Chapter 16
Elizabeth awoke the next morning with the same thoughts as when she had closed her eyes the night before.She could not yet recover from the surprise of what had happened, and so she decided to take a walk soon after breakfast, for the sake of some fresh air and exercise.
She was heading directly toward her favorite walking path, when she remembered that Mr. Darcy sometimes came there.Instead of entering the grounds of Rosings, she turned up the path which led farther from the main road.After walking two or three times along that part of the path, she was tempted to stop at the gates and look into the grounds, since it was such a pleasant morning.
She was just about to continue with her walk, when she caught a glimpse of a gentleman in the small forest along the edge of the grounds.He was moving toward her, and since she feared it was Mr. Darcy, she turned to head back in the direction from which she had come.But the person who came toward her was now near enough to see her, and stepping forward with eagerness, he called her name.
The voice **revealed (表明) it to be **Mr. Darcy, and she moved again toward the gate. He had by that time reached it also.
- '' 【reveal it to be】: 揭示是...
Holding out a letter, he said, “I have been waiting for some time in the hope of meeting with you. Will you do me the honor of reading that letter?”
She took the letter, and Mr. Darcy bowed slightly and turned away, and walked away quickly until he was soon out of sight.
With the strongest curiosity, Elizabeth opened the letter. She found inside an envelope containing two sheets of letter-paper, covered completely in small handwriting.As she continued walking along the path, she then began to read it:—
Do not be alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter. I will not repeat here those sentiments (感情) and offers from last night, which were so disgusting to you.
I hope to avoid causing any more pain to you, or any further embarrassment to myself, and so I will not talk of that which is now in the past.
Last night, you accused me of two very specific offenses. The first mentioned was, that I had a part in separating Mr. Bingley from your sister.
The other was that I had ruined Mr. Wickham chances for security and prosperity (富贵) , despite his claims upon me and **in defiance (违抗) of **the claims of honor and humanity.Taking the first accusation first: upon seeing Bingley and your elder sister together,it was clear to me almost immediately that he liked her more than any other young woman there.
- '' 【in defiance of】相当于in spite of，不管、不顾
It was not until the evening of the ball at Netherfield, however, that I began to fear his affection had become something more serious.
At that ball, I saw for the first time that, due to the attention which Bingley paid to your sister, it had become generally expected that the two would soon be married.
It was spoken of as if it were already certain to occur, and only the time of the wedding remained to be decided.
I began from that moment to observe closely my friend’s behavior, and I realized that his feelings for Miss Bennet were the strongest I had ever seen in him.
I also watched your sister. She seemed as open, cheerful, and engaging (迷人的) as ever, but did not show any signs of any deep affection.
From my examination of her that evening, I decided that she merely enjoyed receiving his affection, but did not return any similar feelings of her own.
It is possible that I have been mistaken here, and your understanding of your sister and her feelings must clearly be superior to my own.
If I have made an error which has caused unnecessary pain to her, then I certainly deserve your resentment (怨恨) .
But there was also a second objection to such a marriage.
There was that total** lack of decency (体面) and civility（礼仪）** which was shown so frequently by your mother, by your younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father.
- '' 【total lack of decency and civility】：完全缺乏庄重和礼仪
I am sorry to offend you by speaking so frankly (直白地) .Perhaps it may give you some comfort, that no similar criticism (诟病) can be made of your elder sister’s behavior and yours.
I will openly admit that I clearly pointed out to my friend the danger of choosing your sister.Bingley greatly trusts my judgment, more so than he does his own,
but even so I do not think I could have prevented the marriage if it were not for my assurance (确信) of Jane’s indifference (冷淡) , which I did not hesitate to give him.It only took a few words to persuade him not to return to Netherfield, and I cannot blame myself for what I have said.My only regret at my actions is that I was dishonest in not allowing Bingley to know that your sister was in London.
With respect to your other more serious accusation regarding Mr. Wickham, I have no choice but to explain the entire story of his connection with my family.
Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had worked for my father for many years managing my family’s finances.
My father, therefore, chose to support the younger Mr. Wickham at school, and then at Cambridge.
My father was not only fond of this young man’s company, but also had a very high opinion of him.
He hoped the church would be his profession, and intended to help establish him in it.
As for myself, it has been many, many years since I first began to think of Mr. Wickham in a very different way.
He was always careful to never reveal (揭露) himself to my father, but since I was a young man of nearly the same age as him I could not help but see who he truly was.
I had the opportunity to see him in his unguarded moments, which my father could not have.
