二九文学

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第102章（第1页）

“Bythistime，mydearestsister，youhavereceivedmyhurriedletter;Iwishthismaybemoreintelligible，butthoughnotconfinedfortime，myheadissobewilderedthatIcannotanswerforbeingcoherent.DearestLizzy，IhardlyknowwhatIwouldwrite，butIhavebadnewsforyou，anditcannotbedelayed.ImprudentasthemarriagebetweenMr.WickhamandourpoorLydiawouldbe，wearenowanxioustobeassuredithastakenplace，forthereisbuttoomuchreasontofeartheyarenotgonetoScotland.ColonelForstercameyesterday，havingleftBrightonthedaybefore，notmanyhoursaftertheexpress.ThoughLydiasshortlettertoMrs.F.gavethemtounderstandthattheyweregoingtoGretnaGreen，somethingwasdroppedbyDennyexpressinghisbeliefthatW.neverintendedtogothere，ortomarryLydiaatall，whichwasrepeatedtoColonelF.，who，instantlytakingthealarm，setofffromB.intendingtotracetheirroute.HedidtracethemeasilytoClapham，butnofurther;foronenteringthatplace，theyremovedintoahackneycoach，anddismissedthechaisethatbroughtthemfromEpsom.Allthatisknownafterthisis，thattheywereseentocontinuetheLondonroad.Iknownotwhattothink.AftermakingeverypossibleinquiryonthatsideLondon，ColonelF.cameonintoHertfordshire，anxiouslyrenewingthematalltheturnpikes，andattheinnsinBarnetandHatfield，butwithoutanysuccess—nosuchpeoplehadbeenseentopassthrough.WiththekindestconcernhecameontoLongbourn，andbrokehisapprehensionstousinamannermostcreditabletohisheart.IamsincerelygrievedforhimandMrs.F.，butnoonecanthrowanyblameonthem.Ourdistress，mydearLizzy，isverygreat.Myfatherandmotherbelievetheworst，butIcannotthinksoillofhim.Manycircumstancesmightmakeitmoreeligibleforthemtobemarriedprivatelyintownthantopursuetheirfirstplan;andevenifhecouldformsuchadesignagainstayoungwomanofLydiasconnections，whichisnotlikely，canIsupposehersolosttoeverything?Impossible!Igrievetofind，however，thatColonelF.isnotdisposedtodependupontheirmarriage;heshookhisheadwhenIexpressedmyhopes，andsaidhefearedW.wasnotamantobetrusted.Mypoormotherisreallyill，andkeepsherroom.Couldsheexertherself，itwouldbebetter;butthisisnottobeexpected.Andastomyfather，Ineverinmylifesawhimsoaffected.PoorKittyhasangerforhavingconcealedtheirattachment;butasitwasamatterofconfidence，onecannotwonder.Iamtrulyglad，dearestLizzy，thatyouhavebeensparedsomethingofthesedistressingscenes;butnow，asthefirstshockisover，shallIownthatIlongforyourreturn?Iamnotsoselfish，however，astopressforit，ifinconvenient.Adieu!ItakeupmypenagaintodowhatIhavejusttoldyouIwouldnot;butcircumstancesaresuchthatIcannothelpearnestlybeggingyoualltocomehereassoonaspossible.Iknowmydearuncleandauntsowell，thatIamnotafraidofrequestingit，thoughIhavestillsomethingmoretoaskoftheformer.MyfatherisgoingtoLondonwithColonelForsterinstantly，totrytodiscoverher.Whathemeanstodo，IamsureIknownot;buthisexcessivedistresswillnotallowhimtopursueanymeasureinthebestandsafestway，andColonelForsterisobligedtobeatBrightonagainto-morrowevening.Insuchanexigence，myunclesadviceandassistancewouldbeeverythingintheworld;hewillimmediatelycomprehendwhatImustfeel，andIrelyuponhisgoodness.”

“Oh!where，whereismyuncle?”

criedElizabeth，dartingfromherseatasshefinishedtheletter，ineagernesstofollowhim，withoutlosingamomentofthetimesoprecious;butasshereachedthedooritwasopenedbyaservant，andMr.Darcyappeared.Herpalefaceandimpetuousmannermadehimstart，andbeforehecouldrecoverhimselftospeak，she，inwhosemindeveryideawassupersededbyLydiassituation，hastilyexclaimed，“Ibegyourpardon，butImustleaveyou.ImustfindMr.Gardinerthismoment，onbusinessthatcannotbedelayed;Ihavenotaninstanttolose.”

“GoodGod!whatisthematter?”

criedhe，withmorefeelingthanpoliteness;thenrecollectinghimself，“Iwillnotdetainyouaminute;butletme，orlettheservantgoafterMr.andMrs.Gardiner.Youarenotwellenough;youcannotgoyourself.”

Elizabethhesitated，butherkneestrembledunderherandshefelthowlittlewouldbegainedbyherattemptingtopursuethem.Callingbacktheservant，therefore，shecommissionedhim，thoughinsobreathlessanaccentasmadeheralmostunintelligible，tofetchhismasterandmistresshomeinstantly.

Onhisquittingtheroomshesatdown，unabletosupportherself，andlookingsomiserablyill，thatitwasimpossibleforDarcytoleaveher，ortorefrainfromsaying，inatoneofgentlenessandcommiseration，“Letmecallyourmaid.Istherenothingyoucouldtaketogiveyoupresentrelief?Aglassofwine;shallIgetyouone?Youareveryill.”

“No，Ithankyou，”

shereplied，endeavouringtorecoverherself.“Thereisnothingthematterwithme.Iamquitewell;IamonlydistressedbysomedreadfulnewswhichIhavejustreceivedfromLongbourn.”

Sheburstintotearsasshealludedtoit，andforafewminutescouldnotspeakanotherword.Darcy，inwretchedsuspense，couldonlysaysomethingindistinctlyofhisconcern，andobserveherincompassionatesilence.Atlengthshespokeagain.“IhavejusthadaletterfromJane，withsuchdreadfulnews.Itcannotbeconcealedfromanyone.Myyoungersisterhasleftallherfriends—haseloped;hasthrownherselfintothepowerof—ofMr.Wickham.TheyaregoneofftogetherfromBrighton.Youknowhimtoowelltodoubttherest.Shehasnomoney，noconnections，nothingthatcantempthimto—sheislostforever.”

Darcywasfixedinastonishment.