c6-第2章
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Mr。 Gardiner added； in his letter； that they might expect to see their father at home on the following day； which was Saturday。 Rendered spiritless by the ill…success of all their endeavours； he had yielded to his brother…in…law's intreaty that he would return to his family； and leave it to him to do whatever occasion might suggest to be advisable for continuing their pursuit。 When Mrs。 Bennet was told of this； she did not express so much satisfaction as her children expected； considering what her anxiety for his life had been before。
‘‘What； is he coming home； and without poor Lydia！'' she cried。 ‘‘Sure he will not leave London before he has found them。 Who is to fight Wickham； and make him marry her； if he comes away？''
As Mrs。 Gardiner began to wish to be at home； it was settled that she and her children should go to London at the same time that Mr。 Bennet came from it。 The coach； therefore； took them the first stage of their journey； and brought its master back to Longbourn。
Mrs。 Gardiner went away in all the perplexity about Elizabeth and her Derbyshire friend that had attended her from that part of the world。 His name had never been voluntarily mentioned before them by her niece； and the kind of half…expectation which Mrs。 Gardiner had formed； of their being followed by a letter from him； had ended in nothing。 Elizabeth had received none since her return； that could come from Pemberley。
The present unhappy state of the family； rendered any other excuse for the lowness of her spirits unnecessary； nothing； therefore； could be fairly conjectured from that； though Elizabeth； who was by this time tolerably well acquainted with her own feelings； was perfectly aware that； had she known nothing of Darcy； she could have borne the dread of Lydia's infamy somewhat better。 It would have spared her； she thought； one sleepless night out of two。
When Mr。 Bennet arrived； he had all the appearance of his usual philosophic composure。 He said as little as he had ever been in the habit of saying； made no mention of the business that had taken him away； and it was some time before his daughters had courage to speak of it。
It was not till the afternoon； when he joined them at tea； that Elizabeth ventured to introduce the subject； and then； on her briefly expressing her sorrow for what he must have endured； he replied； ‘‘Say nothing of that。 Who would suffer but myself？ It has been my own doing； and I ought to feel it。''
‘‘You must not be too severe upon yourself；'' replied Elizabeth。
‘‘You may well warn me against such an evil。 Human nature is so prone to fall into it！ No； Lizzy； let me once in my life feel how much I have been to blame。 I am not afraid of being overpowered by the impression。 It will pass away soon enough。''
‘‘Do you suppose them to be in London？''
‘‘Yes； where else can they be so well concealed？''
‘‘And Lydia used to want to go to London；'' added Kitty。
‘‘She is happy； then；'' said her father； drily； ‘‘and her residence there will probably be of some duration。''
Then； after a short silence； he continued； ‘‘Lizzy； I bear you no ill…will for being justified in your advice to me last May； which； considering the event； shews some greatness of mind。''
They were interrupted by Miss Bennet； who came to fetch her mother's tea。
‘‘This is a parade；'' cried he； ‘‘which does one good； it gives such an elegance to misfortune！ Another day I will do the same； I will sit in my library； in my night cap and powdering gown； and give as much trouble as I can； or； perhaps； I may defer it till Kitty runs away。''
‘‘I am not going to run away； Papa；'' said Kitty； fretfully； ‘‘if I should ever go to Brighton； I would behave better than Lydia。''
‘‘You go to Brighton！ I would not trust you so near it as East…Bourne； for fifty pounds！ No； Kitty； I have at last learnt to be cautious； and you will feel the effects of it。 No officer is ever to enter my house again； nor even to pass through the village。 Balls will be absolutely prohibited； unless you stand up with one of your sisters。 And you are never to stir out of doors till you can prove that you have spent ten minutes of every day in a rational manner。''
Kitty； who took all these threats in a serious light； began to cry。
‘‘Well； well；'' said he； ‘‘do not make yourself unhappy。 If you are a good girl for the next ten years； I will take you to a review at the end of them。''第二天早上，大家都指望班纳特先生会寄信来，可是等到邮差来了，却没有带来他的片 纸只字。家里人本来知道他一向懒得写信，能够拖延总是拖延；但是在这样的时候，她们都 希望他能够勉为其难一些。既是没有信来，她们只得认为他没有什么愉快的消息可以报道， 即使如此，她们也希望把事情弄个清楚明白。嘉丁纳先生也希望在动身以前能够看到几封 信。
嘉丁纳先生去了以后，大家都认为，今后至少可以经常听到一些事情进行的经过情形。 他临走的时候，答应一定去劝告班纳特先生尽可能马上回来。她们的母亲听了这些话，很是 安慰，她认为只有这样，才能保证她丈夫不会在决斗中被人打死。
嘉丁纳太太和她的孩子们还要在哈福德郡多待几天，因为她觉得，待在这里可以让外甥 女们多一个帮手。她可以帮她们等候班纳特太太，等她们空下来的时候，又大可以安慰安慰 她们。姨妈也常常来看她们，而且据她自己说，她来的目的是为了让她们高兴高兴，给她们 打打气，不过，她没有哪一次来不谈到韦翰的奢侈淫佚，每次都可以举出新的事例。她每次 走了以后，总是叫她们比她没有来以前更加意气消沉。
三个月以前，差不多整个麦里屯的人们都把这个男人捧到天上；三个月以后，整个麦里 屯的人都说他的坏话。他们说，他在当地每一个商人那里都欠下了一笔债；又给他加上了诱 骗妇女的的头衔，又说每个商人家里都受过他的糟蹋。每个人都说他是天下最坏的青年；每 个人都开始发觉自己一向就不信任他那伪善的面貌。伊丽莎白虽然对这些话只是半信半疑， 不过她早就认为妹妹会毁在他手里，这一来当然更是深信无疑。吉英本来连半信半疑也谈不 上，这一来也几乎感到失望──因为时间已经过了这么久，如果他们两人真到苏格兰去了， 现在也应该有消息了，这样一想，纵使她从来没有觉得完全失望，现在当然也难免要感到失 望。
嘉丁纳先生是星期日离开浪搏恩的。星期二他太太接到他一封信。信上说，他一到那里 就找到了姐夫，把他劝到天恩寺街去。又说，他没有到达伦敦以前，班纳特先生曾到艾普桑 和克拉普汗去过，可惜没有打听到一点儿满意的消息；又说他决定到城里各大旅馆去打听一 下，因为班纳特先生认为，韦翰和丽迪雅一到伦敦，可能先住旅馆，然后再慢慢寻找房子。 嘉丁纳先生本人并没有指望这种办法会获得什么成绩；既是姐夫非要那样做不可，也只有帮 助他着手进行。信上还说，班纳特先生暂时根本不想离开伦敦，他答应不久就会再写一封信 来。这封信上还有这样的一段附言：
我已经写信给弗斯脱上校，请他尽可能在民兵团里把那个年轻小伙子的要好朋友找几个 来打听一下，韦翰有没有什么亲友知道他躲藏在这个城里的哪一个区域。要是我们有这样的 人可以请教，得到一些线索，那是大有用处的。目前我们还是无从捉摸。也许弗斯上校会尽 量把这件事做得使我们满意。但倡我又想了一下，觉得丽萃也许比任何人都了解情况。会知 道他现在还有些什么亲戚。
伊丽莎白究竟为什么会受到这样的推崇，她自己完全知道，只可惜她提供不出什么令人 满意的材料，所以也就受不起这样的恭维。
她除了听到韦翰谈起过他自己的父母以外，从来不曾听到他有什么亲友，况且他父母也 都去世多年。某某郡民兵团里他的一些朋友们，可能提供得出一些材料，她虽说并不能对此 存着过分的奢望，但究竟不妨试一试。
浪搏恩一家人每天都过得非常心焦，最焦急的时间莫过于等待邮差送信来。不管信上报 道的是好消息还是坏消息，总是要讲给大家听，还盼望着第二天会有重要的消息传来。
嘉丁纳先生虽然还没有给她们寄来第二封信，可是她们却收到了别的地方寄来的一封 信，原来是柯林斯先生寄来了一封信给她们的父亲。吉英事前曾受到父亲的嘱托，代他拆阅 一切信件，于是她便来拜读这一封信。伊丽莎白也知道柯林斯先生的信总是写得奇奇怪怪， 便也挨在吉英身旁一同拜读。信是这样写的：长者先生赐鉴：
昨接哈福德郡来信，借悉先生目前正什心烦虑乱，不胜苦悲。不佞与拙荆闻之，无论对 先生个人或尊府老幼，均深表同情。以不佞之名份职位而言，自当聊申悼惜之意，何况与尊 府为葭莩，益觉责无旁贷。夫癸诸情理，此次不幸事件自难免令人痛心疾首，盖家声一经败 坏，便永无清洗之日，伤天下父母之心，孰有甚于此者？早知如此，但冀其早日夭亡为幸 耳。不佞只有曲尽言辞，备加慰问，庶几可以聊宽尊怀。据内人夏绿蒂言，令媛此次淫奔， 实系由于平日过分溺爱所致，此尤其可悲者也。唯不佞以为令媛年方及笄，竟而铸成大错， 亦足见其本身天性之恶劣；先生固不必过于引咎自责也。日前遇咖苔琳夫人及其千金小姐， 曾以此事奉告，夫人等亦与不佞夫妇不所同感。多蒙夫人与愚见不谋而合，认为令媛此次失 足，辱没家声，遂使后之攀亲者望而却步，殃及其姐氏终生幸福，堪虑堪虑。瓴念言及此， 不禁忆及去年十一月间一事，则又深为庆幸，否则木已成舟，势必自取其辱，
