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文章总共3页
| Chapter 46 (Vol. III, Chap. IV) | 第四十六章 |
| Elizabeth had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane on their first arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had been renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there; but on the third, her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the receipt of two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that it had been missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as Jane had written the direction remarkably ill. | 伊丽莎白到蓝白屯的时候，因为没有立即接到 吉英的来信，感到非常失望；第二天早上又感 到同样的失望。可是到了第三天，她就再也不 用焦虑了，再也不埋怨她的姐姐了，因为她这 一天收到了姐姐两封信，其中一封注明曾经送 错了地方。伊丽莎白并不觉得诧异，因为吉英 确实把地址写得很潦草。 |
| They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in; and her uncle and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by themselves. The one missent must be first attended to; it had been written five days ago. The beginning contained an account of all their little parties and engagements, with such news as the country afforded; but the latter half, which was dated a day later, and written in evident agitation, gave more important intelligence. It was to this effect: | 那两封信送来的时候，他们刚刚要出去溜达； 舅父母管自己走了，让她一个人去静静地读信 。误投过的那封信当然要先读，那还是五天前 写的。信上先讲了一些小规模的宴会和约会之 类的事，又报道了一些乡下的新闻；后一半却 报道了重要消息，而且注明是下一天写的，显 见得写信人提笔时心绪很乱。后半封内容如下 ： |
| "Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you -- be assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! -- Imagine our surprise. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! -- But I am willing to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step (and let us rejoice over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it better. How thankful am I, that we never let them know what has been said against him; we must forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday night about twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly know what I have written." | 亲爱的丽萃，写了上半封信之后，发生了一件 极其出人意料、极其严重的事；可是我又怕吓 坏了你。请放心吧，家里人都好，我这里要说 的是关于可怜的丽迪雅的事。昨天晚上十二点 钟，我们正要睡觉和时候，突然接到弗斯脱上 校一封快信，告诉我们说，丽迪雅跟他部下的 一个军官到苏格兰去了；老实说，就是跟韦翰 私奔了！你想象我们当时多么惊奇。不过吉蒂 却以为这件事并非完全出人意料。我真难受。 这两个男女就这样冒冒失失地配成了一对！可 是我还是愿意从最好的方面去着想，希望别人 都是误解了他的人品。我固然认为他为人轻率 冒昧，不过他这次的举动未必就是存心不良（ 让我们但愿如此吧）。至少他选中这个对象不 是为了有利可图，因为他一定知道父亲没有一 个钱给她。可怜的母亲伤心得要命。父亲总算 还支持得住。谢天谢地，好在我们从来没有让 他们老人家知道外界对他的议论。我们自己也 不必把它放在心上。据大家猜想，他们大概是 星期六晚上十二点钟走的，但是一直到昨天早 上八点钟，才发现这两个失了踪。于是弗斯脱 上校连忙写信告诉我们。亲爱的丽萃，他们所 经过的地方离开我们一定不满十英里。弗斯脱 上校说，他一定立刻就到我们这里来。丽迪雅 留了一封短信给弗斯脱太太，把他们两人的意 图告诉了她。我不得不停笔了，因为我不能离 开母亲太久。我怕你一定觉得莫明其妙吧，我 自己也简直不知道在写些什么。 |
| Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing what she felt, Elizabeth, on finishing this letter, instantly seized the other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows -- it had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first: | 伊丽莎白读完了这封信以后，几乎说不出自己 是怎样的感觉，想也没有想一下，便连忙抓起 另一封信，迫不及待一拆开就看。这封信比第 一封信迟写一天。 |
| "By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to Colonel F., who, instantlytaking the alarm, set off from B. intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no farther; for on entering that place they removed into a hackney-coach and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is that they were seen to continue the London road. I know not what to think. After making every possible enquiry on that side London, Colonel F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but without any success; no such people had been seen to pass through. With the kindest concern he came on to Longbourn, and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved for him and Mrs. F., but no one can throw any blame on them. Our distress, my dear Lizzy, is very great. My father and mother believe the worst, but I cannot think so ill of him. Many circumstances might make it more eligible for them to be married privately in town than to pursue their first plan; and even if he could form such a design against a young woman of Lydia's connections, which is not likely, can I suppose her so lost to every thing? -- Impossible. I grieve to find, however, that Colonel F. is not disposed to depend upon their marriage; he shook his head when I expressed my hopes, and said he feared W. was not a man to be trusted. My poor mother is really ill and keeps her room. Could she exert herself it would be better, but this is not to be expected; and as to my father, I never in my life saw him so affected. Poor Kitty has anger for having concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter of confidence, one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you have been spared something of these distressing scenes; but now, as the first shock is over, shall I own that I long for your return? I am not so selfish, however, as to press for it, if inconvenient. Adieu. I take up my pen again to do what I have just told you I would not, but circumstances are such, that I cannot help earnestly begging you all to come here as soon as possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well that I am not afraid of requesting it, though I have still something more to ask of the former. My father is going to London with Colonel Forster instantly, to try to discover her. What he means to do, I am sure I know not; but his excessivedistress will not allow him to pursue any measure in the best and safest way, and Colonel Forster is obliged to be at Brighton again to-morrow evening. In such an exigence my uncle's advice and assistance would be every thing in the world; he will immediately comprehend what I must feel, and I rely upon his goodness." | 亲爱的妹妹，你现在大概收到了我那封匆促草 成的信了吧。我希望这封信会把问题说得明白 些；不过，时间虽然并不是急促，我的头脑却 糊里糊涂，因此并不是担保这封信一定会写得 有条有理。我的亲丽萃，我简直不知道该写些 什么，但是我总得把坏消息报道给你，而且事 不宜迟。尽管韦翰先生和我们可怜的丽迪雅的 婚姻是多么荒唐，可是我们却巴不得听到他们 已经结婚的消息，因为我们非常担心他们并没 有到苏格兰去。弗斯脱上校前天寄也那封快信 以后，稍隔数小时即由白利屯出发到我们这儿 来，已于昨日抵达此间。虽然丽迪雅给弗太太 的那封短信里说，他们俩要到格利那草场去， 可是根据丹呢透露出来的口风，他相信韦决不 打算到那儿去，也根本不打算跟丽迪雅结婚。 弗上校一听此话，大为骇异，便连忙从白出发 ，希望能追到他们。他一路追踪觅迹，追到克 拉普汗，这倒还不费什么事，可是再往前追便 不容易，因为他们两人到达此地后，便把从艾 普桑雇来的马车打发走了，重新雇了出租马车 。以后的先踪去迹便颇难打听，只听见有人说 ，看见他们继续往伦敦那方面去。我不知道应 该怎样想法。弗上校在伦敦竭力仔细打听了一 番以后，便来到哈福德郡，在沿路的关卡上以 及巴纳特和帽场两地所有的旅馆里，统统探寻 了一遍，可是不得要领而返。大家都说没有看 见这样的人走过。他无限关切地来到了浪搏恩 ，把他的种种疑虑全都诚心诚意地告诉了我们 。我实在替他和弗太太难过；谁也不能怪他们 夫妇俩亲爱的丽萃，我们真是痛苦到极点。父 亲和母亲都以为，这事情的下场势必糟透坏极 ，可是我却不忍心把他看作那么坏。也许为了 种种关系，他们觉得在城里私下结婚，比较合 适，故未按照原来计划进行；纵使他欺侮丽迪 雅年幼无知，没有显亲贵戚，因而对她存心不 良，难道丽迪雅自己也会不顾一切吗？这件事 绝对不可能！不过，听到弗上校不大相信他们 俩会结婚，我又不免伤心。我把我的心愿说给 他听，他只是频频摇头，又说韦恐怕是个靠不 住的人。可怜的妈真要病倒了，整天不出房门 。要是她能勉强克制一下，事情也许要好些， 可惜她无法办到。讲到父亲，我一辈子也没见 过他这样难受。可怜的吉蒂也很气愤，她怪她 自己没有把他们俩的亲密关系预先告诉家里； 但是他们俩既然信任她能够保守秘密，我也不 便怪她没有早讲。最亲爱的丽萃，我真替你高 兴，这些痛苦的场面对你说来，真是眼不见为 净。不过，开头一场惊险既已过去，我很希望 你回来，你不会觉得我这是不合情理吧？如果 你不方便，自然我也不会太自私，非要逼你回 来不可。再见吧！刚刚才告诉过你，我不愿意 逼你回来，现在我又要拿起笔来逼你了，因为 照目前情况看来，我不得不诚恳地请求你们尽 可能快些回来。舅父母和我相知颇深，决不会 见怪，我因此才大胆提出要求，而且我还有别 的事要求舅父帮忙。父亲马上就要跟弗斯脱上 校到伦敦去想办法找她。他的具体打算我无从 知道，可是看他那么痛苦万状，就知道他办起 事来决不会十分稳妥，而弗斯脱上校明天晚上 就得回白利屯。情况如此紧急，万万非请舅父 前来协助指示不可。我相信他一定会体谅我此 刻的心情，我相信他一定肯来帮忙。 |
| "Oh! where, where is my uncle?" cried Elizabeth, darting |
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