，最快更新傲慢与偏见最新章节！Two days after mr.Be's return,as Jane and Elizabeth were walking togetherthe shrubbery behind the house,they saw the housekeeper ing towards them, and, concluding that she camecall themtheir mother, went forwardmeet her; but, insteadthe expected summons, when they approached her, she saidmiss Be,“I beg your pardon,madam,for interrupting you, but I washopes you might have got some good news from town,so I took the libertyingask.”
“whatyou mean,Hill?we have heard nothing from town.”
“dear madam,”crie,great astonishment,“don't you know therean express e for master from mr.Gardiner?has been here this half-hour,and master has haetter.”
Away ran the girls,too eagergetto have timeran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; from thencethe library;their father wasneither;and they werethe pointseeking him upstairs with their mother,when they were metthe butler,who said:
“If you are looking formaster,ma'am,hewalking towards the little copse.”
Upon this information,they instantly passed through the hall once more, and ran across the lawn after their father, who was deliberately pursuing his way towardmall woodone sidethe paddock.
Jane,who was notlight normuchthe habitrunningElizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for breath,camewith him,and eagerly cried out:
“oh, papa, what news—what news? Have you heard fromuncle?”
“Yes I have haetter from himexpress.”
“well,and what news doesbring—goodbad?”
“whattheregoodbe expected?”said he, taking the letter from his pocket.“But perhaps you would likeread it.”
Elizabeth impatiently caughtfromnow came up.“Readaloud,”said their father,“for I hardly know myself whatis about.”
Gracechurch Street,monday,August 2.
“my dear Brother,
“At last Iablesend you some tidingsmy niece, and such as,upon the whole,I hopewill giveafter you lefton Saturday,I was fortunate enoughfind outwhat partLondon the particulars I reserve tillmeet;itenoughknow theyseen them both—”
“ThenisI always hoped,”cried Jane;“they are married!”
Elizabeth read on:
“I have seen the are not married,nor can I find there was any intentionbeing so; butyou are willingperform the engagements which I have venturedmakeyour side,I hopewill notlong before the thatrequiredyou is,to assureyour daughter,by settlement,her equal sharethe five thousand pounds secured among your children after the deceaseyourself andsister;and,moreover,to enter intoengagementallowing her,during your life,one hundred poundsare conditions which,considering everything, I hadhesitationplying with,as farI thought myself privileged,send thisexpress, thattime maylostbringingyou will easily prehend, from these particulars, that mr. wickham's circumstances are nothopelessthey are generally world has been deceivedthat respect;and Ihappysay there willsome little money,even when all his debts are discharged,to settlemy niece,in additionher ow,as I conclude willthe case,you sendfull powersactyour name throughout the wholethis business,I will immediately give directionsHaggerston for preparinrope will notthe smallest occasion for your ingtown again;therefore stay quietLongbourn,and dependmy diligenceback your answerfastyou can, andcarefulwrit have judgedbest thatniece shouldmarried from this house,which I hope you wil esu write againsoonanything moredetermined on.Yours,etc.,
“Edw.GARdINER.”
“Ispossible?”cried Elizabeth,when she had finished.“Canbe possible thatwill marry her?”
“wickhamnotundeserving,then,asthought him,”said her sister.“my dear father,I congratulate you.”
“And have you answered the letter?”cried Elizabeth.
“No;butmustdone soon.”
most earnestly did she then entreaty himlosemore time beforewrote.
“oh!my dear father,”she cried,“e back and writ how important every momentin sucase.”
“Letwrite for you,”said Jane,“if you dislike the trouble yourself.”
“I dislikevery much,”he replied;“butmustdone.”
Andsaying,he turned back with them,and walked towards the house.
“And may I ask—”said Elizabeth;“but the terms, I suppose, mustplied with.”
plied with!Ionly ashamedhis askinglittle.”
“And they must marry!Yetis sucan!”
“Yes,yes,they musnothing elseb there are two things that I want very muchknow;one is,how much money your uncle has laid downbringabout;and the other,howI everpay him.”
“money!my uncle!”cried Jane,“whatyou mean,sir?”
“I mean,thatmanhis proper senses would marry Lydiaso slighemptationone hundreear duringlife,and fifty after Igone.”
“Thatvery true,”said Elizabeth;“thoughhad not occurredm debtsbe discharged,and something stillremain!oh!it mustmy uncle's doings!Generous,good man,Iafraidhas distresse sum could notall this.”
“No,”said her father;“wickham'oolhe takes her witarthing less than ten thousansorrythinkillhim,in the very beginningour relationship.”
“Ten thousand pounds!Heaven forbid!Howhalf sucumbe repaid?”