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第88章（第1页）

OntheverylastdayoftheregimentsremainingatMeryton，hedined，withotheroftheofficers，atLongbourn;andsolittlewasElizabethdisposedtopartfromhimingoodhumour，thatonhismakingsomeinquiryastothemannerinwhichhertimehadpassedatHunsford，shementionedColonelFitzwilliamsandMr。DarcyshavingbothspentthreeweeksatRosings，andaskedhim，ifhewasacquaintedwiththeformer。

Helookedsurprised，displeased，alarmed;butwithamomentsrecollectionandareturningsmile，replied，thathehadformerlyseenhimoften;and，afterobservingthathewasaverygentlemanlikeman，askedherhowshehadlikedhim。Heranswerwaswarmlyinhisfavour。Withanairofindifference，hesoonafterwardsadded:

“HowlongdidyousayhewasatRosings?”

“Nearlythreeweeks。”

“Andyousawhimfrequently?”

“Yes，almosteveryday。”

“Hismannersareverydifferentfromhiscousins。”

“Yes，verydifferent。ButIthinkMr。Darcyimprovesuponacquaintance。”

“Indeed!”criedMr。Wickhamwithalookwhichdidnotescapeher。“Andpray，mayIask?—”Butcheckinghimself，headded，inagayertone，“Isitinaddressthatheimproves?Hashedeignedtoaddaughtofcivilitytohisordinarystyle?—forIdarenothope，”hecontinuedinalowerandmoreserioustone，“thatheisimprovedinessentials。”

“Oh，no!”saidElizabeth。“Inessentials，Ibelieve，heisverymuchwhatheeverwas。”

Whileshespoke，Wickhamlookedasifscarcelyknowingwhethertorejoiceoverherwords，ortodistrusttheirmeaning。Therewasasomethinginhercountenancewhichmadehimlistenwithanapprehensiveandanxiousattention，whilesheadded:

“WhenIsaidthatheimprovedonacquaintance，Ididnotmeanthathismindorhismannerswereinastateofimprovement，butthat，fromknowinghimbetter，hisdispositionwasbetterunderstood。”

Wickhamsalarmnowappearedinaheightenedcomplexionandagitatedlook;forafewminuteshewassilent，till，shakingoffhisembarrassment，heturnedtoheragain，andsaidinthegentlestofaccents:

“You，whosowellknowmyfeelingtowardsMr。Darcy，willreadilycomprehendhowsincerelyImustrejoicethatheiswiseenoughtoassumeeventheappearanceofwhatisright。Hispride，inthatdirection，maybeofservice，ifnottohimself，tomanyothers，foritmustonlydeterhimfromsuchfoulmisconductasIhavesufferedby。Ionlyfearthatthesortofcautiousnesstowhichyou，Iimagine，havebeenalluding，ismerelyadoptedonhisvisitstohisaunt，ofwhosegoodopinionandjudgementhestandsmuchinawe。Hisfearofherhasalwaysoperated，Iknow，whentheyweretogether;andagooddealistobeimputedtohiswishofforwardingthematchwithMissdeBourgh，whichIamcertainhehasverymuchatheart。”

Elizabethcouldnotrepressasmileatthis，butsheansweredonlybyaslightinclinationofthehead。Shesawthathewantedtoengageherontheoldsubjectofhisgrievances，andshewasinnohumourtoindulgehim。Therestoftheeveningpassedwiththeappearance，onhisside，ofusualcheerfulness，butwithnofurtherattempttodistinguishElizabeth;andtheypartedatlastwithmutualcivility，andpossiblyamutualdesireofnevermeetingagain。

Whenthepartybrokeup，LydiareturnedwithMrs。ForstertoMeryton，fromwhencetheyweretosetoutearlythenextmorning。Theseparationbetweenherandherfamilywasrathernoisythanpathetic。Kittywastheonlyonewhoshedtears;butshedidweepfromvexationandenvy。Mrs。Bennetwasdiffuseinhergoodwishesforthefelicityofherdaughter，andimpressiveinherinjunctionsthatsheshouldnotmisstheopportunityofenjoyingherselfasmuchaspossible—advicewhichtherewaseveryreasontobelievewouldbeattendedto;andintheclamoroushappinessofLydiaherselfinbiddingfarewell，themoregentleadieusofhersisterswereutteredwithoutbeingheard。