THEIR sister's wedding day arrived; and Jane and Elizabeth felt for her probably more than she felt for herself. The carriage was sent to meet them at ----, and they were to return in it by dinner-time. Their arrival was dreaded by the elder Miss Bennets, and Jane more especially, who gave Lydia the feelings which would have attended herself, had she been the culprit, and was wretched in the thought of what her sister must endure.
They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive them. Smiles decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to the door; her husband looked impenetrably grave; her daughters, alarmed, anxious, uneasy.
Lydia's voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrown open, and she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards, embraced her, and welcomed her with rapture; gave her hand, with an affectionate smile, to Wickham, who followed his lady; and wished them both joy with an alacrity which shewed no doubt of their happiness.
Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned, was not quite so cordial. His countenance rather gained in austerity; and he scarcely opened his lips. The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was enough to provoke him. Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet was shocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, and fearless. She turned from sister to sister, demanding their congratulations; and when at length they all sat down, looked eagerly round the room, took notice of some little alteration in it, and observed, with a laugh, that it was a great while since she had been there.
Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself, but his manners were always so pleasing, that had his character and his marriage been exactly what they ought, his smiles and his easy address, while he claimed their relationship, would have delighted them all. Elizabeth had not before believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, resolving within herself to draw no limits in future to the impudence of an impudent man. She blushed, and Jane blushed; but the cheeks of the two who caused their confusion suffered no variation of colour.
There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother could neither of them talk fast enough; and Wickham, who happened to sit near Elizabeth, began enquiring after his acquaintance in that neighbourhood, with a good humoured ease which she felt very unable to equal in her replies. They seemed each of them to have the happiest memories in the world. Nothing of the past was recollected with pain; and Lydia led voluntarily to subjects which her sisters would not have alluded to for the world.
"Only think of its being three months," she cried, "since I went away; it seems but a fortnight I declare; and yet there have been things enough happened in the time. Good gracious! when I went away, I am sure I had no more idea of being married till I came back again! though I thought it would be very good fun if I was."
Her father lifted up his eyes. Jane was distressed. Elizabeth looked expressively at Lydia; but she, who never heard nor saw any thing of which she chose to be insensible, gaily continued, "Oh! mamma, do the people here abouts know I am married to-day? I was afraid they might not; and we overtook William Goulding in his curricle, so I was determined he should know it, and so I let down the side-glass next to him, and took off my glove, and let my hand just rest upon the window frame, so that he might see the ring, and then I bowed and smiled like any thing."
Elizabeth could bear it no longer. She got up, and ran out of the room; and returned no more, till she heard them passing through the hall to the dining parlour. She then joined them soon enough to see Lydia, with anxious parade, walk up to her mother's right hand, and hear her say to her eldest sister, "Ah! Jane, I take your place now, and you must go lower, because I am a married woman."
It was not to be supposed that time would give Lydia that embarrassment from which she had been so wholly free at first. Her ease and good spirits increased. She longed to see Mrs. Phillips, the Lucases, and all their other neighbours, and to hear herself called "Mrs. Wickham" by each of them; and in the mean time, she went after dinner to shew her ring, and boast of being married, to Mrs. Hill and the two housemaids.
"Well, mamma," said she, when they were all returned to the breakfast room, "and what do you think of my husband? Is not he a charming man? I am sure my sisters must all envy me. I only hope they may have half my good luck. They must all go to Brighton. That is the place to get husbands. What a pity it is, mamma, we did not all go."
"Very true; and if I had my will, we should. But my dear Lydia, I don't at all like your going such a way off. Must it be so?"
"Oh, lord! yes; -- there is nothing in that. I shall like it of all things. You and papa, and my sisters, must come down and see us. We shall be at Newcastle all the winter, and I dare say there will be some balls, and I will take care to get good partners for them all."
"I should like it beyond any thing!" said her mother.
"And then when you go away, you may leave one or two of my sisters behind you; and I dare say I shall get husbands for them before the winter is over."
"I thank you for my share of the favour," said Elizabeth; "but I do not particularly like your way of getting husbands."
Their visitors were not to remain above ten days with them. Mr. Wickham had received his commission before he left London, and he was to join his regiment at the end of a fortnight.
No one but Mrs. Bennet regretted that their stay would be so short; and she made the most of the time by visiting about with her daughter, and having very frequent parties at home. These parties were acceptable to all; to avoid a family circle was even more desirable to such as did think, than such as did not.
Wickham's affection for Lydia was just what Elizabeth had expected to find it; not equal to Lydia's for him. She had scarcely needed her present observation to be satisfied, from the reason of things, that their elopement had been brought on by the strength of her love, rather than by his; and she would have wondered why, without violently caring for her, he chose to elope with her at all, had she not felt certain that his flight was rendered necessary by distress of circumstances; and if that were the case, he was not the young man to resist an opportunity of having a companion.
Lydia was exceedingly fond of him. He was her dear Wickham on every occasion; no one was to be put in competition with him. He did every thing best in the world; and she was sure he would kill more birds on the first of September, than any body else in the country.
One morning, soon after their arrival, as she was sitting with her two elder sisters, she said to Elizabeth,
"Lizzy, I never gave you an account of my wedding, I believe. You were not by, when I told mamma and the others all about it. Are not you curious to hear how it was managed?"
"No really," replied Elizabeth; "I think there cannot be too little said on the subject."
"La! You are so strange! But I must tell you how it went off. We were married, you know, at St. Clement's, because Wickham's lodgings were in that parish. And it was settled that we should all be there by eleven o'clock. My uncle and aunt and I were to go together; and the others were to meet us at the church. Well, Monday morning came, and I was in such a fuss! I was so afraid, you know, that something would happen to put it off, and then I should have gone quite distracted. And there was my aunt, all the time I was dressing, preaching and talking away just as if she was reading a sermon. However, I did not hear above one word in ten, for I was thinking, you may suppose, of my dear Wickham. I longed to know whether he would be married in his blue coat."
"Well, and so we breakfasted at ten as usual; I thought it would never be over; for, by the bye, you are to understand, that my uncle and aunt were horrid unpleasant all the time I was with them. If you'll believe me, I did not once put my foot out of doors, though I was there a fortnight. Not one party, or scheme, or any thing. To be sure London was rather thin, but, however, the Little Theatre was open. Well, and so just as the carriage came to the door, my uncle was called away upon business to that horrid man Mr. Stone. And then, you know, when once they get together, there is no end of it. Well, I was so frightened I did not know what to do, for my uncle was to give me away; and if we were beyond the hour, we could not be married all day. But, luckily, he came back again in ten minutes' time, and then we all set out. However, I recollected afterwards that if he had been prevented going, the wedding need not be put off, for Mr. Darcy might have done as well."
"Mr. Darcy!" repeated Elizabeth, in utter amazement.
"Oh, yes! -- he was to come there with Wickham, you know, But gracious me! I quite forgot! I ought not to have said a word about it. I promised them so faithfully! What will Wickham say? It was to be such a secret!"
"If it was to be secret," said Jane, "say not another word on the subject. You may depend upon my seeking no further."
"Oh! certainly," said Elizabeth, though burning with curiosity; "we will ask you no questions."
"Thank you," said Lydia, "for if you did, I should certainly tell you all, and then Wickham would be angry."
On such encouragement to ask, Elizabeth was forced to put it out of her power, by running away.
But to live in ignorance on such a point was impossible; or at least it was impossible not to try for information. Mr. Darcy had been at her sister's wedding. It was exactly a scene, and exactly among people, where he had apparently least to do, and least temptation to go. Conjectures as to the meaning of it, rapid and wild, hurried into her brain; but she was satisfied with none. Those that best pleased her, as placing his conduct in the noblest light, seemed most improbable. She could not bear such suspense; and hastily seizing a sheet of paper, wrote a short letter to her aunt, to request an explanation of what Lydia had dropt, if it were compatible with the secrecy which had been intended.
"You may readily comprehend," she added, "what my curiosity must be to know how a person unconnected with any of us, and (comparatively speaking) a stranger to our family, should have been amongst you at such a time. Pray write instantly, and let me understand it -- unless it is, for very cogent reasons, to remain in the secrecy which Lydia seems to think necessary; and then I must endeavour to be satisfied with ignorance."
"Not that I shall, though," she added to herself, as she finished the letter; "and my dear aunt, if you do not tell me in an honourable manner, I shall certainly be reduced to tricks and stratagems to find it out."
Jane's delicate sense of honour would not allow her to speak to Elizabeth privately of what Lydia had let fall; Elizabeth was glad of it; -- till it appeared whether her inquiries would receive any satisfaction, she had rather be without a confidante.
--正文
莉迪亚的良辰吉日终于到了。简和伊丽莎白比莉迪亚自己更加心疼她。家里派了个马车到某地接她们，大约在晚饭点接他们回来。大姐二姐都害怕他们的到来，尤其是简，更是像担心自己那样担心莉迪亚，就好像是她犯了错一样，而简想到自己的妹妹以后会忍受怎样的生活，更加害怕。
他们到了。一家人都聚在客厅里接待他们。马车走到门口时，本内特太太脸上露出了笑容。而她的丈夫则是无法掩饰的悲痛。闺女们则是既紧张，又焦虑，还有些担心。
在客厅前就听到了莉迪亚的声音，门被猛地推开，然后她冲到了客厅里来。她的母亲走上前去拥抱了她，然后激动地欢迎着她。然后则是给跟在莉迪亚后面的维克汉姆慈祥的笑容，握了下他的手。然后欣然地祝愿他们幸福，没有一丝怀疑的样子。
然后维克汉姆和莉迪亚就转向本内特老爷，但是本内特老爷就没有热情地欢迎他们。他摆着一张苦脸，几乎没有开口说话。这对年轻人的轻易结合，确实能让他勃然大怒。伊丽莎白觉得很恶心，甚至本内特小姐都很震惊。莉迪亚还是那个老样子，不懂规矩，也不害臊，又野又吵，而且也不知敬畏。她从这个姐妹身边跑到那个姐妹身边，要求他们祝福自己。而当最终坐下的时候，她又神情焦急地看了下四周，看到了屋里有些许改动，然后又笑了起来，发现自己已经很久没有回来了。
维克汉姆跟莉迪亚差不多，一点也不紧张，但是他的举止还是让人愉悦，要是他的性格不那么坏，这桩婚事也是正常发生的话。那么当他宣布关系的时候，他那该死的笑容和随和的交谈会让一家子都很开心。伊丽莎白之前也没相信过他能做到这些承诺。但是她坐下后，还是觉得对于这样一个鲁莽的男人，未来做出什么鲁莽的事情是没有下限的。她脸红了，简也脸红了。但是让别人脸红的那两个当事人，却跟没事人一样。
这一天不缺话题。新娘子和她老娘话没法说得在看了。而维克汉姆刚好坐在伊丽莎白旁边，然后就开始问他之前在村子里的老相识，语气十分轻松，跟没事人似的，而伊丽莎白则无法做到同等地回应。他们两个人似乎都有着世间最美的回忆。他们没有回忆过去的一点点痛苦。而莉迪亚则主动提起了姐姐们无论如何不会提起的话题。（翻译官：这个没脑子的女人。。）
“你们想象我走了三个月，”她大叫着说，“但是感觉只有两个星期。但是这段时间里发生了很多事情。老天爷！我走的时候，我根本就没有结婚的念头，一直到这次又回来。但是我觉得当时有这种念头的话，应该也挺有意思的。”
本内特老爷抬起了头。简很紧张，而伊丽莎白则惊讶地看着莉迪亚。但是莉迪亚没有看到，也没有听到她无脑提起的话题，又喜气洋洋地接着说起来：“哦，老妈，乡里乡亲都知道我今天已经结婚了吗？我害怕他们还不知道。我们撞见了威廉姆.古尔丁了，我当时就合计应该跟他将，于是就拉开了马车玻璃，脱下我的手套，然后就放在窗户边上，好让他见见我手上的戒指，然后我鞠了一躬笑了起来，就跟没事人似的。”
伊丽莎白再也听不下去了。她起身走出了房间，一直到听到他们穿过客厅去餐厅后，她才回去。然后她一回去刚好见到莉迪亚，急急忙忙地跑到本内特太太的右手边，然后听到她跟姐姐说：“哎，简，现在该我坐你的位置了，你往后面坐一坐，因为我已经结婚了。”
在那个时间点，莉迪亚是不可能注意到之前被她完全忽视的尴尬氛围的。她那种放松的好心情更加明显。她很想见到菲利普太太，卢卡斯一家，还有其它的邻居们，听他们一一叫自己“维克汉姆”夫人。与此同时，吃完晚饭后她又跑去见了希尔太太和另外两个佣人，给她们见了自己的戒指，吹嘘自己已经结婚了。
“太太，”莉迪亚和她们一起回到餐厅后，“你们觉得我丈夫怎么样？他是不是很有魅力？我确定姐姐们都很嫉妒我。我只希望她们有我一半运气就好了。她们就应该都去布莱顿的。那才是找丈夫的地方。太太，我们姐妹没能一起去真是遗憾啊。”
“不假，我要是有这想法，我也回去的。但是亲爱的莉迪亚，我可不喜欢你这么犯下大错啊。就非这么做不可吗？”
“老天，那是必须的，那可没什么。这件事情里没什么我不喜欢的。你和我父亲，还有我的姐姐妹妹们，都得过来看我们。我们整个冬天都会待在牛斯卡尔，我敢保到时候会有几场舞会，我会给她们几个安排些好舞伴的。”
“那我是再开心不过了。”本内特太太说。
“等你动身回家的时候，你可以留一两个姐妹下来。我敢保春天之前我就能给他们找到对象。”
“感谢你帮我的忙，”伊丽莎白说，“但是我不太喜欢你找丈夫的方法。”
这对新人在蘑菇屯不会待超过十天。维克汉姆离开伦敦前就已经收到了任命，他会在两周后加入他的部队。
除了本内特太太，没人遗憾他们俩待得太短了。本内特太太把大部分时间都花在跟女儿去拜访人了，还有在家里频繁办聚会。聚会欢迎村子里的所有人参加。有心思参加的人自然回来，而没心思的人也就会出去走走。
就跟伊丽莎白预料的一样，维克汉姆对莉迪亚的感情不像莉迪亚对维克汉姆的那么深。伊丽莎白不需要观察现在的情况才能看出，只需要根据理性推到即可得知，他们私奔多是因为莉迪亚对他的爱意，而不是维克汉姆的。要不是确信维克汉姆只是因为自己债务缠身而不得不逃，伊丽莎白可能会好奇维克汉姆根本不关心莉迪亚，为什么还跟他私奔。而如果真要私奔，没人会拒绝维克汉姆这样的人作为伴侣的。
莉迪亚十分喜欢维克汉姆。在任何地方她都称呼他为亲爱的维克汉姆，这世上就没人能比的上他。每一件事情都是他做得最好。而且她很确定九月初，他捉到的鸟会比英国每个人的都多。
他们来之后不久的一天早上，她跟大姐二姐坐在一起，跟伊丽莎白说：“
利兹，我一直没跟你说过我的婚礼呢。我跟妈妈还有其它人说这事的时候，你都不在。你就不好奇婚礼的过程吗？”
“不怎么好奇，”伊丽莎白说，“我觉得这事真的没什么可说的。”
“哎哟，你可真是古怪。但我还是得跟你说下经过。你知道，我们是在克莱蒙教堂结的婚，因为维克汉姆当时住在那个教区。当时我们定好都得在11点前到。叔叔婶婶和我一起过去，其他人会和我们在教堂会和。周一早上的时候我真是一团乱麻。我当时很害怕有什么坏事发生，导致婚礼取消，所以我一直心不在焉。而且当时我穿衣服的时候，我婶婶一直在说教，就好像在布道一样。但是她说十个字，我都没听进去一个，因为你也可能猜到了，我当时在想亲爱的维克汉姆。我很想知道他会不会穿那件蓝色大衣。”
“后来，我们跟往常一样在10点吃了早饭。我感觉是如此的漫长。因为，顺便提一嘴，我当时跟叔叔婶婶在一起的时候，他们很不高兴。我当时在那待了两星期，我都没出过房门。没去过一次聚会，没有一次安排，啥都没有。确实伦敦没啥可玩的，但是小剧院还是开着的啊。然后马车就到了门口，然后叔叔就被那个吓人的斯通先生叫去谈生意了。你也知道，他们俩一到一起就没完了。我很怕也不知道该干啥，因为叔叔是要将我交给新郎的。如果我们晚了，那么我们那天就结不了婚了。但是很幸运的是，十分钟内他就回来了，然后我们就一起出发。但是我后来想到，如果他有事走不了的话，婚礼也不会延期，因为有达西先生可以代劳。”
“达西先生？”伊丽莎白十分惊讶地，重复了一遍。
“是的，他是要跟维克汉姆一起去的。哎呀！我完全忘了！我不该提这件事的。我之前还信誓旦旦的担保了。维克汉姆会怎么说我？本内这该是个秘密的。”
“如果是秘密的话，”简说，“那就别再提了。我不会多问的。”
“当然了！”伊丽莎白说，尽管心里着急地直痒痒，“我们不会问你的。”
“谢谢你们！”莉迪亚说，“因为如果你们问了，我肯定会全盘托出的，那维克汉姆就要生气了。”
由于心里实在是想知道，为了忍住不问，伊丽莎白只得跑掉。
但是这个事情是不可能不闻不问的，怎么也得打听打听消息啊。达西出现在了自己妹妹的婚礼上。而出现在婚礼上，出现在人群中，这正是他最不喜欢做得事情，或者最不想尝试的事情。伊丽莎白脑子里突然冒出各种各样的推测，啥样的都有，但是没有一个满意的。最好她最满意的推测还是达西在表露好意，这种是最可能的。她无法忍受等待。于是猴急地拿出一张纸，简单地给婶婶写了份短信，请求婶婶解释下莉迪亚刚说漏嘴的话，看看到底是不是真的。
“你很容易就能理解，这样一个跟我们无亲无故的人，（相对来说）一个陌生人在婚礼上跟你们在一起，会让我多么好奇。请立即给我回信，解了我的困惑。除非有什么隐情，还需要继续隐瞒下去这个秘密。那我也只好不闻不问了。”
“但是我不会不闻不问的，”写完信之后莉迪亚跟自己说，“亲爱的婶婶，你要是不光明正大地告诉我，那我就只有使小聪明自己问出来了。”
简崇高的荣誉感不允许她私底下跟伊丽莎白聊起这个话题。伊丽莎白正高兴，因为在自己得到满意的答案之前，最好不要跟别人走漏消息。
