登陆注册
3553800000074

第74章

After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence,health,good humour and cheerfulness began to re-appear at Longbourn. Everything wore a happier aspect.The families who had been in town for the winter came back again,and summer finery and summer engagements arose.Mrs.Bennet was restored to her usual querulous serenity,and by the middle of June Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without tears;anevent of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope,that by the following Christmas,she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to mention an officer above once a day,unless by some cruel and malicious arrangement at the war-office,another regiment should be quartered in Meryton.

The time fixed for the beginning of their Northern tour was now fast approaching,and a fortnight only was wanting of it,when a letter arrived from Mrs. Gardiner,which at once delayed its commencement and curtailed its extent.Mr.Gardiner would be prevented by business from setting out till a fortnight later in July,and must be in London again within a month;and as that left too short a period for them to go so far,and see so much as they had proposed,or at least to see it with the leisure and comfort they had built on,they were obliged to give up the Lakes,and substitute a more contracted tour;and,according to the present plan,were to go no farther northward than Derbyshire.In that county,there was enough to be seen,to occupy the chief of their three weeks;and to Mrs.Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction.The town where she had formerly passed some years of her life,and where they were now to spend a few days,was probably as great an object of her curiosity,as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock,Chatsworth,Dovedale,or the Peak.

Elizabeth was excessively disappointed;she had set her heart on seeing the Lakes;and still thought there might have been time enough. But it was her business to be satisfied—and certainly her temper to be happy;and all was soon right again.

With the mention of Derbyshire,there were many ideas connected. It was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its owner.'But surely,'said she,'I mayenter his county with impunity,and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me.'

The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to pass away before her uncle and aunt's arrival.But they did pass away,and Mr.and Mrs.Gardiner,with their four children,did at length appear at Longbourn.The children,two girls of six and eight years old,and two younger boys,were to be left under the particular care of their cousin Jane,who was the general favourite,and whose steady sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every way—teaching them,playing with them,and loving them.

The Gardiners staid only one night at Longbourn,and set off the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One enjoyment was certain—that of suitableness as companions;a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear inconveniences—cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure—and affection and intelligence,which might supply it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad.

It is not the object of this work to give a deion of Derbyshire,nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay;Oxford,Blenheim,Warwick,Kenelworth,Birmingham,&c. are sufficiently known.A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern.To the little town of Lambton,the scene of Mrs.Gardiner's former residence,and where she had lately learned that some acquaintance still remained,they bent their steps,after having seen all the principal wonders of the country;and within five miles of Lambton,Elizabeth found from her aunt,that Pemberley was situated.It was not in their direct road,nor more than a mile or two out of it.In talking over their route the evening before,Mrs.Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again.Mr.Gardiner declared his willingness,and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.

'My love,should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so much?'said her aunt.'A place too,with which so many of your acquaintance are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there,you know.'

Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at Pemberley,and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it.She must own that she was tired of great houses;after going over so many,she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.

Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity.'If it were merely a fine house richly furnished,'said she,'I should not care about it myself;but the grounds are delightful.They have some of the finest woods in the country.'

Elizabeth said no more—but her mind could not acquiesce. The possibility of meeting Mr.Darcy,while viewing the place,instantly occurred.It would be dreadful!She blushed at the very idea;and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt,than to run such a risk.But against this,there were objections;and she finally resolved that it could be the last resource,if her private enquiries as to the absence of the family,were unfavourably answered.

Accordingly,when she retired at night,she asked the chambermaid whether Pemberley were not a very fine place,what was the name of its proprietor,and with no little alarm,whether the family were down for the summer. A most welcome negative followed the last question—and her alarms being now removed,she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house herself;and when the subject was revived the next morning,and she was again applied to,could readily answer,and with a proper air of indifference,that she had not really any dislike to the scheme.

To Pemberley,therefore,they were to go.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 其实我们一直活在春秋战国5

    其实我们一直活在春秋战国5

    公元前770年到公元前221年,在这段被后人称之为春秋战国的550年间,那些空前绝后的伟大人物和传世经典井喷似的涌现:孔子述《论语》、孟子写《孟子》、老子写《道德经》、墨子写《墨子》、孙子写《孙子兵法》、鬼谷子写《鬼谷子》、韩非写《韩非子》……百家争鸣奠定了中华文明的基石,四书五经铸造了后世中国人的价值观,春秋五霸开创了谋略计策的典范,战国七雄构建了现今中国版图的框架。
  • 戴明贤集(第八卷):子午山孩

    戴明贤集(第八卷):子午山孩

    《子午山孩》为《戴明贤集》第八卷,系戴老贵州系列作品之一。子午山是清末黔地诗人郑珍家乡之山,子午山孩则寄寓着其对慈母的孺慕之情。《子午山孩》以郑珍之诗为载体,以诗人生平编年为序,释诗与传人有机融合,集编年、纪事、译述、注解与评议为一体,立体地呈现这位寂寞百年的诗人的诗意世界。贵州地处西南边陲,交通闭塞,鲜得中原文化之青眼。晚清之际,遵义沙滩村出现了以郑珍、莫友芝、黎庶昌为代表的文化精英群体。
  • 十二星宫

    十二星宫

    神话时代!诸神降临人类,统治和奴役人类,在压迫和反抗中人类诞生了十二位绝世强者,身穿黄金战衣,带领人类经过数万年的战斗,成为大陆的主宰,但是为了防止诸神再度降临人类大陆,这十二位强者分别坐守大陆十二处,建立传承,成立十二星宫!至万年以后,十二座星宫!成为天下战士的朝拜圣地!这十二座星宫分别为:分别为白羊星宫、金牛星宫、双子星宫、巨蟹星宫、狮子星宫、处女星宫、天秤星宫、天蝎星宫、人马星宫、摩羯星宫、水瓶星宫和双鱼星宫。
  • 男朋友又双叒叕精分了

    男朋友又双叒叕精分了

    “我粗鲁好色犯花痴,睡觉磨牙还打呼,身材平板不好生养,别人都说咱俩不般配。所以……”她战战兢兢地送上一纸离婚协议。“般不般配,由我说了算。”高大俊美的宠妻狂魔表情莫测地欺近,七种人格轮番上场,“咱们来试试,看你究竟是不是真的不好生养。”“七个老公”来争宠,消受不起消受不起!她悔不当初,欲哭无泪:“庄先生,人格分裂是种病,得治。”【1V1高甜无虐】
  • 剑气纵横

    剑气纵横

    废物赵行天经历爱人背叛以后机缘巧合获得九宫玄月塔!随之而来的是一连串意想不到的危险和机遇!定五行,转轮回!从此踏上天下大道,攀上剑客巅峰!
  • 股往金来:轻松玩转股票的17堂公开课

    股往金来:轻松玩转股票的17堂公开课

    如果你初入股市,还没赚到任何利润——那么,不要急,只有通过实践和研究,你才能学会如何交易。不要持续交易低价股票,高价股票快速获利的几率更大。补仓之前,先清理你手头的股票。如果你在股市上一直很“倒霉”,那么你最好先离开一阵,考虑一下是什么原因造成了你的损失。不要用别人的钱进行交易。不要轻信任何看上去似乎“胜券在握”的交易。
  • 祖乐阿拉达尔罕传:蒙古族民间英雄史诗(中华大国学经典文库)

    祖乐阿拉达尔罕传:蒙古族民间英雄史诗(中华大国学经典文库)

    《祖乐阿拉达尔罕传》是蒙古族卫拉特部一部优秀中篇史诗,叙述的是两个主要英雄人物波日罕和芒乃一出生便肩负起反对侵略,保卫部族的重任。在蟒古斯因野心发动扩张掠夺的战争中,他们一直以征讨邪恶、维护部族生存权益为宗旨,凭借“智、勇、力”同代表着社会邪恶势力兼破坏性自然力的对手蟒古斯进行殊死搏斗。最后成功拯救百姓、收复故土,并从蟒古斯手中夺回自己爱妻。这部史诗对蒙古族氏族公社解体到阶级社会产生这一历史时期的社会经济形态、思想意识、道德观念、宗教信仰、人情风俗等都作了非常真实、生动、形象的描绘,堪称一部蒙古民族早期历史文化的“百科全书”。
  • 一千零一夜(语文新课标课外读物)

    一千零一夜(语文新课标课外读物)

    现代中、小学生不能只局限于校园和课本,应该广开视野,广长见识,广泛了解博大的世界和社会,不断增加丰富的现代社会知识和世界信息,才有所精神准备,才能迅速地长大,将来才能够自由地翱翔于世界蓝天。否则,我们将永远是妈妈怀抱中的乖宝宝,将永远是温室里面的豆芽菜,那么,我们将怎样走向社会、走向世界呢?
  • 妖王的宠姬

    妖王的宠姬

    男主:蓝穆修斯身份:妖王性情:残忍、冷血、无情、嗜血、性淫(除了长得好看好像没有任何优点)年龄:八千(高龄老妖咯)女主:今晚身份:人类性格:胆小、善良、单纯(单纯的有些白)年龄:十八(大好年华啊)当一个如花似女的小MM被送到一只千年老妖的嘴边去“吃”的时候,千年老妖是怎么把她给“生吞活剥”了呢?当一个天下间唯我独尊的妖王碰上一个白到一定程度的小女人,又会发生什么有趣的事情呢?花絮一:某晚:呜呜,不要吃我妖王:女人,你哭的本王很烦某晚:你、请你不要吃我,我就不哭了妖王:本王讨厌有人讨价还价某晚:我的肉不好吃,人肉不好吃妖王:……(这个蠢女人到底知不知道什么是把她“吃”了)某晚:求求你,我会烧饭,我去给你烧东西吃,不要吃我妖王:女人,本王今天一定要把她生吞了某晚:啊…于是某个夜黑风高的夜晚,某个白白的小女人被某腹黑强大的妖王给生吞了,连骨头都不剩。花絮二:妖王:女人,给本王把换洗的衣服拿过来某晚:要衣服自己拿妖王:你是本王的宠姬,必须要听本王的话某晚:你现在是个小毛孩,不是妖王,要叫我姐姐妖王:……(身体受人陷害变小,这个女人竟敢不把他放在眼里!)某晚:啊,你怎么不穿衣服妖王:今晚你死定了某晚:救命啊…妖王(该死的,他一定要尽快恢复过来)于是某个黄昏日落时间,某个说错一句话的女人被某缩小的妖王给狠狠地“教训”了一顿。◆麒麟◇妖王座下第一神兽【由亲亲大大huangqiqi12领养】◆艾斯菲尔◇温和儒雅的妖国二王子【由亲亲上官羽曼领养】◆赤炎◇强悍的玄界尊主【由亲亲total佐藤】◆今晚◇单纯善良的女主【由亲亲御行风领养】◆蓝穆修斯◇残暴妖媚的妖界之王【由亲亲幽蓖领养】花絮与正文不尽然相同,请看文的大大们正文中看到不要质疑,谢谢!欲知腹黑强大的妖王和胆小单纯的今晚PK详情,尽情关注《妖王的宠姬》!简介小白,内容不小白;小宠+小虐,不喜欢此类文的大大们请勿人身攻击,谢绝拍砖!推荐好友文文:随云飘舞《堕一落》樱落《妖王的宠姬》烈焰如歌《夫君不怕多》蓝色紫色《童养妃》醉舞狂歌《囚欢》筱静梦《九夜借腹》听海忆梦人《纠缠》西子情《夫君太多谁的错》
  • 大少的冷血小妻

    大少的冷血小妻

    她,从小被父母遗弃,与外婆相依为命。为了证明自己的幸福,她将自己嫁给了一个男人,让病重的外婆毫无牵挂的离世。然而,没有爱情的婚姻如何能长久?当怀疑,质疑,不信任出现,她要如何维持这桩被外婆祝福过的婚姻?她是刺猬,保护自己的同时也伤害了别人;她是栀子花,茫茫人群中,只要一眼,就能吸引住比人;她纯白典雅,却也需要被爱被守护。当她还善良的时候,同事暗害她;当她还信任的时候,情敌无孔不入;当她还相信爱情的时候,她才明白什么是剜心之疼;当她还相信亲情的时候,她被至亲之人送上死路。大难不死,卷土重来,她是亿万富商之女,却已经不是原来的她。她,是来自地狱的嗜血魔鬼,冷傲孤清,无情无爱,誓要将诸人加诸在她身上的痛苦,十倍,百倍,千倍奉还!