苗疆小说网>傲慢与偏见原著 > 第117章（第1页）
第117章（第1页）
Theirsistersweddingdayarrived;andJaneandElizabethfeltforherprobablymorethanshefeltforherself。Thecarriagewassenttomeetthemat—，andtheyweretoreturninitbydinner-time。TheirarrivalwasdreadedbytheelderMissBennets，andJanemoreespecially，whogaveLydiathefeelingswhichwouldhaveattendedherself，hadshebeentheculprit，andwaswretchedinthethoughtofwhathersistermustendure。
Theycame。Thefamilywereassembledinthebreakfastroomtoreceivethem。SmilesdeckedthefaceofMrs。Bennetasthecarriagedroveuptothedoor;herhusbandlookedimpenetrablygrave;herdaughters，alarmed，anxious，uneasy。
Lydiasvoicewasheardinthevestibule;thedoorwasthrownopen，andsheranintotheroom。Hermothersteppedforwards，embracedher，andwelcomedherwithrapture;gaveherhand，withanaffectionatesmile，toWickham，whofollowedhislady;andwishedthembothjoywithanalacritywhichshewednodoubtoftheirhappiness。
TheirreceptionfromMr。Bennet，towhomtheythenturned，wasnotquitesocordial。Hiscountenancerathergainedinausterity;andhescarcelyopenedhislips。Theeasyassuranceoftheyoungcouple，indeed，wasenoughtoprovokehim。
Elizabethwasdisgusted，andevenMissBennetwasshocked。LydiawasLydiastill;untamed，unabashed，wild，noisy，andfearless。Sheturnedfromsistertosister，demandingtheircongratulations;andwhenatlengththeyallsatdown，lookedeagerlyroundtheroom，tooknoticeofsomelittlealterationinit，andobserved，withalaugh，thatitwasagreatwhilesinceshehadbeenthere。
Wickhamwasnotatallmoredistressedthanherself，buthismannerswerealwayssopleasing，thathadhischaracterandhismarriagebeenexactlywhattheyought，hissmilesandhiseasyaddress，whileheclaimedtheirrelationship，wouldhavedelightedthemall。Elizabethhadnotbeforebelievedhimquiteequaltosuchassurance;butshesatdown，resolvingwithinherselftodrawnolimitsinfuturetotheimpudenceofanimpudentman。Sheblushed，andJaneblushed;butthecheeksofthetwowhocausedtheirconfusionsufferednovariationofcolour。
Therewasnowantofdiscourse。Thebrideandhermothercouldneitherofthemtalkfastenough;andWickham，whohappenedtositnearElizabeth，beganinquiringafterhisacquaintanceinthatneighbourhood，withagoodhumouredeasewhichshefeltveryunabletoequalinherreplies。Theyseemedeachofthemtohavethehappiestmemoriesintheworld。Nothingofthepastwasrecollectedwithpain;andLydialedvoluntarilytosubjectswhichhersisterswouldnothavealludedtofortheworld。
“Onlythinkofitsbeingthreemonths，”shecried，“sinceIwentaway;itseemsbutafortnightIdeclare;andyettherehavebeenthingsenoughhappenedinthetime。Goodgracious!WhenIwentaway，IamsureIhadnomoreideaofbeingmarriedtillIcamebackagain!ThoughIthoughtitwouldbeverygoodfunifIwas。”Herfatherlifteduphiseyes。Janewasdistressed。ElizabethlookedexpressivelyatLydia;butshe，whoneverheardnorsawanythingofwhichshechosetobeinsensible，gailycontinued，
“Oh!mamma，dothepeoplehereaboutsknowIammarriedto-day?Iwasafraidtheymightnot;andweovertookWilliamGouldinginhiscurricle，soIwasdeterminedheshouldknowit，andsoIletdowntheside-glassnexttohim，andtookoffmyglove，andletmyhandjustrestuponthewindowframe，sothathemightseethering，andthenIbowedandsmiledlikeanything。”
Elizabethcouldbearitnolonger。Shegotup，andranoutoftheroom;andreturnednomore，tillsheheardthempassingthroughthehalltothediningparlour。ShethenjoinedthemsoonenoughtoseeLydia，withanxiousparade，walkuptohermothersrighthand，andhearhersaytohereldestsister，
“Ah!Jane，Itakeyourplacenow，andyoumustgolower，becauseIamamarriedwoman。”
ItwasnottobesupposedthattimewouldgiveLydiathatembarrassmentfromwhichshehadbeensowhollyfreeatfirst。Hereaseandgoodspiritsincreased。ShelongedtoseeMrs。Phillips，theLucases，andalltheirotherneighbours，andtohearherselfcalled“Mrs。Wickham”byeachofthem;andinthemeantime，shewentafterdinnertoshowherring，andboastofbeingmarried，toMrs。Hillandthetwohousemaids。
“Well，mamma，”saidshe，whentheywereallreturnedtothebreakfastroom，“andwhatdoyouthinkofmyhusband?Isnotheacharmingman?Iamsuremysistersmustallenvyme。Ionlyhopetheymayhavehalfmygoodluck。TheymustallgotoBrighton。Thatistheplacetogethusbands。Whatapityitis，mamma，wedidnotallgo。”
“Verytrue;andifIhadmywill，weshould。ButmydearLydia，Idontatalllikeyourgoingsuchawayoff。Mustitbeso?”
“Oh，lord!yes;—thereisnothinginthat。Ishalllikeitofallthings。Youandpapa，andmysisters，mustcomedownandseeus。WeshallbeatNewcastleallthewinter，andIdaresaytherewillbesomeballs，andIwilltakecaretogetgoodpartnersforthemall。”
“Ishouldlikeitbeyondanything!”saidhermother。
“Andthenwhenyougoaway，youmayleaveoneortwoofmysistersbehindyou;andIdaresayIshallgethusbandsforthembeforethewinterisover。”
“Ithankyouformyshareofthefavour，”saidElizabeth;“butIdonotparticularlylikeyourwayofgettinghusbands。”
