苗疆小说网

第89章（第1页）

HadElizabethsopinionbeenalldrawnfromherownfamily，shecouldnothaveformedaverypleasingpictureofconjugalfelicityordomesticcomfort。Herfather，captivatedbyyouthandbeauty，andthatappearanceofgoodhumourwhichyouthandbeautygenerallygive，hadmarriedawomanwhoseweakunderstandingandilliberalmindhadveryearlyintheirmarriageputanendtoallrealaffectionforher。Respect，esteem，andconfidencehadvanishedforever;andallhisviewsofdomestichappinesswereoverthrown。ButMr。Bennetwasnotofadispositiontoseekcomfortforthedisappointmentwhichhisownimprudencehadbroughton，inanyofthosepleasureswhichtoooftenconsoletheunfortunatefortheirfollyortheirvice。Hewasfondofthecountryandofbooks;andfromthesetasteshadarisenhisprincipalenjoyments。Tohiswifehewasverylittleotherwiseindebted，thanasherignoranceandfollyhadcontributedtohisamusement。Thisisnotthesortofhappinesswhichamanwouldingeneralwishtoowetohiswife;butwhereotherpowersofentertainmentarewanting，thetruephilosopherwillderivebenefitfromsuchasaregiven。

Elizabeth，however，hadneverbeenblindtotheimproprietyofherfathersbehaviourasahusband。Shehadalwaysseenitwithpain;butrespectinghisabilities，andgratefulforhisaffectionatetreatmentofherself，sheendeavouredtoforgetwhatshecouldnotoverlook，andtobanishfromherthoughtsthatcontinualbreachofconjugalobligationanddecorumwhich，inexposinghiswifetothecontemptofherownchildren，wassohighlyreprehensible。Butshehadneverfeltsostronglyasnowthedisadvantageswhichmustattendthechildrenofsounsuitableamarriage，noreverbeensofullyawareoftheevilsarisingfromsoill-judgedadirectionoftalents;talents，which，rightlyused，mightatleasthavepreservedtherespectabilityofhisdaughters，evenifincapableofenlargingthemindofhiswife。

WhenElizabethhadrejoicedoverWickhamsdeparture，shefoundlittleothercauseforsatisfactioninthelossoftheregiment。Theirpartiesabroadwerelessvariedthanbefore，andathomeshehadamotherandsisterwhoseconstantrepiningsatthedullnessofeverythingaroundthemthrewarealgloomovertheirdomesticcircle;and，thoughKittymightintimeregainhernaturaldegreeofsense，sincethedisturbersofherbrainwereremoved，herothersister，fromwhosedispositiongreaterevilmightbeapprehended，waslikelytobehardenedinallherfollyandassurancebyasituationofsuchdoubledangerasawatering-placeandacamp。Uponthewhole，therefore，shefound，whathasbeensometimesfoundbefore，thataneventtowhichshehadbeenlookingforwardwithimpatientdesiredidnot，intakingplace，bringallthesatisfactionshehadpromisedherself。Itwasconsequentlynecessarytonamesomeotherperiodforthecommencementofactualfelicity—tohavesomeotherpointonwhichherwishesandhopesmightbefixed，andbyagainenjoyingthepleasureofanticipation，consoleherselfforthepresent，andprepareforanotherdisappointment。HertourtotheLakeswasnowtheobjectofherhappiestthoughts;itwasherbestconsolationforalltheuncomfortablehourswhichthediscontentednessofhermotherandKittymadeinevitable;andcouldshehaveincludedJaneinthescheme，everypartofitwouldhavebeenperfect。

“Butitisfortunate，”thoughtshe，“thatIhavesomethingtowishfor。Werethewholearrangementcomplete，mydisappointmentwouldbecertain。Buthere，bycarryingwithmeoneceaselesssourceofregretinmysistersabsence，Imayreasonablyhopetohaveallmyexpectationsofpleasurerealised。Aschemeofwhicheverypartpromisesdelightcanneverbesuccessful;andgeneraldisappointmentisonlywardedoffbythedefenceofsomelittlepeculiarvexation。”

WhenLydiawentawayshepromisedtowriteveryoftenandveryminutelytohermotherandKitty;butherletterswerealwayslongexpected，andalwaysveryshort。Thosetohermothercontainedlittleelsethanthattheywerejustreturnedfromthelibrary，wheresuchandsuchofficershadattendedthem，andwhereshehadseensuchbeautifulornamentsasmadeherquitewild;thatshehadanewgown，oranewparasol，whichshewouldhavedescribedmorefully，butwasobligedtoleaveoffinaviolenthurry，asMrs。Forstercalledher，andtheyweregoingtothecamp;andfromhercorrespondencewithhersister，therewasstilllesstobelearnt—forherletterstoKitty，thoughratherlonger，weremuchtoofulloflinesunderthewordstobemadepublic。