Shethenreadthefirstsentencealoud,whichcomprisedtheinformationoftheirhavingjustresolvedtofollowtheirbrothertotowndirectly,andoftheirmeaningtodinethatdayinGrosvenorstreet,whereMr.Hursthadahouse.Thenextwasinthesewords. "IdonotpretendtoregretanythingIshallleaveinHertfordshire,exceptyoursociety,mydearestfriend;butwewillhopeatsomefutureperiod,toenjoymanyreturnsofthedelightfulintercoursewehaveknown,andinthemeanwhilemaylessenthepainofseparationbyaveryfrequentandmostunreservedcorrespondence.Idependonyouforthat."Tothesehighflownexpressions,Elizabethlistenedwithalltheinsensibilityofdistrust;andthoughthesuddennessoftheirremovalsurprisedher,shesawnothinginitreallytolament;itwasnottobesupposedthattheirabsencefromNetherfieldwouldpreventMr.Bingley'sbeingthere;andastothelossoftheirsociety,shewaspersuadedthatJanemustsoonceasetoregardit,intheenjoymentofhis. "Itisunlucky,"saidshe,afterashortpause, "thatyoushouldnotbeabletoseeyourfriendsbeforetheyleavethecountry.ButmaywenothopethattheperiodoffuturehappinesstowhichMissBingleylooksforward,mayarriveearlierthansheisaware,andthatthedelightfulintercourseyouhaveknownasfriends,willberenewedwithyetgreatersatisfactionassisters? --Mr.BingleywillnotbedetainedinLondonbythem." "CarolinedecidedlysaysthatnoneofthepartywillreturnintoHertfordshirethiswinter.Iwillreadittoyou--" "Whenmybrotherleftusyesterday,heimaginedthatthebusinesswhichtookhimtoLondon,mightbeconcludedinthreeorfourdays,butaswearecertainitcannotbeso,andatthesametimeconvincedthatwhenCharlesgetstotownhewillbeinnohurrytoleaveitagain,wehavedeterminedonfollowinghimthither,thathemaynotbeobligedtospendhisvacanthoursinacomfortlesshotel.Manyofmyacquaintancearealreadythereforthewinter;IwishIcouldhearthatyou,mydearestfriend,hadanyintentionofmakingoneinthecroud,butofthatIdespair.IsincerelyhopeyourChristmasinHertfordshiremayaboundinthegaietieswhichthatseasongenerallybrings,andthatyourbeauxwillbesonumerousastopreventyourfeelingthelossofthethreeofwhomweshalldepriveyou." "Itisevidentbythis,"addedJane, "thathecomesbacknomorethiswinter." "ItisonlyevidentthatMissBingleydoesnotmeanheshould." "Whywillyouthinkso?Itmustbehisowndoing. --Heishisownmaster.Butyoudonotknowall.Iwillreadyouthepassagewhichparticularlyhurtsme.Iwillhavenoreservesfromyou." "Mr.Darcyisimpatienttoseehissister,andtoconfessthetruth,wearescarcelylesseagertomeetheragain.IreallydonotthinkGeorgianaDarcyhasherequalforbeauty,elegance,andaccomplishments;andtheaffectionsheinspiresinLouisaandmyselfisheightenedintosomethingstillmoreinteresting,fromthehopewedaretoentertainofherbeinghereafteroursister.IdonotknowwhetherIeverbeforementionedtoyoumyfeelingsonthissubject,butIwillnotleavethecountrywithoutconfidingthem,andItrustyouwillnotesteemthemunreasonable.Mybrotheradmireshergreatlyalready,hewillhavefrequentopportunitynowofseeingheronthemostintimatefooting,herrelationsallwishtheconnectionasmuchashisown,andasister'spartialityisnotmisleadingme,Ithink,whenIcallCharlesmostcapableofengaginganywoman'sheart.Withallthesecircumstancestofavouranattachmentandnothingtopreventit,amIwrong,mydearestJane,inindulgingthehopeofaneventwhichwillsecurethehappinessofsomany?" "Whatthinkyouofthissentence,mydearLizzy?" --saidJaneasshefinishedit. "Isitnotclearenough? --DoesitnotexpresslydeclarethatCarolineneitherexpectsnorwishesmetobehersister;thatsheisperfectlyconvincedofherbrother'sindifference,andthatifshesuspectsthenatureofmyfeelingsforhim,shemeans(mostkindly!)toputmeonmyguard?Cantherebeanyotheropiniononthesubject?" 于是她先把第一句念出来，那句话是说，她们已经决定，立刻追随她们的弟兄上城里去，而且要在当天赶到格鲁斯汶纳街吃饭，原来赫斯脱先生就住在那条街上。接下去是这样写的：──“亲爱的朋友，离开哈福德郡，除了你的友谊以外，我真是一无留恋，不过，我希望将来有一天，还是可以象过去那样愉快地来往，并希望目前能经常通信，无话不谈，以抒离悃。临笔不胜企盼。”伊丽莎白对这些浮话奢词，亦只是姑妄听之；虽说她们这一次突然的迁走叫她感到惊奇，可是她并不觉得真有什么可以惋惜的地方。她们离开了尼日斐花园，未必彬格莱先生便不会再在那儿住下去；至于说到跟她们没有了来往，她相信吉英只要跟彬格莱先生时常见面，也就无所谓了。 歇了片刻，伊丽莎白说道：“不幸得很，你朋友们临走以前，你没有来得及去看她们一次。可是，彬格莱小姐既然认为将来还有重聚的欢乐，难道我们不能希望这一天比她意料中来得早一些吗？将来做了姑嫂，不是比今天做朋友更满意吗？彬格莱先生不会被她们久留在伦敦的。” “咖罗琳肯定地说，她们一家人，今年冬天谁也不会回到哈福郡来了。让我念给你听吧： ‘我哥哥昨天和我们告别的时候，还以为他这次上伦敦去，只要三四天就可以把事情办好；可是我们认为办不到，同时我们相信，查尔斯一进了城，决不肯马上就走，因此我们决计追踪前去，免得他冷冷清清住在旅馆里受罪。我很多朋友都上伦敦去过冬了；亲爱的朋友，我本来还希望听到你进城去的消息，结果我失望了。我真挚地希望你在哈福德郡照常能够极其愉快地度过圣诞节。希望你有很多漂亮的男朋友，免得我们一走，你便会因为少了三个朋友而感到难受。’ “这明明是说，”吉英补充道，“他今年冬天不会回来啦。” “这不过说明彬格莱小姐不要他回来罢了。” “你为什么这样想法？那一定是他自己的意思。他自己可以作主。可是你还没有全部知道呢。我一定要把那特别叫我伤心的一段读给你听。我对你完全不必忌讳。‘达西先生急着要去看看他妹妹；说老实话，我们也差不多同样热切地希望和她重逢。我以为乔治安娜·达西无论在容貌方面，举止方面，才艺方面，的确再也没有人能够比得上。露薏莎和我都大胆地希望她以后会做我们的嫂嫂，因此我们对她便越发关切了。我不知道以前有没有跟你提起过我对这件事的感觉，可是当此离开乡村之际，我不愿意不把这些感觉说出来，我相信你不会觉得这是不合理的吧。我的哥哥已经深深地受上了她，他现在可以时常去看她，他们自会更加亲密起来；双方的家庭方面都同样盼望这门亲事能够成功。我想，如果我说，查尔斯最善于博取任何女人的欢心，这可不能是出于做姐妹的偏心，瞎说一阵吧。既是各方面都赞成这段姻缘，而且事情毫无阻碍，那么，最亲爱的吉英，我衷心希望着这件人人乐意的事能够实现，你能说我错吗？’你觉得这一句怎么样，亲爱的丽萃？”吉英读完了以后说。“说得还不够清楚吗？这不是明明白白地表明她们不希望、也不愿意我做她们的嫂嫂吗？不是说明了她完全相信他的哥哥对我无所谓吗？而且不也是说明了：假如她怀疑到我对他有感情，她就要劝我（多亏她这样好心肠！）当心些吗？这些话还能有别的解释吗？”