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第117章（第1页）

Theirsistersweddingdayarrived;andJaneandElizabethfeltforherprobablymorethanshefeltforherself.Thecarriagewassenttomeetthemat—，andtheyweretoreturninitbydinner-time.TheirarrivalwasdreadedbytheelderMissBennets，andJanemoreespecially，whogaveLydiathefeelingswhichwouldhaveattendedherself，hadshebeentheculprit，andwaswretchedinthethoughtofwhathersistermustendure.

Theycame.ThefamilywereassembledinthebreakfastroomtoreceivetheSmilesdeckedthefaceofMrs.Bennetasthecarriagedroveuptothedoor;herhusbandlookedimpenetrablygrave;herdaughters，alarmed，anxious，uneasy.

Lydiasvoicewasheardinthevestibule;thedoorwasthrownopen，andsheranintotherooHermothersteppedforwards，embracedher，andwelcomedherwithrapture;gaveherhand，withanaffectionatesmile，toWickham，whofollowedhislady;andwishedthembothjoywithanalacritywhichshewednodoubtoftheirhappiness.

TheirreceptionfromMr.Bennet，towhomtheythenturned，wasnotquitesocordial.Hiscountenancerathergainedinausterity;andhescarcelyopenedhislips.Theeasyassuranceoftheyoungcouple，indeed，wasenoughtoprovokehi

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.”

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