"My dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?" was a question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, and from all the others when they sat down to table. She had only to say in reply, that they had wandered about, till she was beyond her own knowledge. She coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor any thing else, awakened a suspicion of the truth.
The evening passed quietly, unmarked by any thing extraordinary. The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent. Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth; and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy than felt herself to be so; for, besides the immediate embarrassment, there were other evils before her. She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known; she was aware that no one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away.
At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here.
"You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be! -- engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible."
"This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you; and I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am in earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are engaged."
Jane looked at her doubtingly. "Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much you dislike him."
"You know nothing of the matter. That is all to be forgot. Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself."
Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and more seriously assured her of its truth.
"Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you," cried Jane. "My dear, dear Lizzy, I would -- I do congratulate you -- but are you certain? forgive the question -- are you quite certain that you can be happy with him?"
"There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother?"
"Very, very much. Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more delight. But we considered it, we talked of it as impossible. And do you really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy! do any thing rather than marry without affection. Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought to do?"
"Oh, yes! You will only think I feel more than I ought to do, when I tell you all."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid you will be angry."
"My dearest sister, now be serious. I want to talk very seriously. Let me know every thing that I am to know, without delay. Will you tell me how long you have loved him?"
"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley."
Another intreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the desired effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances of attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennet had nothing farther to wish.
"Now I am quite happy," said she, "for you will be as happy as myself. I always had a value for him. Were it for nothing but his love of you, I must always have esteemed him; but now, as Bingley's friend and your husband, there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me. But Lizzy, you have been very sly, very reserved with me. How little did you tell me of what passed at Pemberley and Lambton! I owe all that I know of it to another, not to you."
Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy. She had been unwilling to mention Bingley; and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made her equally avoid the name of his friend. But now she would no longer conceal from her his share in Lydia's marriage. All was acknowledged, and half the night spent in conversation.
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"Good gracious!" cried Mrs. Bennet, as she stood at a window the next morning, "if that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with our dear Bingley! What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always coming here? I had no notion but he would go a-shooting, or something or other, and not disturb us with his company. What shall we do with him? Lizzy, you must walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley's way."
Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal; yet was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an epithet.
As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her so expressively, and shook hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information; and he soon afterwards said aloud, "Mrs. Bennet, have you no more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day?"
"I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty," said Mrs. Bennet, "to walk to Oakham Mount this morning. It is a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has never seen the view."
"It may do very well for the others," replied Mr. Bingley; "but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty. Won't it, Kitty?" Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home. Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view from the Mount, and Elizabeth silently consented. As she went up stairs to get ready, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying,
"I am quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is all for Jane's sake, you know; and there is no occasion for talking to him, except just now and then. So, do not put yourself to inconvenience."
During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennet's consent should be asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved to herself the application for her mother's. She could not determine how her mother would take it; sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man. But whether she were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense; and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her disapprobation.
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In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet withdrew to the library, she saw Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation on seeing it was extreme. She did not fear her father's opposition, but he was going to be made unhappy; and that it should be through her means -- that she, his favourite child, should be distressing him by her choice, should be filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her -- was a wretched reflection, and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again, when, looking at him, she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few minutes he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, while pretending to admire her work said in a whisper, "Go to your father, he wants you in the library." She was gone directly.
Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. "Lizzy," said he, "what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be accepting this man? Have not you always hated him?"
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy.
"Or, in other words, you are determined to have him. He is rich, to be sure, and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy?"
"Have you any other objection," said Elizabeth, "than your belief of my indifference?"
"None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him."
"I do, I do like him," she replied, with tears in her eyes, "I love him. Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms."
"Lizzy," said her father, "I have given him my consent. He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse any thing, which he condescended to ask. I now give it to you, if you are resolved on having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about."
Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did conquer her father's incredulity, and reconcile him to the match.
"Well, my dear," said he, when she ceased speaking, "I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy."
To complete the favourable impression, she then told him what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment.
"This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And so, Darcy did every thing: made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and would have paid him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about his love for you, and there will be an end of the matter."
He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before, on his reading Mr. Collins's letter; and after laughing at her some time, allowed her at last to go -- saying, as she quitted the room, "If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure."
Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight; and, after half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room, she was able to join the others with tolerable composure. Every thing was too recent for gaiety, but the evening passed tranquilly away; there was no longer any thing material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time.
When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night, she followed her, and made the important communication. Its effect was most extraordinary; for on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, and unable to utter a syllable. Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard; though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get up, sit down again, wonder, and bless herself.
"Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Jane's is nothing to it -- nothing at all. I am so pleased -- so happy. Such a charming man! -- so handsome! so tall! -- Oh, my dear Lizzy! pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Every thing that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me. I shall go distracted."
This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted: and Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, her mother followed her.
"My dearest child," she cried, "I can think of nothing else! Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! 'Tis as good as a Lord! And a special licence. You must and shall be married by a special licence. But my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, that I may have it tomorrow."
This was a sad omen of what her mother's behaviour to the gentleman himself might be; and Elizabeth found that, though in the certain possession of his warmest affection, and secure of her relations' consent, there was still something to be wished for. But the morrow passed off much better than she expected; for Mrs. Bennet luckily stood in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to him, unless it was in her power to offer him any attention, or mark her deference for his opinion.
Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acquainted with him; and Mr. Bennet soon assured her that he was rising every hour in his esteem.
"I admire all my three sons-in-law highly," said he. "Wickham, perhaps, is my favourite; but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane's."
--正文
”亲爱的利兹，你刚才去哪儿散步了？“伊丽莎白一进门就听到简问的问题，然后两人坐下又听到别人问了一遍。伊丽莎白只能回复说随便逛了逛，然后自己也不知道走哪儿去了。她说话的时候脸红的很，但是这并没有让家里人怀疑发生了什么事情。这一晚上安静地度过了，没有发生什么大事。公开的那对情侣热烈聊天，开怀大笑，而没公开的则默默无言。达西的性格则喜怒不行与色。伊丽莎白则焦躁不安又有些困惑，自己确实是开心，但是怎么个开心法也说不出来。因为除了眼前的尴尬，还有其它麻烦事情等着她。她在想自己的事情假如被家里人知道，他们会作什么感想。她知道除了简，没人喜欢达西。她甚至害怕对于其余的人，他的钱财和身份都不能让他们喜欢他。这一晚她将整件事情跟简说了。尽管简天性不喜欢怀疑，但是她还是难以置信。
”你在开玩笑吧，利兹！这不可能吧！跟达西订婚？不可能，不可能，你可骗不到我。我知道这是不可能的。“
”这开始确实让人难以接受。我只能指望你了。我知道除了你没人会相信我。但是我是认真的，我说得都是实话。他仍然很爱我，我们订婚了。“
简很怀疑地看着她：”利兹，这不可能！我知道你有多么不喜欢他。“
”这件事你不了解。那些事情都应该被忘掉了。也许我一直都像现在这样爱他。但是在目前这种情况下，记性好就是个缺点了。这是我最后一次记起曾经讨厌他这件事情。“
本内特小姐看起来仍然十分惊讶。伊丽莎白就又一次，而且更加严肃地跟简保证说得是真话。
”老天爷！真的会是这样吗？但是现在我确实相信你了，“简惊呼地说，”我亲爱的利兹，恭。。恭喜你！但你确定这是真的吗？请原谅这个问题。你确定跟他在一起会开心吗？“
”必须的。我们两人已经商量好了，我们就会是这世界上最开心的一对儿了。但是简你开心吗？你想有这样的一个兄弟吗？“
”非常开心！没有什么能让宾利和我更开心了。但是我们都觉得这事情不可能。而且你真的那么爱他吗？哦，利兹。什么事情都能干，就是别没有感情就结婚。你确定要这么做吗？“
”是的，你应该这么想，我告诉你这件事的时候，其实我早就想这么做了。“
”这是什么意思？“
”我必须坦白，相比宾利，我更喜欢达西。但是我又害怕你会生气。“
”我的好妹妹，现在认真点。我要跟你好好聊聊这个话题。快把我该知道的事情哦都告诉我。你能告诉我已经爱上她多久了吗？“
”其实是慢慢爱上的，也说不清楚到底从哪儿开始的。但是我估计得从第一天见到他彭伯里美丽的花园开始算起。“
简又恳求她严肃一点，这下起了理想的效果。伊丽莎白很快就向简保证，自己对达西满满地都是感情。确认了这一点后，本内特小姐就没有什么要求了。
”现在我很高兴，“简说，”因为你很快就要跟我一样开心了。我之前一直就看重他。就算只看他对的爱意，我也会一直尊重他。但是现在作为宾利的朋友和你的丈夫，现在只有宾利和你对我来说更亲近了。但是利兹你很狡猾，对我一直保守秘密。之前在彭伯里和莱姆顿的事情，你才告诉了我多少！我都是从别人那里听说的这些事情，不是从你这儿！“
伊丽莎白跟简解释了自己保守秘密的原因。她之前一直都不想提起宾利。而她自己不确定的情况也让她不想提起达西的名字。但是现在伊丽莎白不用瞒着简，达西在莉迪亚婚事中出的力了。所有的事情都被说了出来，姐妹俩就这样聊了半夜。
”老天爷！“第二天一早本内特太太站在窗户边说，”要是那个讨人烦的达西不跟我们家宾利一起来就好了！他天天过来烦人干啥？我不知道，也许他可以去打个鸟，或者随便坐什么事情，别来打扰我们就好了嘛。我们该拿他怎么办？利兹，你得跟他再出去散散步，这样他就不会碍宾利的事了。“
伊丽莎白听到这么顺意的安排，简直是要笑起来。但是看到自己母亲总是给他起各种各样的外号，心里还是不舒服。
他们俩人一进门，宾利就直勾勾地看着简，热情地握着别人的手，让他的意图暴露无遗。不一会他就大声说：”本内特太太，你这附近今天还有没有什么小路能让利兹再迷迷路了？“
”我建议达西先生和利兹，凯蒂今早再去奥克姆山逛逛，路挺远的，达西先生也没见过那儿的景色。“
”对别人来说可能没事，“宾利说，”但是对凯蒂来说可能太麻烦了。是吧凯蒂？“凯蒂也觉得不如待在家里。达西说自己很想看看山上的风景，而伊丽莎白则沉默的同意了。她去楼上准备换衣服的时候，本内特太太跟过来说：“我非常抱歉，利兹，你竟然被逼着跟那个惹人嫌的达西待在一起。但是我希望你别介意：这些都是为了简好，你知道的。而且跟他聊天，也只是偶尔才有的事情。所以你也别多费心思。”
两个人在散步的时候决定了晚上会问本内特老爷关于这桩婚事的意见。伊丽莎白则决定自己去找母亲提这件事。她无法确定自己母亲会如何反应，她有时候还会想达西的钱财地位是否能够盖过母亲对他的厌恶。但是不管她究竟是疯狂赞成这件事，或者是疯狂反对这件事，很确定的是她的谈吐表现都不会很得体，也不会让人家觉得她有什么见识。她要么是喜极而泣的同意，要么就是坚决反对，而这两者都让伊丽莎白接受不了。
晚上在本内特老爷起身回到书房后，伊丽莎白看到达西也起身跟了过去，她看到这里心里十分紧张。她并不害怕自己父亲会反对，但是害怕父亲会不开心。是因为她的选择，自己这个他最爱的孩子让他不开心了，让他同意自己的婚事而陷入到恐惧和后悔之中，想到这里伊丽莎白就很不开心。她就那么凄惨地坐着直到达西再次出现，她看着他的时候看到他的笑容才放松了一下。过了几分钟他走到了桌子旁边，伊丽莎白正跟凯蒂坐在一起。他假装在看伊丽莎白做什么事情，然后悄悄地说：“去见图书馆见你父亲。”伊丽莎白立刻过去了。
他父亲正在屋里来回踱步，看着很悲伤而紧张的样子，“利兹，”他说，“你在干什么？你这是丧失理智了嘛，要接受这个男人？你不是一直很讨厌他吗？”
此刻伊丽莎白是多么希望之前的观点能再理性一些，之前的表达能再温和一些啊。这样她就不用像现在这样特别尴尬地解释了。但是现在必须要解释了，而伊丽莎白向父亲保证自己很喜欢达西，尽管本内特老爷有点疑惑。
“那也就是说，你已经决心嫁给这个人了。他确实很有钱，而你也会拥有比简更好的衣服，更好的马车。但是这些会让你开心吗？”
“你只是觉得我并不喜欢他吗？除此之外，还有别的反对理由吗？”伊丽莎白说。
“没有了。我们都知道这个人很傲慢，不讨喜。但是如果你真喜欢他这些也不算什么。”
“我真的很喜欢他。”伊丽莎白含着泪说，“我爱他。他确实比较傲慢。但是人也很好。你只是不知道他的真实模样。请父亲不要这么说他让我难过。”
“利兹，”本内特老爷说，“我同意这件事了。他这种男人屈尊提的请求我是断然不敢拒绝的。如果你决心要嫁他，那我现在同意了。但是我要建议你好好想想。我了解你的性格，利兹。我知道除非你真尊重你的丈夫，否则你既不会开心，也不会体面，除非你把他当成比你高等的人。在一个不平等的婚姻里，你活泼的天赋会把你放入极端危险的境地。这可能会让你痛苦，名誉丧失。我的好孩子，不要让我见到你无法尊重自己的丈夫而悲痛。你不知道自己要做的是什么事情。”
伊丽莎白仍然情绪激动，她恳切而庄重的回复了自己的父亲。终于，在解释过自己对达西看法的逐渐变化，让自己确定达西的感情不是一时的，而是经过几个月变故的考验的，而且伊丽莎白一一说着达西的优点，向父亲保证达西就是自己的选择。最终，他说服了父亲，让他同意了这桩亲事。
“既然这样，好闺女，”伊丽莎白说完，本内特老爷说，“我也没什么好说的了。如果是这样的话，那他确实配得上你。利兹，我可不会把你嫁给一个不如眼前这个的人。”
为了增加对达西的好印象，伊丽莎白然后就跟父亲说了达西自愿为莉迪亚做的事情。本内特老爷听完十分惊讶。
“今晚真是个神奇的夜晚！认真的！这样说得话，达西做了所有的事情：促成了婚事，给了钱，给维克汉姆付了赌债，还给他找了份工作。这样更好了。这样给我省了天大的麻烦事和一大笔钱。要是你叔叔做了这些事情，我必须得给钱给他了。但是你们这些疯狂的年轻爱人真是什么事情都自己来。我明天就提出还钱给他。他会疯狂表达自己对你的爱意，这样这件事就了结了。”
然后他想起来几天前读柯林斯写得信的时候，伊丽莎白尴尬的样子。然后本内特老爷又笑了会伊丽莎白，最终还是让她走了。在她离开房门的时候，他说，“要是还有年轻人为了玛丽或者凯蒂求婚，赶紧让他们进来，我现在特别有空！”
伊丽莎白的脑袋现在终于卸下了中单。在自己房间里静静地想了半小时后，她终于能镇静地跟大伙坐在了一起。所有事情都发生地太快，还不能庆祝，但是这个晚上还是平静地度过了。现在再也没有重大的事情需要担心了，很快快乐亲近就会到来。
晚上本内特太太上楼去梳妆室的时候，伊丽莎白跟了上去然后说了这件重要的事情。本内特太太的反应真是历史最佳。刚听说这件事的时候，本内特太太坐着一动不动，一个字也说不出来。过了好久好久，她才明白了自己刚刚听到的东西，尽管还没想到这件事对自己家里会有什么好处，也还没意识到达西会成为伊丽莎白的丈夫。但是最终她反应了过来，在凳子上坐立不安，一会站起来，一会又坐下去，诧异整件事情，然后又不停地祝福自己。
“老天爷！保佑我！你可快想想！苍天呐！达西先生！谁能想得到！这是真的吗？天呐！我的好利兹！你想想以后会变得多么有钱有地位吧！想想你会有多少零用钱，多少珠宝，多少马车吧！简的那些东西跟你的相比，真是啥都不是，啥都不是！我真是太高兴了！太高兴了！真是个有魅力的男人！又高又帅！天呐！我的好利兹！请替我向他道歉，之前那么不喜欢他。我希望他会忘掉这件事情。亲爱的，亲爱的利兹。一栋城里的房子！这一切真是太好了。三个女儿结了婚！一年挣一万磅。苍天呐！我这是过得什么神仙日子！我简直幸福地要发疯。”
这也正好证明本内特太太的同意不需要怀疑。伊丽莎白十分高兴这些话只有自己听到了，很快就离开了。但是她到了自己屋里才3分钟，本内特太太就跟了进来。
“我的好孩子，”她大叫说，“我简直是大脑一片空白！一年一万磅，而且很有可能更多！这简直跟个皇上一样了，而且还有个特许结婚证。你肯定会需要一个特许结婚证的。亲爱的闺女，快告诉我达西先生喜欢什么菜，我好明天准备一下。”
这些只是个征兆，它预示了本内特太太会如何对待达西。而伊丽莎白发现尽管自己被达西深爱着，而且自己的亲人也十分满意，但她还是害怕出什么问题，但是出乎意料地什么都没有发生。因为本内特太太诚惶诚恐地站在未来女婿面前，她甚至都不敢跟他说话，除非是偶尔献献殷勤，或者恭维下他的观点。
伊丽莎白也很满意地看到自己父亲也在努力跟达西交流。而本内特老爷很快就跟伊丽莎白担保，自己越来越器重这位女婿了。
“我的三个女婿我都十分喜欢，”本内特老爷说，“维克汉姆可能是我最喜欢的一个。但是你的丈夫我也很喜欢，跟喜欢简的丈夫一样。”
