pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第97章
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morning to answering it； as I foresee that a little writing will not
comprise what I have to tell you。 I must confess myself surprised
by your application； I did not expect it from you。 Don’t think me
angry； however； for I only mean to let you know； that I had not
imagined such enquiries to be necessary on your side。 If you do
not choose to understand me； forgive my impertinence。 Your
uncle is as much surprised as I am—and nothing but the belief of
your being a party concerned； would have allowed him to act as he
has done。 But if you are really innocent and ignorant； I must be
more explicit。 On the very day of my coming home from
Longbourn； your uncle had a most unexpected visitor。 Mr。 Darcy
called； and was shut up with him several hours。 It was all over
before I arrived； so my curiosity was not so dreadfully racked as
your’s seems to have been。 He came to tell Mr。 Gardiner that he
had found out where your sister and Mr。 Wickham were； and that
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he had seen and talked with them both； Wickham repeatedly；
Lydia once。 From what I can collect； he left Derbyshire only one
day after ourselves； and came to town with the resolution of
hunting for them。 The motive professed； was his conviction of its
being owing to himself that Wickham’s worthlessness had not
been so well known； as to make it impossible for any young
woman of character； to love or confide in him。 He generously
imputed the whole to his mistaken pride； and confessed that he
had before thought it beneath him； to lay his private actions open
to the world。 His character was to speak for itself。 He called it；
therefore； his duty to step forward； and endeavour to remedy an
evil； which had been brought on by himself。 If he had another
motive； I am sure it would never disgrace him。 He had been some
days in town； before he was able to discover them； but he had
something to direct his search； which was more than we had； and
the consciousness of this； was another reason for his resolving to
follow us。 There is a lady； it seems； a Mrs。 Younge； who was some
time ago governess to Miss Darcy； and was dismissed from her
charge on some cause of disapprobation； though he did not say
what。 She then took a large house in Edward…street； and has since
maintained herself by letting lodgings。 This Mrs。 Younge was； he
knew； intimately acquainted with Wickham； and he went to her
for intelligence of him； as soon as he got to town。 But it was two or
three days before he could get from her what he wanted。 She
would not betray her trust； I suppose； without bribery and
corruption； for she really did know where her friend was to be
found。 Wickham indeed had gone to her； on their first arrival in
London； and had she been able to receive them into her house；
they would have taken up their abode with her。 At length；
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however； our kind friend procured the wished…for direction。 They
were in — street。 He saw Wickham； and afterwards insisted on
seeing Lydia。 His first object with her； he acknowledged； had been
to persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation； and
return to her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to
receive her； offering his assistance； as far as it would go。 But he
found Lydia absolutely resolved on remaining where she was。 She
cared for none of her friends； she wanted no help of his； she would
not hear of leaving Wickham。 She was sure they should be
married some time or other； and it did not much signify when。
Since such were her feelings； it only remained； he thought； to
secure and expedite a marriage； which； in his very first
conversation with Wickham； he easily learnt； had never been his
design。 He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment； on
account of some debts of honour； which were very pressing； and
scrupled not to lay all the ill…consequences of Lydia’s flight； on her
own folly alone。 He meant to resign his commission immediately；
and as to his future situation； he could conjecture very little about
it。 He must go somewhere； but he did not know where； and he
knew he should have nothing to live on。 Mr。 Darcy asked him why
he had not married your sister at once。 Though Mr。 Bennet was
not imagined to be very rich； he would have been able to do
something for him； and his situation must have been benefited by
marriage。 But he found； in reply to this question； that Wickham
still cherished the hope of more effectually making his fortune by
marriage； in some other country。 Under such circumstances；
however； he was not likely to be proof against the temptation of
immediate relief。 They met several times； for there was much to be
discussed。 Wickham of course wanted more than he could get； but
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at length was reduced to be reasonable。 Every thing being settled
between them； Mr。 Darcy’s next step was to make your uncle
acquainted with it； and he first called in Gracechurch…street the
evening before I came home。 But Mr。 Gardiner could not be seen；
and Mr。 Darcy found； on further enquiry； that your father was still
with him； but would quit town the next morning。 He did not judge
your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as
your uncle； and therefore readily postponed seeing him； till after
the departure of the former。 He did not leave his name； and till the
next day； it was only known that a gentleman had called on
business。 On Saturday he came again。 Your father was gone； your
uncle at home； and； as I said before； they had a great deal of talk
together。 They met again on Sunday； and then I saw him too。 It
was not all settled before Monday： as soon as it was； the express
was sent off to Longbourn。 But our visitor was very obstinate。 I
fancy； Lizzy； that obstinacy is the real defect of his character after
all。 He has been accused of many faults at different times； but this
is the true one。 Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself；
though I am sure （and I do not speak it to be thanked； therefore
say nothing about it；） your uncle would most readily have settled
the whole。 They battled it together for a long time； which was
more than either the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved。
But at last your u
