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第95章（第1页）

Afterwalkingsometimeinthisway，thetwoladiesinfront，thetwogentlemenbehind，onresumingtheirplaces，afterdescendingtothebrinkoftheriverforthebetterinspectionofsomecuriouswater-plant，therechancedtobealittlealteration。ItoriginatedinMrs。Gardiner，who，fatiguedbytheexerciseofthemorning，foundElizabethsarminadequatetohersupport，andconsequentlypreferredherhusbands。Mr。Darcytookherplacebyherniece，andtheywalkedontogether。Afterashortsilence，theladyfirstspoke。Shewishedhimtoknowthatshehadbeenassuredofhisabsencebeforeshecametotheplace，andaccordinglybeganbyobserving，thathisarrivalhadbeenveryunexpected—“foryourhousekeeper，”sheadded，“informedusthatyouwouldcertainlynotbeheretillto-morrow；andindeed，beforeweleftBakewell，weunderstoodthatyouwerenotimmediatelyexpectedinthecountry。”Heacknowledgedthetruthofitall，andsaidthatbusinesswithhisstewardhadoccasionedhiscomingforwardafewhoursbeforetherestofthepartywithwhomhehadbeentravelling。“Theywilljoinmeearlyto-morrow，”hecontinued，“andamongthemaresomewhowillclaimanacquaintancewithyou—Mr。Bingleyandhissisters。”

Elizabethansweredonlybyaslightbow。HerthoughtswereinstantlydrivenbacktothetimewhenMr。Bingleysnamehadbeenthelastmentionedbetweenthem；and，ifshemightjudgebyhiscomplexion，hismindwasnotverydifferentlyengaged。

“Thereisalsooneotherpersonintheparty，”hecontinuedafterapause，“whomoreparticularlywishestobeknowntoyou。Willyouallowme，ordoIasktoomuch，tointroducemysistertoyouracquaintanceduringyourstayatLambton？”

Thesurpriseofsuchanapplicationwasgreatindeed；itwastoogreatforhertoknowinwhatmannersheaccededtoit。SheimmediatelyfeltthatwhateverdesireMissDarcymighthaveofbeingacquaintedwithhermustbetheworkofherbrother，and，withoutlookingfarther，itwassatisfactory；itwasgratifyingtoknowthathisresentmenthadnotmadehimthinkreallyillofher。

Theynowwalkedoninsilence，eachofthemdeepinthought。Elizabethwasnotcomfortable；thatwasimpossible；butshewasflatteredandpleased。Hiswishofintroducinghissistertoherwasacomplimentofthehighestkind。Theysoonoutstrippedtheothers，andwhentheyhadreachedthecarriage，Mr。andMrs。Gardinerwerehalfaquarterofamilebehind。

Hethenaskedhertowalkintothehouse—butshedeclaredherselfnottired，andtheystoodtogetheronthelawn。Atsuchatimemuchmighthavebeensaid，andsilencewasveryawkward。Shewantedtotalk，butthereseemedtobeanembargooneverysubject。Atlastsherecollectedthatshehadbeentravelling，andtheytalkedofMatlockandDovedalewithgreatperseverance。Yettimeandherauntmovedslowly—andherpatienceandherideaswerenearlywornourbeforethetête-à-têtewasover。

OnMr。andMrs。Gardinerscominguptheywereallpressedtogointothehouseandtakesomerefreshment；butthiswasdeclined，andtheypartedoneachsidewithutmostpoliteness。Mr。Darcyhandedtheladiesintothecarriage；andwhenitdroveoff，Elizabethsawhimwalkingslowlytowardsthehouse。

Theobservationsofheruncleandauntnowbegan；andeachofthempronouncedhimtobeinfinitelysuperiortoanythingtheyhadexpected。

“Heisperfectlywellbehaved，polite，andunassuming，”saidheruncle。

“Thereissomethingalittlestatelyinhim，tobesure，”repliedheraunt，“butitisconfinedtohisair，andisnotunbecoming。Icannowsaywiththehousekeeper，thatthoughsomepeoplemaycallhimproud，Ihaveseennothingofit。”

“Iwasnevermoresurprisedthanbyhisbehaviourtous。Itwasmorethancivil；itwasreallyattentive；andtherewasnonecessityforsuchattention。HisacquaintancewithElizabethwasverytrifling。”

“Tobesure，Lizzy，”saidheraunt，“heisnotsohandsomeasWickham；or，rather，hehasnotWickhamscountenance，forhisfeaturesareperfectlygood。Buthowcameyoutotellusthathewassodisagreeable？”

Elizabethexcusedherselfaswellasshecould；saidthatshehadlikedhimbetterwhentheymetinKentthanbefore，andthatshehadneverseenhimsopleasantasthismorning。

“Butperhapshemaybealittlewhimsicalinhiscivilities，”repliedheruncle。“Yourgreatmenoftenare；andthereforeIshallnottakehimathiswordaboutfishing，ashemightchangehismindanotherday，andwarnmeoffhisgrounds。”

Elizabethfeltthattheyhadentirelymistakenhischaracter，butsaidnothing。

“Fromwhatwehaveseenofhim，”continuedMrs。Gardiner，“IreallyshouldnothavethoughtthathecouldhavebehavedinsocruelawaybyanybodyashehasdonebypoorWickham。Hehasnotanill-naturedlook。Onthecontrary，thereissomethingpleasingabouthismouthwhenhespeaks。Andthereissomethingofdignityinhiscountenancethatwouldnotgiveoneanunfavourableideaofhisheart。But，tobesure，thegoodladywhoshowedushishousedidgivehimamostflamingcharacter！Icouldhardlyhelplaughingaloudsometimes。Butheisaliberalmaster，Isuppose，andthatintheeyeofaservantcomprehendseveryvirtue。”

ElizabethherefeltherselfcalledontosaysomethinginvindicationofhisbehaviourtoWickham；andthereforegavethemtounderstand，inasguardedamannerasshecould，thatbywhatshehadheardfromhisrelationsinKent，hisactionswerecapableofaverydifferentconstruction；andthathischaracterwasbynomeanssofaulty，norWickhamssoamiable，astheyhadbeenconsideredinHertfordshire。Inconfirmationofthis，sherelatedtheparticularsofallthepecuniarytransactionsinwhichtheyhadbeenconnected，withoutactuallynamingherauthority，butstatingittobesuchasmightbereliedon。

Mrs。Gardinerwassurprisedandconcerned；butastheywerenowapproachingthesceneofherformerpleasures，everyideagavewaytothecharmofrecollection；andshewastoomuchengagedinpointingouttoherhusbandalltheinterestingspotsinitsenvironstothinkofanythingelse。Fatiguedasshehadbeenbythemorningswalktheyhadnosoonerdinedthanshesetoffagaininquestofherformeracquaintance，andtheeveningwasspentinthesatisfactionsofaintercourserenewedaftermanyyearsdiscontinuance。

TheoccurrencesofthedayweretoofullofinteresttoleaveElizabethmuchattentionforanyofthesenewfriends；andshecoulddonothingbutthink，andthinkwithwonder，ofMr。Darcyscivility，and，aboveall，ofhiswishinghertobeacquaintedwithhissister。