ELIZABETH had the satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as soon as she possibly could. She was no sooner in possession of it than, hurrying into the little copse, where she was least likely to be interrupted, she sat down on one of the benches and prepared to be happy; for the length of the letter convinced her that it did not contain a denial.
"Gracechurch-street, Sept. 6.
MY DEAR NIECE,
I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning to answering it, as I foresee that a little writing will not comprise what I have to tell you. I must confess myself surprised by your application; I did not expect it from you. Don't think me angry, however, for I only mean to let you know that I had not imagined such enquiries to be necessary on your side. If you do not choose to understand me, forgive my impertinence. Your uncle is as much surprised as I am -- and nothing but the belief of your being a party concerned would have allowed him to act as he has done. But if you are really innocent and ignorant, I must be more explicit. On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle had a most unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with him several hours. It was all over before I arrived; so my curiosity was not so dreadfully racked as your'sseems to have been. He came to tell Mr. Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham were, and that he had seen and talked with them both; Wickham repeatedly, Lydia once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to himself that Wickham's worthlessness had not been so well known as to make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and confessed that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private actions open to the world. His character was to speak for itself. He called it, therefore, his duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy an evil which had been brought on by himself. If he had another motive, I am sure it would never disgrace him. He had been some days in town, before he was able to discover them; but he had something to direct his search, which was more than we had; and the consciousness of this was another reason for his resolving to follow us. There is a lady, it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago governess to Miss Darcy, and was dismissed from her charge on some cause of disapprobation, though he did not say what. She then took a large house in Edward-street, and has since maintained herself by letting lodgings. This Mrs. Younge was, he knew, intimately acquainted with Wickham; and he went to her for intelligence of him as soon as he got to town. But it was two or three days before he could get from her what he wanted. She would not betray her trust, I suppose, without bribery and corruption, for she really did know where her friend was to be found. Wickham indeed had gone to her on their first arrival in London, and had she been able to receive them into her house, they would have taken up their abode with her. At length, however, our kind friend procured the wished-for direction. They were in ---- street. He saw Wickham, and afterwards insisted on seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he acknowledged, had been to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation, and return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to receive her, offering his assistance, as far as it would go. But he found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was. She cared for none of her friends; she wanted no help of his; she would not hear of leaving Wickham. She was sure they should be married some time or other, and it did not much signify when. Since such were her feelings, it only remained, he thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which, in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily learnt had never been his design. He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment, on account of some debts of honour, which were very pressing; and scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences of Lydia's flight on her own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission immediately; and as to his future situation, he could conjecture very little about it. He must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he knew he should have nothing to live on. Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married your sister at once. Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have been able to do something for him, and his situation must have been benefited by marriage. But he found, in reply to this question, that Wickham still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by marriage in some other country. Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof against the temptation of immediate relief. They met several times, for there was much to be discussed. Wickham of course wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable. Every thing being settled between them, Mr. Darcy's next step was to make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch-street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be seen, and Mr. Darcy found, on further enquiry, that your father was still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and till the next day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business. On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together. They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It was not all settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been accused of many faults at different times, but this is the true one. Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it), your uncle would most readily have settled the whole. They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece, was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no farther than yourself, or Jane at most. You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the young people. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own settled upon her, and his commission purchased. The reason why all this was to be done by him alone, was such as I have given above. It was owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that Wickham's character had been so misunderstood, and consequently that he had been received and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth in this; though I doubt whether his reserve, or anybody'sreserve, can be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, my dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for another interest in the affair. When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his friends, who were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding took place, and all money matters were then to receive the last finish. I believe I have now told you every thing. It is a relation which you tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us; and Wickham had constant admission to the house. He was exactly what he had been when I knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how little I was satisfied with her behaviour while she staid with us, if I had not perceived, by Jane's letter last Wednesday, that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a piece with it, and therefore what I now tell you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to her repeatedly in the most serious manner, representing to her all the wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness she had brought on her family. If she heard me, it was by good luck, for I am sure she did not listen. I was sometimes quite provoked, but then I recollected my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sakes had patience with her. Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and as Lydia informed you, attended the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave town again on Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy, if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to say before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has, in every respect, been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness, and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him very sly; -- he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the fashion. Pray forgive me if I have been very presuming, or at least do not punish me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite happy till I have been all round the park. A low phaeton, with a nice little pair of ponies, would be the very thing. But I must write no more. The children have been wanting me this half hour. Your's, very sincerely,
M. GARDINER."
The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits, in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore the greatest share. The vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty had produced of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her sister's match, which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of goodness too great to be probable, and at the same time dreaded to be just, from the pain of obligation, were proved beyond their greatest extent to be true! He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken on himself all the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research; in which supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate and despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason with, persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always most wished to avoid, and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce. He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations, and she soon felt that even her vanity was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her -- for a woman who had already refused him -- as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law of Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the connection. He had, to be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think how much. But he had given a reason for his interference, which asked no extraordinary stretch of belief. It was reasonable that he should feel he had been wrong; he had liberality, and he had the means of exercising it; and though she would not place herself as his principal inducement, she could, perhaps, believe that remaining partiality for her might assist his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially concerned. It was painful, exceedingly painful, to know that they were under obligations to a person who could never receive a return. They owed the restoration of Lydia, her character, every thing, to him. Oh! how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had ever encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him. For herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him. Proud that in a cause of compassion and honour, he had been able to get the better of himself. She read over her aunt's commendation of him again and again. It was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even sensible of some pleasure, though mixed with regret, on finding how steadfastly both she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted between Mr. Darcy and herself.
She was roused from her seat, and her reflections, by some one's approach; and before she could strike into another path, she was overtaken by Wickham.
"I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?" said he, as he joined her.
"You certainly do," she replied with a smile; "but it does not follow that the interruption must be unwelcome."
"I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends; and now we are better."
"True. Are the others coming out?"
"I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that you have actually seen Pemberley."
She replied in the affirmative.
"I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too much for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you saw the old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very fond of me. But of course she did not mention my name to you."
"Yes, she did."
"And what did she say?"
"That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had -- not turned out well. At such a distance as that, you know, things are strangely misrepresented."
"Certainly," he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had silenced him; but he soon afterwards said,
"I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there."
"Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh," said Elizabeth. "It must be something particular, to take him there at this time of year."
"Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought I understood from the Gardiners that you had."
"Yes; he introduced us to his sister."
"And do you like her?"
"Very much."
"I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this year or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very glad you liked her. I hope she will turn out well."
"I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age."
"Did you go by the village of Kympton?"
"I do not recollect that we did."
"I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had. A most delightful place! -- Excellent Parsonage House! It would have suited me in every respect."
"How should you have liked making sermons?"
"Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty, and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to repine; -- but, to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The quiet, the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas of happiness! But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance, when you were in Kent?"
"I have heard from authority, which I thought as good, that it was left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron."
"You have. Yes, there was something in that; I told you so from the first, you may remember."
"I did hear, too, that there was a time, when sermon-making was not so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business had been compromised accordingly."
"You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember what I told you on that point, when first we talked of it."
They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked fast to get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister's sake, to provoke him, she only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile,
"Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one mind."
She held out her hand; he kissed it with affectionate gallantry, though he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house.
--正文
伊丽莎白很快就收到了回信，她十分开心。她一拿到信就跑进旁边的小树林，那儿正好没人打扰她，她坐在一个长凳子上准备迎接好消息。因为信的长度让她确信婶婶没有拒绝她的请求。
“仁慈教堂大街，九月六日
亲爱的侄女，
我刚收到你的来信，准备今天一早上都用来给你回信，因为我预见到这些事情三两句话是说不清楚的。我得承认收到你的来信，我还是很惊讶的，因为我没想到你会问我这个问题。但是别以为我生气了，因为我只想告诉你我一直觉得这事跟你没啥关系。如果你不谅解我，那请原谅我的傲慢。你叔叔跟我一样惊讶，除了认为你也是相关的一员之外，不然他是不会那么惊讶的。但是如果你真的不清楚这个事情的话，我就说得更明白一点。就在我从蘑菇屯回来的那天，你叔叔来了一个意外的客人。达西先生拜访了，并且和你叔叔聊了几个小时。我到家的时候他们已经聊完了，所以我并不像你现在这样好奇心那么重。达西先生过来是为了告诉加德纳先生他已经发现你妹妹和维克汉姆的住处，而且他已经跟他们俩都聊过了。跟维克汉姆聊了很多次，跟莉迪亚聊了一次。据我听到的消息，达西在我们离开德比郡一天后就跟着离开了，然后来到伦敦决定寻找莉迪亚和维克汉姆。他自己说这么做的原因是因为自己没有公开维克汉姆的恶劣行为，才导致了很多年轻姑娘爱上他。他很大方地把这些事情都怪罪于他自己错误的傲慢，并且坦诚他自己之前也想过把维克汉姆私底下的行为公之于众。他的性格已经证明了他是什么样的人。因此，他认为自己有责任挺身而出，解决之前因为自己导致的错误。就算他有其它的动机，我觉得也不会让他不光彩。他在伦敦待了好几天才找到了他们，但是他有些法子来指导他如何搜索，而我们是没有的，而这也是让他下决心跟着我们前来的原因。好像之前有个叫杨太太的女士，之前照看过达西小姐，后来因为不道德的事情被解雇了，但是达西没有说这些。后来她在爱德华大街买了栋大宅子，然后就靠着出租房子维持生计。达西知道这个杨太太跟维克汉姆关系很密切，所以他一到伦敦就赶去找杨太太打听消息去了，但是他花了两三天才打探到消息。因为要不是不给她点好处，她是不肯背叛自己朋友的，因为她确实知道维克汉姆躲在哪儿。维克汉姆刚来伦敦就去找了她，她当时要是能接收他们住下来，他们也就住下来了。但是最后达西还是得到了消息。他们在某某大街。达西先见到了维克汉姆，然后坚持要见莉迪亚。他自己说首要的目标就是劝说莉迪亚逃离目前不光彩的处境，然后赶紧回到那些愿意接收她的朋友们身边，然后达西还提出会竭尽所能，提供帮助。但是莉迪亚下决心要留在那儿。她一点也不在乎自己的朋友，她也不想要达西的帮助，她根本不愿离开维克汉姆。她很确定很快就会跟维克汉姆结婚，但是具体多快她也不清楚。既然莉迪亚是这么想的，达西就想那只有促成婚礼的举行，而他一开始就维克汉姆聊过之后就得知，这根本不是维克汉姆的打算。维克汉姆承认自己要离开民兵团，因为有些欠债迫在眉睫了。而他毫无忌惮地，把这次私奔的后果都怪到莉迪亚头上。他打算立即辞去在民兵团的职位。至于未来会怎样，他自己也不知道。他必须得找个地方躲躲，但他不知道去哪儿，而且他知道自己得有个东西谋生。达西先生问他为什么没有立即跟你妹妹结婚。尽管本内特老爷不是那么有钱，但是他也可以帮维克汉姆做点事情的，只要结婚他的处境肯定会有所改善的。但是维克汉姆回答说自己还是希望能去外国，靠结婚从根本上改变自己的命运。但是在目前的情况下，他还是忍不住眼前的诱惑，缓解燃眉之急。达西见了维克汉姆好几次，因为有很多东西要谈。维克汉姆肯定是想能要多少要多少，但是最后还是冷静了下来。然后他们就把事情都安排好了，达西下一步就是把这些事情都跟你叔叔讲明白，他在我回来的前一晚第一次来仁慈教堂大街拜访了你叔叔。但是达西没见到加德纳先生，然后达西一打听才知道你父亲还和你叔叔在一起，而且要待到第二天早上才走。达西觉得你父亲不像你叔叔，能好好商议事情，因此就当即决定推迟见你叔叔，等你父亲走了之后再来。当时他没有留下姓名，而且到第二天你叔叔也只是知道有位先生有要事拜访。周六他又过来了一遍。那时候你父亲已经走了，你叔叔在家，就跟我之前说的那样，他们谈了很久很久。然后周日他们又见了一遍，这次我见到了达西。整个事情直到周一才定了下来。然后事情一定下来之后，消息立刻就送去了蘑菇屯。但是我们的这位客人十分顽固，利兹，我觉得总得来说，固执就是他性格里真正的缺点。虽然很多人在很多时候说他有很多缺点，但是这个是真的一个。整件事情他全部都安排好了。但是我相信你叔叔也可以把这整件事都安排好的。（我这么说不是为了求人情，所以不要提感谢之类的话。）达西和你叔叔争吵了很长时间，而引发他们争吵的男人和女人不值得他们这么做。但是最后还是你叔叔被迫让步了，以至于非但不能为自己的侄女出点力，反而要无劳居功，这与他的心愿极其相违背。所以我很确定今早你的来信让他很开心，因为要解释你的疑问就会把他暂据的功劳给剥夺了，而把它还给了应该拥有的人。但是利兹，这件事情只能传到你这为止，最多到简那里，不能再跟别人提起了。我猜你肯定很清楚为了这对年轻人，他做了多少事情。我觉得维克汉姆欠的债务要大大超过一千英镑，而除了莉迪亚自己的钱之外，另外又给了她一千磅，还给维克汉姆买了个官职。至于达西为什么要自己一个人付这些钱，原因我上面已经跟你说了。达西觉得是因为自己保守的考虑导致别人误解了维克汉姆的性格，因此才导致别人对他没有戒备。也许这话说得又几分道理。但是我怀疑不管是他的克制，或者是任何人的克制，都不应该对这件事情负责。但是除了这些漂亮话，亲爱的利兹，请你完全放心如果不是这件事情上他还出了力的话，你叔叔是绝对不会让步的。这边的事情都解决完之后，达西又回到了彭伯里，去找还住在那里的朋友，但是当时大家还是说话办婚礼的时候，他还会回到伦敦，然后之前说好的钱都会结清。到这里，我想事情应该都跟你说明白了。这件事可能会让你很惊讶，但是我希望至少不会让你不高兴。莉迪亚来我们这儿住了，而维克汉姆也常来这里。他还是跟我再赫特福德见他的时候一样。要不是上周三我收到简的来信知道她在家里也是如此，我也不会告诉你我对莉迪亚的行为是有多么不满意的，所以我现在跟你说的这些话也不会再让你难过。我跟她严肃地说过好多回，跟她讲明现在行为的种种恶果，还有她给家人带来的不行。她要是听了我，那也只能算是我走运，但是我肯定她没有听。有时候我也挺生气的，但是后来我想了想亲爱的伊丽莎白和简，为了她们我决定还是对她多点耐心。就跟莉迪亚说得一样，达西很准时地回来参加了婚礼。第二天他跟我们一起吃了午饭，然后准备周三或者周四再走。亲爱的利兹，如果我趁这次机会说我很喜欢这个小伙子（而我之前一直没勇气说），你会很生气吗？从任何方面来说，他对待我们就跟之前在德比郡一样让人愉快。他的见解和观点都让我很开心。除了欠缺点活泼气，他一切都很好，如果他娶了个好老婆，他老婆也会教她的。我觉得他非常调皮，根本就没有提过你的名字。但是调皮似乎是时下的风气。我要是说得太过了，还请你原谅我，至少别惩罚我不让我去彭伯里啊。我要把那个花园逛遍了才心满意足。我只要一辆小马车，安上两个小马就能去了。就写到这里了，孩子们吵着要我已经快半个小时了。
M.加德纳“
这封信的内容让伊丽莎白神情激动，而她根本分不清是开心多一点，还是痛苦多一点。伊丽莎白不确定达西做了什么促成了自己妹妹的婚事，这让她心有所思，又悬而未决，她害怕达西这么做恩情太大报答不了，同时呢又觉得达西说因为没有告知众人维克汉姆的性格而承担责任，这样不够公正，谁知道他说得竟是真的。达西跟着叔婶进了城，然后靠自己克服了困难和屈辱去开展搜寻。而他免不了去哀求一个女人，而这个女人是他所憎恶和鄙视的，而他又被迫去见，频繁地见，理论，劝说，最终贿赂一个他希望躲避的男人，一个名字他都不想提起的男人。他为了一个自己既不关心，也不器重的女人做了这一切。这个女儿确实希望他为自己做了这一切。但是这个希望很快就被其它的考虑所扼杀了，她很快觉得如果指望他对自己的爱意去做这些事情，就算自己再虚荣都不够支撑如此的愿望，因为这个女人已经拒绝了他，而且这个女人还跟他所厌恶的男人维克汉姆是亲戚了。维克汉姆的连襟！以他的自尊心，想到这一层关系就会反对。但是他确实做了那么多事情。她甚至都不好意思想他到底做了多少事。但是达西也给了自己的理由，而这个理由也确实是容易相信的。他觉得自己犯了错也是合乎情理的。他有意愿，也有手段来弥补自己的错误。尽管伊丽莎白觉得自己不是主要的原因，但是也许达西对她的偏爱说服他处理这么一件与自己切身相关的事情。知道自己一家人欠了别人还不了的人情，让伊丽莎白很痛苦，极其痛苦。莉迪亚失而复得，她的名声，一切的一切，都归功于他。啊！伊丽莎白对于自己之前对达西的失礼行为，自己对他的那些粗鲁言论感到十分痛苦。对于自己她很羞愧，但是对于达西她十分骄傲。她很骄傲达西能坚持自己的同理心，放下自尊，完美处理了这件事情。她把婶婶夸他的话读了一遍又一遍，而这根本不能让她满足，但是她很高兴。而且发现叔叔婶婶都觉得达西和她互相喜欢、互相信任，伊丽莎白甚至觉得有些开心，虽然这种喜悦中参杂了一些后悔。
这时有人走了过来，伊丽莎白才从回忆中回过神来，匆忙从凳子上站了起来。她还没来得及跑到另外一条路上就被维克汉姆赶上了。
”恐怕我打扰了你的漫步，我的好姐姐？“他一走上来就说。
”你确实打扰了，“她笑了下回复说，”但是并不是说打扰了就不欢迎你了。“
”如果是那样，我真是很抱歉。我们以前就是好朋友，现在关系是更进一步了。“
”是的。其他人都出来了吗？“
”不知道呢。本内特太太和莉迪亚准备坐马车去梅屯。对了，好姐姐，我从叔叔婶婶那儿听说，你已经去过彭伯里了？“
伊丽莎白确认了。
”我真是嫉妒你能享受这种乐趣，不过对我来说还是无福消受啊，不然我在去纽斯卡尔的时候就去拜访了。我估计你见到那个老女佣了吧？可怜的雷诺兹太太，她已经总是很喜欢我呢。但是她肯定没跟你提起我的吧。“
”实际上，她提了。“
”她说了什么？“
”说你去了部队，而且她害怕结果不太好。你也知道的，离得那么远，有时候事情一传就变了。“
”当然，“维克汉姆说，咬着自己的嘴唇。伊丽莎白希望他就此闭嘴了，但是很快他接着说
”上个月我很惊讶地在伦敦见到了达西。我们见了几次。我不知道他在那儿做什么。“
”可能在准备跟德.包尔小姐德婚礼吧。“伊丽莎白说，”这个时候去伦敦肯定是有什么要事要办。“
”肯定的，你在莱姆顿的时候见到他了吗？我从加德纳一家子那儿听说你见过了。“
”是的，他把自己妹妹介绍给我们认识了。“
”那你喜欢她吗？“
"特别喜欢。"
”我也听说了她这两年进展不小。我上次见到她的时候，她还没那么有出息。真高兴你喜欢她。我希望她一切都好。“
”她肯定会的。她现在已经过了烦人的年纪了。“
”你去拜访过一个叫金波顿的村子吗？“
”应该没有。“
”我之所以提这件事，是因为我在那应该有个工作的。多么美丽的地方啊！完美的牧师宿舍！不论从哪个方面来看都很适合我。“
”你怎么突然会喜欢做弥撒呢？“
”非常喜欢。我早应该把这件事作为我的指责，这样的话做弥撒就不算啥了。一个人可不该抱怨。但是确实我本来是可以有这样一份职业的。退休后的清闲生活正是我所希望的。但是这再也不可能了。你在肯特的时候，达西有跟你提起过当时的情况吗？“
”我从权威的人士那儿听说过，我觉得挺靠谱的，当时那个职位是有条件地留给你的，而且要现在的牧师同意了才行。“
”你听说过。是的，这话确实有些对的。我一开始就是这么跟你说，你应该记得。“
”我也确实听说了之前你可不像现在那么喜欢做弥撒。你甚至宣称决定不要做牧师，然后根据这点事情才被解决了。“
”你也听说了！这也不是没有来由的。你应该记得我们一开始聊这个话题的时候，这点上我是怎么跟你说的。“
现在他们快到房门钱了，因为伊丽莎白一直走得很快想要摆脱他。而为了不让自己妹妹以后受苦，她也不愿意激怒维克汉姆，因此就随和的笑着说：”来吧，维克汉姆先生，我们是兄妹。就不要为了过去的事情吵架了。希望以后我们能一直一条心。“
伊丽莎白伸出自己的手，而维克汉姆无比殷勤地亲了下。但他甚至都不知道该看哪儿，然后他们就一起走进了屋里。