is happy； then；'' said her father； drily； ‘‘and her residence there will probably be of some duration。''
Then； after a short silence； he continued； ‘‘Lizzy； I bear you no ill…will for being justified in your advice to me last May； which； considering the event； shews some greatness of mind。''
They were interrupted by Miss Bennet； who came to fetch her mother's tea。
‘‘This is a parade；'' cried he； ‘‘which does one good； it gives such an elegance to misfortune！ Another day I will do the same； I will sit in my library； in my night cap and powdering gown； and give as much trouble as I can； or； perhaps； I may defer it till Kitty runs away。''
‘‘I am not going to run away； Papa；'' said Kitty； fretfully； ‘‘if I should ever go to Brighton； I would behave better than Lydia。''
‘‘You go to Brighton！ I would not trust you so near it as East…Bourne； for fifty pounds！ No； Kitty； I have at last learnt to be cautious； and you will feel the effects of it。 No officer is ever to enter my house again； nor even to pass through the village。 Balls will be absolutely prohibited； unless you stand up with one of your sisters。 And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner。''
Kitty； who took all these threats in a serious light； began to cry。
‘‘Well； well；'' said he； ‘‘do not make yourself unhappy。 If you are a good girl for the next ten years； I will take you to a review at the end of them。''第二天早上，大家都指望班纳特先生会寄信来，可是等到邮差来了，却没有带来他的片 纸只字。家里人本来知道他一向懒得写信，能够拖延总是拖延；但是在这样的时候，她们都 希望他能够勉为其难一些。既是没有信来，她们只得认为他没有什么愉快的消息可以报道， 即使如此，她们也希望把事情弄个清楚明白。嘉丁纳先生也希望在动身以前能够看到几封 信。
嘉丁纳先生去了以后，大家都认为，今后至少可以经常听到一些事情进行的经过情形。 他临走的时候，答应一定去劝告班纳特先生尽可能马上回来。她们的母亲听了这些话，很是 安慰，她认为只有这样，才能保证她丈夫不会在决斗中被人打死。
嘉丁纳太太和她的孩子们还要在哈福德郡多待几天，因为她觉得，待在这里可以让外甥 女们多一个帮手。她可以帮她们等候班纳特太太，等她们空下来的时候，又大可以安慰安慰 她们。姨妈也常常来看她们，而且据她自己说，她来的目的是为了让她们高兴高兴，给她们 打打气，不过，她没有哪一次来不谈到韦翰的奢侈淫佚，每次都可以举出新的事例。她每次 走了以后，总是叫她们比她没有来以前更加意气消沉。
三个月以前，差不多整个麦里屯的人们都把这个男人捧到天上；三个月以后，整个麦里 屯的人都说他的坏话。他们说，他在当地每一个商人那里都欠下了一笔债；又给他加上了诱 骗妇女的的头衔，又说每个商人家里都受过他的糟蹋。每个人都说他是天下最坏的青年；每 个人都开始发觉自己一向就不信任他那伪善的面貌。伊丽莎白虽然对这些话只是半信半疑， 不过她早就认为妹妹会毁在他手里，这一来当然更是深信无疑。吉英本来连半信半疑也谈不 上，这一来也几乎感到失望──因为时间已经过了这么久，如果他们两人真到苏格兰去了， 现在也应该有消息了，这样一想，纵使她从来没有觉得完全失望，现在当然也难免要感到失 望。
嘉丁纳先生是星期日离开浪搏恩的。星期二他太太接到他一封信。信上说，他一到那里 就找到了姐夫，把他劝到天恩寺街去。又说，他没有到达伦敦以前，班纳特先生曾到艾普桑 和克拉普汗去过，可惜没有打听到一点儿满意的消息；又说他决定到城里各大旅馆去打听一 下，因为班纳特先生认为，韦翰和丽迪雅一到伦敦，可能先住旅馆，然后再慢慢寻找房子。 嘉丁纳先生本人并没有指望这种办法会获得什么成绩；既是姐夫非要那样做不可，也只有帮 助他着手进行。信上还说，班纳特先生