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第139章（第1页）

Duringtheirwalk，itwasresolvedthatMr。Bennetsconsentshouldbeaskedinthecourseoftheevening。Elizabethreservedtoherselftheapplicationforhermothers。Shecouldnotdeterminehowhermotherwouldtakeit;sometimesdoubtingwhetherallhiswealthandgrandeurwouldbeenoughtoovercomeherabhorrenceoftheman。Butwhethershewereviolentlysetagainstthematch，orviolentlydelightedwithit，itwascertainthathermannerwouldbeequallyilladaptedtodocredittohersense;andshecouldnomorebearthatMr。Darcyshouldhearthefirstrapturesofherjoy，thanthefirstvehemenceofherdisapprobation。

Intheevening，soonafterMr。Bennetwithdrewtothelibrary，shesawMr。Darcyrisealsoandfollowhim，andheragitationonseeingitwasextreme。Shedidnotfearherfathersopposition，buthewasgoingtobemadeunhappy;andthatitshouldbethroughhermeans—thatshe，hisfavouritechild，shouldbedistressinghimbyherchoice，shouldbefillinghimwithfearsandregretsindisposingofher—wasawretchedreflection，andshesatinmiserytillMr。Darcyappearedagain，when，lookingathim，shewasalittlerelievedbyhissmile。InafewminutesheapproachedthetablewhereshewassittingwithKitty;and，whilepretendingtoadmireherwork，saidinawhisper，“Gotoyourfather，hewantsyouinthelibrary。”Shewasgonedirectly。

Herfatherwaswalkingabouttheroom，lookinggraveandanxious。“Lizzy，”saidhe，“whatareyoudoing?Areyououtofyoursenses，tobeacceptingthisman?Havenotyoualwayshatedhim?”

Howearnestlydidshethenwishthatherformeropinionshadbeenmorereasonable，herexpressionsmoremoderate!Itwouldhavesparedherfromexplanationsandprofessionswhichitwasexceedinglyawkwardtogive;buttheywerenownecessary，andsheassuredhim，withsomeconfusion，ofherattachmenttoMr。Darcy。

“Or，inotherwords，youaredeterminedtohavehim。Heisrich，tobesure，andyoumayhavemorefineclothesandfinecarriagesthanJane。Butwilltheymakeyouhappy?”

“Haveyouanyotherobjection，”saidElizabeth，“thanyourbeliefofmyindifference?”

“Noneatall。Weallknowhimtobeaproud，unpleasantsortofman;butthiswouldbenothingifyoureallylikedhim。”

“Ido，Idolikehim，”shereplied，withtearsinhereyes，“Ilovehim。Indeedhehasnoimproperpride。Heisperfectlyamiable。Youdonotknowwhathereallyis;thenpraydonotpainmebyspeakingofhiminsuchterms。”

“Lizzy，”saidherfather，“Ihavegivenhimmyconsent。Heisthekindofman，indeed，towhomIshouldneverdarerefuseanything，whichhecondescendedtoask。Inowgiveittoyou，ifyouareresolvedonhavinghim。Butletmeadviseyoutothinkbetterofit。Iknowyourdisposition，Lizzy。Iknowthatyoucouldbeneitherhappynorrespectable，unlessyoutrulyesteemedyourhusband;unlessyoulookeduptohimasasuperior。Yourlivelytalentswouldplaceyouinthegreatestdangerinanunequalmarriage。Youcouldscarcelyescapediscreditandmisery。Mychild，letmenothavethegriefofseeingyouunabletorespectyourpartnerinlife。Youknownotwhatyouareabout。”

Elizabeth，stillmoreaffected，wasearnestandsolemninherreply;andatlength，byrepeatedassurancesthatMr。Darcywasreallytheobjectofherchoice，byexplainingthegradualchangewhichherestimationofhimhadundergone，relatingherabsolutecertaintythathisaffectionwasnottheworkofaday，buthadstoodthetestofmanymonthssuspense，andenumeratingwithenergyallhisgoodqualities，shedidconquerherfathersincredulity，andreconcilehimtothematch。