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第117章（第1页）

Theirsistersweddingdayarrived;andJaneandElizabethfeltforherprobablymorethanshefeltforherself。Thecarriagewassenttomeetthemat—，andtheyweretoreturninitbydinner-time。TheirarrivalwasdreadedbytheelderMissBennets，andJanemoreespecially，whogaveLydiathefeelingswhichwouldhaveattendedherself，hadshebeentheculprit，andwaswretchedinthethoughtofwhathersistermustendure。

Theycame。Thefamilywereassembledinthebreakfastroomtoreceivethem。SmilesdeckedthefaceofMrs。Bennetasthecarriagedroveuptothedoor;herhusbandlookedimpenetrablygrave;herdaughters，alarmed，anxious，uneasy。

Lydiasvoicewasheardinthevestibule;thedoorwasthrownopen，andsheranintotheroom。Hermothersteppedforwards，embracedher，andwelcomedherwithrapture;gaveherhand，withanaffectionatesmile，toWickham，whofollowedhislady;andwishedthembothjoywithanalacritywhichshewednodoubtoftheirhappiness。

TheirreceptionfromMr。Bennet，towhomtheythenturned，wasnotquitesocordial。Hiscountenancerathergainedinausterity;andhescarcelyopenedhislips。Theeasyassuranceoftheyoungcouple，indeed，wasenoughtoprovokehim。

Elizabethwasdisgusted，andevenMissBennetwasshocked。LydiawasLydiastill;untamed，unabashed，wild，noisy，andfearless。Sheturnedfromsistertosister，demandingtheircongratulations;andwhenatlengththeyallsatdown，lookedeagerlyroundtheroom，tooknoticeofsomelittlealterationinit，andobserved，withalaugh，thatitwasagreatwhilesinceshehadbeenthere。

Wickhamwasnotatallmoredistressedthanherself，buthismannerswerealwayssopleasing，thathadhischaracterandhismarriagebeenexactlywhattheyought，hissmilesandhiseasyaddress，whileheclaimedtheirrelationship，wouldhavedelightedthemall。Elizabethhadnotbeforebelievedhimquiteequaltosuchassurance;butshesatdown，resolvingwithinherselftodrawnolimitsinfuturetotheimpudenceofanimpudentman。Sheblushed，andJaneblushed;butthecheeksofthetwowhocausedtheirconfusionsufferednovariationofcolour。

Therewasnowantofdiscourse。Thebrideandhermothercouldneitherofthemtalkfastenough;andWickham，whohappenedtositnearElizabeth，beganinquiringafterhisacquaintanceinthatneighbourhood，withagoodhumouredeasewhichshefeltveryunabletoequalinherreplies。Theyseemedeachofthemtohavethehappiestmemoriesintheworld。Nothingofthepastwasrecollectedwithpain;andLydialedvoluntarilytosubjectswhichhersisterswouldnothavealludedtofortheworld。

“Onlythinkofitsbeingthreemonths，”shecried，“sinceIwentaway;itseemsbutafortnightIdeclare;andyettherehavebeenthingsenoughhappenedinthetime。Goodgracious!WhenIwentaway，IamsureIhadnomoreideaofbeingmarriedtillIcamebackagain!ThoughIthoughtitwouldbeverygoodfunifIwas。”Herfatherlifteduphiseyes。Janewasdistressed。ElizabethlookedexpressivelyatLydia;butshe，whoneverheardnorsawanythingofwhichshechosetobeinsensible，gailycontinued，

“Oh!mamma，dothepeoplehereaboutsknowIammarriedto-day?Iwasafraidtheymightnot;andweovertookWilliamGouldinginhiscurricle，soIwasdeterminedheshouldknowit，andsoIletdowntheside-glassnexttohim，andtookoffmyglove，andletmyhandjustrestuponthewindowframe，sothathemightseethering，andthenIbowedandsmiledlikeanything。”

Elizabethcouldbearitnolonger。Shegotup，andranoutoftheroom;andreturnednomore，tillsheheardthempassingthroughthehalltothediningparlour。ShethenjoinedthemsoonenoughtoseeLydia，withanxiousparade，walkuptohermothersrighthand，andhearhersaytohereldestsister，

“Ah!Jane，Itakeyourplacenow，andyoumustgolower，becauseIamamarriedwoman。”

ItwasnottobesupposedthattimewouldgiveLydiathatembarrassmentfromwhichshehadbeensowhollyfreeatfirst。Hereaseandgoodspiritsincreased。ShelongedtoseeMrs。Phillips，theLucases，andalltheirotherneighbours，andtohearherselfcalled“Mrs。Wickham”byeachofthem;andinthemeantime，shewentafterdinnertoshowherring，andboastofbeingmarried，toMrs。Hillandthetwohousemaids。

“Well，mamma，”saidshe，whentheywereallreturnedtothebreakfastroom，“andwhatdoyouthinkofmyhusband?Isnotheacharmingman?Iamsuremysistersmustallenvyme。Ionlyhopetheymayhavehalfmygoodluck。TheymustallgotoBrighton。Thatistheplacetogethusbands。Whatapityitis，mamma，wedidnotallgo。”

“Verytrue;andifIhadmywill，weshould。ButmydearLydia，Idontatalllikeyourgoingsuchawayoff。Mustitbeso?”

“Oh，lord!yes;—thereisnothinginthat。Ishalllikeitofallthings。Youandpapa，andmysisters，mustcomedownandseeus。WeshallbeatNewcastleallthewinter，andIdaresaytherewillbesomeballs，andIwilltakecaretogetgoodpartnersforthemall。”

“Ishouldlikeitbeyondanything!”saidhermother。

“Andthenwhenyougoaway，youmayleaveoneortwoofmysistersbehindyou;andIdaresayIshallgethusbandsforthembeforethewinterisover。”

“Ithankyouformyshareofthefavour，”saidElizabeth;“butIdonotparticularlylikeyourwayofgettinghusbands。”