Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

《傲慢與偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）是英国女小说家简·奥斯汀的长篇小说。

小说描写了乡绅班纳特五个待字闺中的千金的生活，主角是二女儿伊丽莎白。她在一次舞会上认识了一位年轻的绅士达西，但是耳闻他为人傲慢，就一直对他心生排斥。经历了一番周折，伊丽莎白终于消除了对达西的偏见，达西也不再傲慢，有情人终成眷属。

这部作品以日常生活为素材，一反当时社会上流行的感伤小说矫揉造作的写作手法，生动地反映了18世纪末到19世纪初处于保守和闭塞状态下的英国乡镇生活和人情世态。它多次被改编成电影和电视剧。

本文节选自《傲慢与偏见》第四十九章。

Jane then took it from her pocket-book，and gave it to Elizabeth. These were the contents：

“MY DEAR HARRIET，You will laugh when you know where I am gone，and I cannot help laughing myself at your surprise tomorrow morning，as soon as I am missed. I am going to Gretna Green，and if you cannot guess with who，I shall think you a simpleton，for there is but one man in the world I love，and he is an angel. I should never be happy without him，so think it no harm to be off. You need not send them word at Longbourn of my going，if you do not like it，for it will make the surprise the greater when I write to them and sign my name Lydia Wickham. What a good joke it will be！ I can hardly write for laughing. Pray make my excuses to Pratt，for not keeping my engagement and dancing with him to night. Tell him I hope he will excuse me when he knows all，and tell him I will dance with him at the next ball we meet，with great pleasure. I shall send for my clothes when I get to Longbourn;but I wish you would tell Sally to mend a great slit in my worked muslin gown before they are packed up. Good bye. Give my love to Colonel Forster. I hope you will drink to our good journey.Your affectionate friend，LYDIA BENNET.”

“Oh！ thoughtless，thoughtless Lydia！”cried Elizabeth when she had finished it.“What a letter is this，to be written at such a moment. But at least it shews that she was serious in the object of her journey. Whatever he might afterwards persuade her to，it was not on her side a scheme of infamy. My poor father！How he must have felt it！”

“I never saw any one so shocked. He could not speak a word for full ten minutes. My mother was taken ill immediately，and the whole house in such confusion！”

“Oh！ Jane！”cried Elizabeth，“was there a servant belonging to it，who did not know the whole story before the end of the day？”

“I do not know. I hope there was. But to be guarded at such a time，is very difficult. My mother was in hysterics，and though I endeavoured to give her every assistance in my power，I am afraid I did not do so much as I might have done！ But the horror of what might possibly happen，almost took from me my faculties.”

“Your attendance upon her has been too much for you. You do not look well. Oh！ that I had been with you，you have had every care and anxiety upon yourself alone.”

“Mary and Kitty have been very kind，and would have shared in every fatigue，I am sure，but I did not think it right for either of them. Kitty is slight and delicate，and Mary studies so much，that her hours of repose should not be broken in on. My aunt Phillips came to Longbournon Tuesday，after my father went away; and was so good as to stay till Thursday with me. She was of great use and comfort to us all，and Lady Lucas has been very kind;she walked here on Wednesday morning to condole with us，and offered her services，or any of her daughters，if they could be of use to us.”

“She had better have stayed at home，”cried Elizabeth;“perhaps she meant well，but under such a misfortune as this，one cannot see too little of one’s neighbours. Assistance is impossible;condolence，insufferable. Let them triumph over us at a distance，and be satisfied.”

She then proceeded to enquire into the measures which her father had intended to pursue，while in town， for the recovery of his daughter.

“He meant，I believe，”replied Jane，“to go to Epsom，the place where they last changed horses，see the postilions，and try if any thing could be made out from them. His principal object must be to discover the number of the hackney coach which took them from Clapham. It had come with a fare from London;and as he thought the circumstance of a gentleman and lady's removing from one carriage into another might be remarked，he meant to make enquiries at Clapham. If he could any how discover at what house the coachman had before set down his fare，he determined to make enquiries there，and hoped it might not be impossible to find out the stand and number of the coach. I do not know of any other designs that he had formed：but he was in such a hurry to be gone，and his spirits so greatly discomposed，that I had difficulty in finding out even so much as this.”

The whole party were in hopes of a letter from Mr. Bennet the next morning，but the post came in without bringing a single line from him. His family knew him to be，on all common occasions，a most negligent and dilatory correspondent，but at such a time they had hoped for exertion. They were forced to conclude that he had no pleasing intelligence to send，but even of that they would have been glad to be certain. Mr. Gardiner had waited only for the letters before he set off.

When he was gone，they were certain at least of receiving constant information of what was going on，and their uncle promised，at parting，to prevail on Mr. Bennet to return to Longbourn as soon as he could，to the great consolation of his sister，who considered it as the only security for her husband’s not being killed in a duel.

Mrs. Gardiner and the children were to remain in Hertfordshire a few days longer，as the former thought her presence might be serviceable to her nieces. She shared in their attendance on Mrs. Bennet，and was a great comfort to them in their hours of freedom. Their other aunt also visited them frequently，and always，as she said，with the design of cheering and heartening them up，though as she never came without reporting some fresh instance of Wickham’s extravagance or irregularity，she seldom went away without leaving them more dispirited than she found them.

All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man，who，but three months before，had been almost an angel of light. He was declared to be in debt to every tradesman in the place，and his intrigues，all honoured with the title of seduction，had been extended into every tradesman’s family. Every body declared that he was the wickedest young man in the world;and every body began to find out that they had always distrusted the appearance of his goodness. Elizabeth，though she did not credit above half of what was said，believed enough to make her former assurance of her sister’s ruin still more certain;and even Jane，who believed still less of it，became almost hopeless，more especially as the time was now come when，if they had gone to Scotland，which she had never before entirely despaired of，they must in all probability have gained some news of them.

Mr. Gardiner left Longbourn on Sunday;on Tuesday，his wife received a letter from him;it told them that on his arrival，he had immediately found out his brother，and persuaded him to come to Gracechurch street;that Mr. Bennet had been to Epsom and Clapham before his arrival，but without gaining any satisfactory information;and that he was now determined to enquire at all the principal hotels in town，as Mr. Bennet thought it possible they might have gone to one of them， on their first coming to London， before they procured lodgings. Mr. Gardiner himself did not expect any success from this measure，but as his brother was eager in it，he meant to assist him in pursuing it. He added that Mr. Bennet seemed wholly disinclined at present，to leave London，and promised to write again very soon. There was also a postscript to this effect：

“I have written to Colonel Forster to desire him to find out，if possible，from some of the young man’s intimates in the regiment，whether Wickham has any relations or connections who would be likely to know in what part of the town he has now concealed himself. If there were any one that one could apply to with a probability of gaining such a clue as that，it might be of essential consequence. At present we have nothing to guide us. Colonel Forster will，I dare say，do every thing in his power to satisfy us on this head. But，on second thoughts，perhaps Lizzy could tell us what relations he has now living better than any other person.”

Elizabeth was at no loss to understand from whence this deference for her authority proceeded;but it was not in her power to give any information of so satisfactory a nature as the compliment deserved.

She had never heard of his having had any relations，except a father and mother，both of whom had been dead many years. It was possible，however，that some of his companions in the —shire，might be able to give more information; and， though she was not very sanguine in expecting it， the application was a something to look forward to.

Every day at Longbourn was now a day of anxiety; but the most anxious part of each was when the post was expected. The arrival of letters was the first grand object of every morning’s impatience. Through letters，whatever of good or bad was to be told would be communicated，and every succeeding day was expected to bring some news of importance.

But before they heard again from Mr. Gardiner，a letter arrived for their father from a different quarter -- from Mr. Collins;which，as Jane had received directions to open all that came for him in his absence，she accordingly read;and Elizabeth，who knew what curiosities his letters always were，looked over her，and read it likewise. It was as follows：

“MY DEAR SIR，I feel myself called upon by our relationship，and my situation in life，to condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under，of which we were yesterday informed by a letter from Hertfordshire. Be assured，my dear Sir，that Mrs. Collins and myself sincerely sympathise with you，and all your respectable family，in your present distress， which must be of the bitterest kind，because proceeding from a cause which no time can remove. No arguments shall be wanting on my part that can alleviate so severe a misfortune;or that may comfort you，under a circumstance that must be of all others most afflicting to a parent's mind. The death of your daughter would have been a blessing in comparison of this. And it is the more to be lamented，because there is reason to suppose，as my dear Charlotte informs me，that this licentiousness of behaviour in your daughter has proceeded from a faulty de-gree of indulgence，though at the same time，for the consolation of yourself and Mrs. Bennet，I am inclined to think that her own disposition must be naturally bad， or she could not be guilty of such an enormity at so early an age. Howsoever that may be，you are grievously to be pitied，in which opinion I am not only joined by Mrs. Collins，but likewise by Lady Catherine and her daughter，to whom I have related the affair. They agree with me in apprehending that this false step in one daughter will be injurious to the fortunes of all the others;for who，as Lady Catherine herself condescendingly says，will connect themselves with such a family. And this consideration leads me moreover to reflect with augmented satisfaction on a certain event of last November，for had it been otherwise，I must have been involved in all your sorrow and disgrace. Let me advise you then，my dear Sir，to console yourself as much as possible，to throw off your unworthy child from your affection for ever，and leave her to reap the fruits of her own heinous offence.---I am，dear Sir，&c.&c.”

于是吉英从口袋里掏出那封信，递给伊丽莎白。全文如下：

亲爱的海丽，明天一大早你发现我失了踪，一定会大为吃惊;等你弄明白了我上什么地方去，你一定又会发笑。我想到这里，自己也禁不住笑出来了。我要到格利那草场去。如果你猜不着我是跟谁一起去，那我真要把你看成一个大傻瓜，因为这世界上只有一个男人是我心爱的，他真是一个天使。没有了他，我决不会幸福，因此，你别以为这这次去会惹出什么祸来。如果你不愿意把我出走的消息告诉浪搏恩我家里人，那你不告诉也罢。我要让他们接到我信的时候，看到我的签名是“丽迪雅·韦翰”，让他们更觉得事出意外。这个玩笑真开得太有意思了！我几乎笑得无法写下去了！请你替我向普拉特道个歉，我今天晚上不能赴约，不能和他跳舞了。我希望他知道了这一切情形以后，能够原谅我;请你告诉他，下次在舞会上相见的时候，我一定乐意同他跳舞。我到了浪搏恩就派人来取衣服，请你告诉莎蕾一声，我那件细洋纱的长衣服裂了一条大缝，叫她替我收拾行李的时候，把它补一补。再见。请代问候弗斯脱上校。愿你为我们的一路顺风而干杯。你的好友丽迪雅·班纳特。

伊丽莎白读完了信以后叫道：“好一个没有脑子的丽迪雅！遇到这样重大的事，竟会写出这样一封信来！但是至少可以说明，她倒是把这一次旅行看成一件正经事。不管他以后会诱惑她走到哪一步田地，她可没有存心要做出什么丢脸的事来。可怜的爸爸！！他对这件事会有多少感触啊！”

“他当时惊骇得那种样子，我真一辈子也没见过。他整整十分钟说不出一句话来。妈一下子就病倒了，全家都给弄得神魂不安！”

“噢，吉英，”伊丽莎白叫道。“岂不是所有的佣人当天都知道了这件事的底细吗？”

“我不清楚，但愿他们并没有全都知道。不过在这种时候，即使你要守护，也很难办到。妈那种歇斯底里的毛病又发作了，我虽然尽了我的力量去劝慰她，恐怕还是有不够周到的地方。我只怕会出什么意外，因此吓得不知如何是好。”

“你这样侍候她，真够你累的。我看你脸色不怎么好。样样事都让你一个人操心劳神，要是我跟你在一起就好了！”

“曼丽和吉蒂都非常善良，愿意替我分担辛苦，可是我不好意思让她们受累，因为吉蒂很纤弱，曼丽又太用功，不应该再去打扰她们休息的时间。好在星期二那天，父亲一走，腓力普姨妈就到浪搏恩来了，蒙她那么好心，一直陪我到星期四才走。她帮了我们不少的忙，还安慰了我们。卢卡斯太太待我们也好，她星期三早上来慰问过我们，她说，如果我们需要她们帮忙，她和她女儿们都乐意效劳。”

伊丽莎白大声说道：“还是让她待在自己家里吧，她也许真是出于一片好意，但是遇到了这样一件不幸的事，谁还乐意见到自己的邻居？他们帮我们忙帮不成功，慰问我们反而会叫我们难受。让她们在我们背后去高兴得意吧。”

然后她又问起父亲这次到城里去，打算采用什么方法去找到丽迪雅。

吉英说：“我看他打算到艾普桑去，因为他们俩是在那儿换马车的，他要上那儿去找找那些马车夫，看看能不能从他们那里探听出一点消息。他的主要目的就要去查出他们在克拉普汗所搭乘的那辆出租马车的号码。那辆马车本来是从伦敦搭载客人来;据他的想法，一男一女从一辆马车换上另一辆马车，一定会引起人家注目，因此他准备到克拉普汗去查问。他只要查出那个马车夫在哪家门口卸下先前的那位客人，他便决定上那儿去查问一下，也许能够查问得出那辆马车的号码和停车的地方。至于他有什么别的打算，我就不知道了。他急急忙忙要走，心绪非常紊乱，我能够从他嘴里问出这么些话来，已经算是不容易了。”

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告知，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的进展。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。她可以帮她们侍候班纳特太太，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，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了。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效;既是姐夫非要那樣做不可，又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。目前我们还是无从得知。也许弗斯上校会尽量把这件事做得使我们满意。但是我又想了一下，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。不管信上说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，借悉先生目前正是心烦意乱，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，令媛此次离家，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有所同感。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86英语篇报道链接自取其辱，受累不浅。敬祈先生善自寬慰，任其妄自菲薄，自食其果，不足怜惜也。（下略）