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第120章（第1页）

“TheymetagainonSunday，andthenIsawhimtoo。ItwasnotallsettledbeforeMonday:assoonasitwas，theexpresswassentofftoLongbourn。Butourvisitorwasveryobstinate。Ifancy，Lizzy，thatobstinacyistherealdefectofhischaracter，afterall。Hehasbeenaccusedofmanyfaultsatdifferenttimes，butthisisthetrueone。Nothingwastobedonethathedidnotdohimself;thoughIamsure（andIdonotspeakittobethanked，thereforesaynothingaboutit），yourunclewouldmostreadilyhavesettledthewhole。

“Theybattledittogetherforalongtime，whichwasmorethaneitherthegentlemanorladyconcernedinitdeserved。Butatlastyourunclewasforcedtoyield，andinsteadofbeingallowedtobeofusetohisniece，wasforcedtoputupwithonlyhavingtheprobablecreditofit，whichwentsorelyagainstthegrain;andIreallybelieveyourletterthismorninggavehimgreatpleasure，becauseitrequiredanexplanationthatwouldrobhimofhisborrowedfeathers，andgivethepraisewhereitwasdue。But，Lizzy，thismustgonofartherthanyourself，orJaneatmost。

“Youknowprettywell，Isuppose，whathasbeendonefortheyoungpeople。Hisdebtsaretobepaid，amounting，Ibelieve，toconsiderablymorethanathousandpounds，anotherthousandinadditiontoherownsettleduponher，andhiscommissionpurchased。Thereasonwhyallthiswastobedonebyhimalone，wassuchasIhavegivenabove。Itwasowingtohim，tohisreserveandwantofproperconsideration，thatWickhamscharacterhadbeensomisunderstood，andconsequentlythathehadbeenreceivedandnoticedashewas。Perhapstherewassometruthinthis;thoughIdoubtwhetherhisreserve，oranybodysreserve，canbeanswerablefortheevent。Butinspiteofallthisfinetalking，mydearLizzy，youmayrestperfectlyassuredthatyourunclewouldneverhaveyielded，ifwehadnotgivenhimcreditforanotherinterestintheaffair。

“Whenallthiswasresolvedon，hereturnedagaintohisfriends，whowerestillstayingatPemberley;butitwasagreedthatheshouldbeinLondononcemorewhentheweddingtookplace，andallmoneymatterswerethentoreceivethelastfinish。

“IbelieveIhavenowtoldyoueverything。Itisarelationwhichyoutellmeistogiveyougreatsurprise;Ihopeatleastitwillnotaffordyouanydispleasure。Lydiacametous;andWickhamhadconstantadmissiontothehouse。Hewasexactlywhathehadbeen，whenIknewhiminHertfordshire;butIwouldnottellyouhowlittleIwassatisfiedwithherbehaviourwhileshestayedwithus，ifIhadnotperceived，byJanesletterlastWednesday，thatherconductoncominghomewasexactlyofapiecewithit，andthereforewhatInowtellyoucangiveyounofreshpain。Italkedtoherrepeatedlyinthemostseriousmanner，representingtoherallthewickednessofwhatshehaddone，andalltheunhappinessshehadbroughtonherfamily。Ifsheheardme，itwasbygoodluck，forIamsureshedidnotlisten。Iwassometimesquiteprovoked，butthenIrecollectedmydearElizabethandJane，andfortheirsakeshadpatiencewithher。

“Mr。Darcywaspunctualinhisreturn，andasLydiainformedyou，attendedthewedding。Hedinedwithusthenextday，andwastoleavetownagainonWednesdayorThursday。Willyoubeveryangrywithme，mydearLizzy，ifItakethisopportunityofsaying（whatIwasneverboldenoughtosaybefore）howmuchIlikehim。Hisbehaviourtoushas，ineveryrespect，beenaspleasingaswhenwewereinDerbyshire。Hisunderstandingandopinionsallpleaseme;hewantsnothingbutalittlemoreliveliness，andthat，ifhemarryprudently，hiswifemayteachhim。Ithoughthimverysly;—hehardlyevermentionedyourname。Butslynessseemsthefashion。

“PrayforgivemeifIhavebeenverypresuming，oratleastdonotpunishmesofarastoexcludemefromP。IshallneverbequitehappytillIhavebeenallroundthepark。Alowphaeton，withanicelittlepairofponies，wouldbetheverything。

“ButImustwritenomore。Thechildrenhavebeenwantingmethishalfhour。

“Yours，verysincerely，

“M。GARDINER。”