Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 55 (1)
"I've been thinking about it again, Elizabeth," said her uncle, on the way out of London, "and indeed, on serious consideration, I think your sister's judgment is justified. Call me See, no young man dares to think ill of a girl who has friends and family to protect her, especially if she just stays with his colonel's house, so I'm willing to think the best. Isn't he afraid of her friends? Come to the rescue? Is it possible for him, after thus offending his superior, Colonel Forster, to return to the army? Lydia's temptation to him is not worth the risk." "You really think so." Is it?" Elizabeth said excitedly, and there was a moment of joy on her face.

"To tell the truth," said Mrs. Gardiner, "I'm beginning to think as your uncle did. Would he have done it with such indiscretion, and lost all his honor and interest? I don't think Wickham is so bad. Lizzy, do you yourself have completely despaired of him and believe that he would do such a thing?"

"For his own sake, he probably won't. Besides, I don't think he cares at all. If it's what you say: I don't dare to expect it. If it's true, Why didn't they go to Scotland?"

"In the first place," replied Mr. Gardiner, "there is no conclusive evidence that they did not go to Scotland."

"Oh! But they have given away their old carriages and replaced them with hired ones. It is obviously well-intentioned! Besides, there is no trace of them on the road to Banat."

"Well, then--let's say they went to London. They probably went there just to hide for a while, not for any other purpose. Neither of them could have a lot of money; perhaps they would feel that in London It is less expensive to marry than to go to Scotland, though less convenient."

"But why all this secrecy? Why the fear of being found out? Why should they marry secretly? Oh! No, no, it's impossible. Even his best, Jane wrote. None of his friends believed he would marry Lydia. Wickham would never marry a woman without money, he couldn't. Lydia had no money, no allures (except her youth, health and vivacious disposition) would cause him to throw away all his chances of marrying and becoming rich for it? As for whether he feared that this dishonorable elopement would disgrace himself in the army, he would make his behavior Hold back a little, and then I cannot judge, for I do not know how much effect his step will have. As for your other reasons, I fear they are hardly tenable. Lydia has no brother to back her; and From my father's usual behavior, from his permissive and indifferent attitude to all that happened in the family, Wickham may think that my father in this matter is like some people. As a father, he will not want to take care of it or think about it."

"But do you think Lydia would agree to live with him without marrying, just because she loved him?"

"It seems, and is, astonishing," replied Elizabeth, with tears in her eyes, "that a man should doubt his sister's morality and chastity on such a point. But I do not know how to express it." Well. Maybe my opinion of her is one-sided. But she is too young; and no one has ever told her how to think about these important issues; in the past six months, no, in the past year, she has been blindly addicted Pleasure and vanity. She was indulged in the dullest and superficial life of the family, and at the beck and call of others. Ever since the regiments were stationed at Meryton, flirting with the officers had been on her mind. She always It was thinking and talking about flirting with officers that made her feelings—how shall I put it—all the more susceptible to temptation; she was naturally amorous enough. And we all know, Wickham With a dignified appearance and a fine speech that can captivate a woman, his charm is hard to resist."

"But you can see," said her aunt, "that Jane doesn't think Wickham is so bad as to do such things."

"Who did Jane ever think was wrong? How often did Jane believe, no matter what the man's previous conduct, before a thing had been proved? But Jane knew as well as I did." Wickham for what he really is. We both know the licentiousness of his conduct. He is dishonest and unscrupulous, he is false and flattering."

"Do you really know all this?" asked Mrs. Gardiner aloud, evidently curious as to how she had obtained this information.

"I do understand," replied Elizabeth, blushing, "that I have told you that day of his disgraceful conduct towards Mr. Darcy; and heard with his own ears what he said of Mr. Darcy, who was so magnanimous and generous to him. There are other things which I cannot now disclose—nor are worth mentioning; but how many rumors he has given to the Pemberleys There are too many to list. From his description of Miss Darcy, I should see a proud, reserved, annoying girl. However, he himself knows the opposite. Of course he knows that she is amiable, not Unpretentious, as we have seen."

"Didn't Lydia know this? Could it be that she didn't know anything about what you and Jane knew so well?" I learned the truth from frequent meetings with Mr. Darcy and his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam. By the time I returned home from Kent, the Meryton militia were ready to march in a week or two. , Jane (I had told her) and I felt it unnecessary to speak of him any longer; for what was the need to offend the goodwill of the neighbors for no reason? Nor did it ever occur to me, when I went away with Wickham, that it was necessary to make Lydia aware of Wickham's true nature. It never occurred to me that she should be deceived. You may believe , I never expected such a consequence.”

"Then I don't think you thought they were on good terms at all when they went to Brighton together."

"Not at all. I can't recall any symptom of an affection between the parties; and if there was such a thing, you know it's not easy to let go in a family like ours. When Will Lydia had admired Cobham when he first came to the Army; Lydia was infatuated with him, but Lydia was never particularly favored by him, and then, after a short spell of bewitching love, her affection for him gradually faded, and those who courted her The other officers in the army became her favourites."

We can easily imagine that during the journey of the past few days, although the three of them discussed this matter over and over again, they could not add any novelty to their current worries, hopes and speculations, but no matter what was involved. What other topic, they will talk about this matter again soon.It was always haunting Elizabeth's mind; it made her feel a deep pain, a feeling of self-reproach, and it never gave her a single moment of ease or relief along the way.

They hurried on the road day and night, and finally reached Longbourn at noon the next day.Elizabeth was relieved to think that Jane would no longer have to worry about looking forward to them all day.

When they came into the paddock, Uncle Gardiner's children saw it and stood up on the front steps of the house; when the car stopped in front of the door, their faces showed surprise and joy Jumping and jumping, this is the warm and cheerful welcome they received when the three of them just came back.

Elizabeth jumped down from her carriage, kissed each of the younger cousins ​​hastily, and hurried into the porch, just as Jane was coming downstairs from her mother's room, and there they met.

Elizabeth hugged her sister tightly, and both had tears in their eyes, while Elizabeth did not delay for a moment to ask for news of the two missing persons.

"I haven't heard anything yet," replied Jane; "but now that my dear uncle is back, I think everything will be all right."

"Is father still in town?"

"Yes, I wrote you that he left on Tuesday.'

"Do you often get letters from your father?"

"We only received one. He wrote me a few short sentences on Wednesday, saying that he had arrived safely and giving me his address, which I specifically asked him to do before he left. Yes. Besides, he just said, wait until you have important clues.”

"Where's the mother—how is she? How's the family?"

"Mother's doing well. I think; though she's not a little disturbed mentally. She's upstairs, and she'll be glad to see you. She's still in her dressing-room. Mary and Kitty. Well, thank God, they're all fine."

"But you—how are you?" asked Elizabeth anxiously. "You are very pale, and what pain you have suffered!"

Her sister, however, told her that she was in good spirits and in good health; and, while the Gardiners were making out with their children, so few words had been said between the sisters, that when they all came in, Jane Walking up to my uncle and aunt, I greeted and thanked them both with tears and smiles.

After everyone came to the living room, the question Elizabeth asked was naturally brought up again by the uncle and aunt, and they soon found that Jane had no news to tell them.The wish for a happy ending that lived in Jane's generous heart had not yet left her.She was still hoping for a happy ending, and she felt that every morning there might be a letter from Lydia or from her father explaining how things were going, and perhaps some happy news of a marriage. .

After talking in this way for a few minutes, they all went to Mrs. Bennet's room, and Mrs. Bennet received them as might be expected; she sighed with tears and remorse, She angrily scolded Wickham for his despicable behavior, and also complained for her own suffering and grievances; she blamed everyone, except herself who allowed her daughter to make this big mistake.

(End of this chapter)