Chapter50 Thegoodnewsquicklyspreadthroughthehouse;andwithproportionatespeedthroughtheneighbourhood.Itwasborneinthelatterwithdecentphilosophy.Tobesure,itwouldhavebeenmorefortheadvantageofconversation,hadMissLydiaBennetcomeuponthetown;or,asthehappiestalternative,beensecludedfromtheworldinsomedistantfarmhouse.Buttherewasmuchtobetalkedofinmarryingher;andthegood-naturedwishesforherwell-doing,whichhadproceededbeforefromallthespitefuloldladiesinMeryton,lostbutlittleoftheirspiritinthischangeofcircumstances,becausewithsuchanhusband,hermiserywasconsideredcertain.ItwasafortnightsinceMrs.Bennethadbeendownstairs,butonthishappydaysheagaintookherseatattheheadofhertable,andinspiritsoppressivelyhigh.Nosentimentofshamegaveadamptohertriumph.Themarriageofadaughter,whichhadbeenthefirstobjectofherwishessinceJanewassixteen,wasnowonthepointofaccomplishment,andherthoughtsandherwordsranwhollyonthoseattendantsofelegantnuptials,finemuslins,newcarriages,andservants.Shewasbusilysearchingthroughtheneighbourhoodfora"propersituation"forherdaughter,and,withoutknowingorconsideringwhattheirincomemightbe,rejectedmanyasdeficientinsizeandimportance."Haye-Parkmightdo,"saidshe, "iftheGouldingswouldquitit,orthegreathouseatStoke,ifthedrawing-roomwerelarger;butAshworthistoofaroff!Icouldnotbeartohavehertenmilesfromme;andasforPurvisLodge,theatticsaredreadful."Herhusbandallowedhertotalkonwithoutinterruptionwhiletheservantsremained.Butwhentheyhadwithdrawn,hesaidtoher, "Mrs.Bennet,beforeyoutakeanyorallofthesehousesforyoursonanddaughter,letuscometoarightunderstanding.Intoonehouseinthisneighbourhood,theyshallneverhaveadmittance.IwillnotencouragetheimpudenceofeitherbyreceivingthematLongbourn."Alongdisputefollowedthisdeclaration,butMr.Bennetwasfirm;itsoonledtoanother,andMrs.Bennetfound,withamazementandhorror,thatherhusbandwouldnotadvanceaguineatobuyclothesforhisdaughter.Heprotestedthatsheshouldreceivefromhimnomarkofaffectionwhateverontheoccasion.Mrs.Bennetcouldhardlycomprehendit.Thathisangercouldbecarriedtosuchapointofinconceivableresentment,astorefusehisdaughteraprivilegewithoutwhichhermarriagewouldscarcelyseemvalid,exceededallthatshecouldbelievepossible.Shewasmorealivetothedisgracewhichthewantofnewclothesmustreflectonherdaughter'snuptials,thantoanysenseofshameatherelopingandlivingwithWickhamafortnightbeforetheytookplace.Elizabethwasnowmostheartilysorrythatshehad,fromthedistressofthemoment,beenledtomakeMr.Darcyacquaintedwiththeirfearsforhersister;forsincehermarriagewouldsoshortlygivetheproperterminationtotheelopement,theymighthopetoconcealitsunfavourablebeginningfromallthosewhowerenotimmediatelyonthespot. 第五十章 好消息立刻在全家传开了，而且很快便传到邻舍们耳朵里去。四邻八舍对这件事都抱着相当超然的态度。当然，如果丽迪雅·班纳特小姐亲自上这儿来了，或者说，如果她恰恰相反，远隔尘嚣，住到一个偏僻的农村里去，那就可以给人家增加许多谈话的资料。不过她的出嫁问题毕竟还是使人家议论纷纷。麦里屯那些恶毒的老太婆，原先总是一番好心肠，祝她嫁个如意夫君，如今虽然眼看着情境变了，也是在起劲地谈个不休，因为大家看到她嫁了这么一个丈夫，都认为必定会遭到悲惨的下场。班纳特太太已经有两个星期没有下楼，遇到今天这么快乐的日子，她欢欣若狂，又坐上了首席。她并没有觉得羞耻，自然也不会扫兴。远从吉英十六岁那年起，她的第一个心愿就是嫁女儿，现在她快要如愿以偿了。她的思想言论都完全离不了婚嫁的漂亮排场；上好的细说纱，新的马车，以及男女佣仆之类的事情。她并且在附近一带到处奔波，要给女儿找一所适当的住宅；她根本不知道他们有多少收入，也从来没有考虑到这一点。她看了多少处房子都看不中，不是为了开间太小，就是嫌不够气派。她说：“要是戈丁家能迁走，海夜花园倒还合适；斯托克那幢大房子，要是会客室大一些，也还可以，可是阿西渥斯离这儿太远！我不忍心让她同我隔开十英里路；讲到柏卫别业，那所假三层实在太糟了。”每当有佣人在跟前的时候，她丈夫总是让她讲下去，不去岔断她的话。可是佣人一出去，他可老实不客气地跟她说了：“我的好太太，你要为你的女儿和女婿租房子，不管你要租一幢也好，或是把所有的房子都租下来也好，都得让我们事先把问题谈谈清楚。邻近的房子，一幢也不许他们来住。他们不要梦想，认为我会在浪搏恩招待他们！”这话一出口，两人便争吵不休；可是班纳特先生说一不二，于是又吵了起来；后来班纳特太太又发觉丈夫不肯拿出一文钱来给女儿添置一些衣服，不禁大为惊骇。班纳特先生坚决声明，丽迪雅这一次休想得到他半点疼爱，这实在叫他太太弄不懂。他竟会气愤到这样深恶痛绝的地步，连女儿出嫁都不肯优待她一番，简直要把婚礼弄得不成体统，这确实太出乎她的意料。她只知道女儿出嫁而没有嫁妆是件丢脸的事情，至于她的私奔，她没有结婚以前就跟韦翰同居了两个星期，她倒丝毫不放在心上。伊丽莎白目前非常后悔，当初实在不应该因为一时痛苦，竟让达西先生知道了她自己家里为她妹妹担忧的经过，因为妹妹既然马上就可以名正言顺地结婚，了却那一段私奔的风流孽债，那么，开头那一段不体面的事情，她们当然希望最好不要让局外人知道。