Chapter38 Elizabethcouldsafelysaythatitwasagreathappinesswherethatwasthecase,andwithequalsinceritycouldaddthatshefirmlybelievedandrejoicedinhisdomesticcomforts.Shewasnotsorry,however,tohavetherecitaloftheminterruptedbytheentranceoftheladyfromwhomtheysprung.PoorCharlotte! --itwasmelancholytoleavehertosuchsociety! --Butshehadchosenitwithhereyesopen;andthoughevidentlyregrettingthathervisitorsweretogo,shedidnotseemtoaskforcompassion.Herhomeandherhousekeeping,herparishandherpoultry,andalltheirdependentconcerns,hadnotyetlosttheircharms.Atlengththechaisearrived,thetrunkswerefastenedon,theparcelsplacedwithin,anditwaspronouncedtobeready.Afteranaffectionatepartingbetweenthefriends,ElizabethwasattendedtothecarriagebyMr.Collins,andastheywalkeddownthegarden,hewascommissioningherwithhisbestrespectstoallherfamily,notforgettinghisthanksforthekindnesshehadreceivedatLongbourninthewinter,andhiscomplimentstoMr.andMrs.Gardiner,thoughunknown.Hethenhandedherin,Mariafollowed,andthedoorwasonthepointofbeingclosed,whenhesuddenlyremindedthem,withsomeconsternation,thattheyhadhithertoforgottentoleaveanymessagefortheladiesatRosings."But,"headded, "youwillofcoursewishtohaveyourhumblerespectsdeliveredtothem,withyourgratefulthanksfortheirkindnesstoyouwhileyouhavebeenhere."Elizabethmadenoobjection; --thedoorwasthenallowedtobeshut,andthecarriagedroveoff."Goodgracious!"criedMaria,afterafewminutessilence, "itseemsbutadayortwosincewefirstcame! --andyethowmanythingshavehappened!""Agreatmanyindeed,"saidhercompanionwithasigh."WehavedinedninetimesatRosings,besidesdrinkingteatheretwice! --HowmuchIshallhavetotell!"Elizabethprivatelyadded, "AndhowmuchIshallhavetoconceal."Theirjourneywasperformedwithoutmuchconversation,oranyalarm;andwithinfourhoursoftheirleavingHunsford,theyreachedMr.Gardiner'shouse,wheretheyweretoremainafewdays.Janelookedwell,andElizabethhadlittleopportunityofstudyingherspirits,amidstthevariousengagementswhichthekindnessofheraunthadreservedforthem.ButJanewastogohomewithher,andatLongbourntherewouldbeleisureenoughforobservation.Itwasnotwithoutaneffort,meanwhile,thatshecouldwaitevenforLongbourn,beforeshetoldhersisterofMr.Darcy'sproposals.ToknowthatshehadthepowerofrevealingwhatwouldsoexceedinglyastonishJane,andmust,atthesametime,sohighlygratifywhateverofherownvanityshehadnotyetbeenabletoreasonaway,wassuchatemptationtoopennessasnothingcouldhaveconqueredbutthestateofindecisioninwhichsheremainedastotheextentofwhatsheshouldcommunicate;andherfear,ifsheonceenteredonthesubject,ofbeinghurriedintorepeatingsomethingofBingleywhichmightonlygrievehersisterfarther. 第三十八章伊丽莎白本来可以放心大胆地说，他们夫妇这样相处，的确是很大的幸福，而且她还可以用同样诚恳的语气接下去说，她完全认为他们家里过得很舒适，她亦叨了一份光。不过话才说到一半，被说到的那位太太走了进来，打断了她的话。她倒并不觉得遗憾。夏绿蒂好不可怜！叫她跟这样的男人朝夕相处，实在是一种痛苦。可是这毕竟是她自己睁大了眼睛挑选的。她眼看着客人们就要走了，不免觉得难过，可是她好象并不要求别人怜悯。操作家务，饲养家禽，教区里的形形色色，以及许许多多附带的事，都还没有使她感到完全乏味。马车终于来了，箱子给系上车顶，包裹放进车厢，一切都端整好了，只准备出发。大家恋恋不舍地告别以后，便由柯林斯先生送伊丽莎白上车。他们从花园那儿走去，他一路托她回去代他向她全家请安，而且没有忘了感谢他去年冬天在浪搏恩受到的款待，还请他代为问候嘉丁纳夫妇，其实他并不认识他们。然后他扶她上车，玛丽亚跟着走上去，正当车门快要关上的时候，他突然慌慌张张地提醒她们说，她们还忘了给罗新斯的太太小姐们留言告别呢。“不过，”他又说，“你们当然想要向她们传话请安，还要感谢她们这许多日子来的殷勤款待。”伊丽莎白没有表示反对，车门这才关上，马车就开走了。沉默了几分钟以后，玛丽亚叫道：“天呀！我们好象到这儿来才不过一两天，可是事情倒发生了不少啊！”她们一路上没有说什么话，也没有受什么惊，离开汉斯福不到四个钟头，就到了嘉丁纳先生家里。她们要在那儿耽搁几天。伊丽莎白看到吉英气色很好，只可惜没有机会仔细观察一下她的心情是不是好，因为多蒙她舅母一片好心，早就给她们安排好了各色各样的节目。好在吉英就要跟她一块儿回去，到了浪搏恩，多的是闲暇的时间，那时候再仔细观察观察吧。不过，她实在等不及到了浪搏恩以后，再把达西先生求婚的事情告诉吉英，她好容易才算耐住了性子。她知道她自己有本领说得吉英大惊失色，而且一说以后，还可以大大地满足她自己那种不能从理智上加以克服的虚荣心。她真恨不得把它说出来，只是拿不定主意应该怎样跟吉英说到适可而止，又怕一谈到这个问题，就免不了多多少少要牵扯到彬格莱身上去，也许会叫她姐姐格外伤心。