🔊 Elizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts and meditations which had at length closed her eyes. She could not yet recover from the surprise of what had happened; it was impossible to think of anything else; and, totally indisposed for employment, she resolved, soon after breakfast, to indulge herself in air and exercise.

伊丽莎白翌日早晨醒来,心头依然萦绕着昨夜的万千思绪,正是这些思绪,折腾良久才终于合眼入睡。她尚未能从这桩突如其来之事中回过神来；除了这件事,她什么也无法想；她无心做任何事,于是早饭后不久,便决定去户外透透气,散散步,放纵一下自己。

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meditations /ˌmedɪˈteɪʃənz/

n. 冥想；沉思➕

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indisposed /ˌɪndɪˈspəʊzd/

adj. 身体不适的；不愿意的➕

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indulge /ɪnˈdʌldʒ/

v. 纵容；沉溺于➕

🔊 She was proceeding directly to her favourite walk, when the recollection of Mr. Darcy's sometimes coming there stopped her, and instead of entering the park, she turned up the lane, which led her farther from the turnpike-road. The park paling was still the boundary on one side, and she soon passed one of the gates into the ground.

她径直朝她心爱的那条小径走去,忽然想起达西先生有时也会去那儿,便不由得停住了脚步。她没有走进庄园,而是转身踏上一条小巷,这条小路引她离那收费小路越来越远。庄园的栅栏还是小巷一侧的边界,她很快便经过一道小门,走进了庄园的地界。

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recollection /ˌrekəˈlekʃən/

n. 回忆；记忆➕

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turnpike-road /ˈtɜːrnpaɪk roʊd/

n. 收费公路➕

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paling /ˈpeɪlɪŋ/

n. 栅栏；木桩➕

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boundary /ˈbaʊndəri/

n. 边界➕

🔊 After walking two or three times along that part of the lane, she was tempted, by the pleasantness of the morning, to stop at the gates and look into the park. The five weeks which she had now passed in Kent had made a great difference in the country, and every day was adding to the verdure of the early trees. She was on the point of continuing her walk, when she caught a glimpse of a gentleman within the sort of grove which edged the park; he was moving that way; and, fearful of its being Mr. Darcy, she was directly retreating. But the person who advanced was now near enough to see her, and stepping forward with eagerness, pronounced her name. She had turned away; but on hearing herself called, though in a voice which proved it to be Mr. Darcy, she moved again towards the gate. He had by that time reached it also, and, holding out a letter, which she instinctively took, said, with a look of haughty composure, "I have been walking in the grove some time in the hope of meeting you. Will you do me the honour of reading that letter?" And then, with a slight bow, turned again into the plantation, and was soon out of sight.

沿着巷子的那一段来回走了两三趟后,晨光怡人,她不觉被吸引,在门口停下脚步,向庄园里望去。她在肯特郡已经度过了五个星期,乡间景致已然大有不同；那些早发的树木更是一天比一天青翠。她正要继续前行,忽然瞥见庄园边缘那片小树林里有一位绅士；那人正朝这边走来；她唯恐来者是达西先生,便立刻往回走。可是那位朝前走的人此刻已经离得很近,足以看清她,便急忙快步上前,叫出了她的名字。她已然转身；但听到有人唤她,尽管那声音证实了确是达西先生,她又转身朝门口走去。他此时也已到了门口,递上一封信,她下意识地接了过来,神色高傲而镇定地说道:“我在这小树林里散步已经有些时候了,就希望能遇见您。能否请您赏脸读一读这封信？”说罢,他微微欠身,转身又走进了那片种植园,很快便消失在视线之外。

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verdure /ˈvɜːrdʒər/

n. 青翠；生机勃勃➕

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glimpse /ɡlɪmps/

n. 一瞥➕

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grove /ɡroʊv/

n. 小树林➕

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instinctively /ɪnˈstɪŋktɪvli/

adv. 本能地➕

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haughty composure /ˈhɔːti kəmˈpəʊʒər/

phrase. 傲慢的镇定➕

🔊 With no expectation of pleasure, but with the strongest curiosity, Elizabeth opened the letter, and, to her still increasing wonder, perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter-paper, written quite through, in a very close hand. The envelope itself was likewise full. Pursuing her way along the lane, she then began it. It was dated from Rosings, at eight o'clock in the morning, and was as follows:-

不抱任何愉悦的期待,却怀着极其强烈的好奇心,伊丽莎白拆开了信。令她越发惊异的是,她看到信封里装着两张信纸,正反两面都写得满满当当,字迹细密。就连信封本身也密密麻麻写满了字。她一面沿小巷走着,一面开始读信。信上写着寄自罗新斯,时间是早晨八点,内容如下:--

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expectation /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/

n. 期望➕

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curiosity /ˌkjʊəriˈɒsəti/

n. 好奇心➕

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envelope /ˈenvələʊp/

n. 信封➕

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likewise /ˈlaɪkwaɪz/

adv. 同样地➕

🔊 "Be not alarmed, Madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments or renewal of those offers which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion, should have been spared, had not my character required it to be written and read. You must, therefore, pardon the freedom with which I demand your attention; your feelings, I know, will bestow it unwillingly, but I demand it of your justice."

“小姐,收到此信时请勿惊惶,担心它会重提昨夜令您厌恶之衷情,或再行求婚之举。我写信绝无折磨您或自取其辱之意,将那些愿望旧事重提,于双方幸福无益,越快忘却越好。若非我的人格要求这封信非写不可,非读不可,则这番构思与阅读所必然引起的痛苦,本可避免。因此,我不得不要求您耐心听我分说,尚祈见谅；我知道您的感情必定不情愿赐予这份耐心,但我要求它是出于您的公道之心。”

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apprehension /ˌæprɪˈhenʃən/

n. 忧虑；理解➕

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sentiments /ˈsentɪmənts/

n. 情感；观点➕

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perusal /pəˈruːzəl/

n. 细读➕

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bestow /bɪˈstəʊ/

v. 授予；给予➕

🔊 "Two offences of a very different nature, and by no means of equal magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first mentioned was, that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley from your sister, and the other, that I had, in defiance of various claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. Wilfully and wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknowledged favourite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to expect its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of two young persons, whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks, could bear no comparison. But from the severity of that blame which was last night so liberally bestowed, respecting each circumstance, I shall hope to be in the future secured, when the following account of my actions and their motives has been read. If, in the explanation of them, which is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to yours, I can only say that I am sorry. The necessity must be obeyed, and further apology would be absurd."

“您昨夜加诸我身的指控有两桩,性质迥异,轻重亦绝不相同。头一桩是,我全然不顾双方感情,将彬格莱先生与令姐拆散；另一桩是,我罔顾种种权益,罔顾道义与人性,毁了韦翰先生眼前的荣华,断送了他的前程。肆意任性地抛弃我儿时的伙伴,先父生前公认的宠儿,一个几乎除了我们的荫庇便无依无靠的年轻人,一个从小就被教导要仰仗这份荫庇的年轻人--如此行径,若与拆散一对相识不过数周便萌生情愫的青年男女相比,其堕落程度实不可同日而语。然而,关于这两件事,昨夜您对我严加指责,措辞激烈,等您读完我对其行为及动机的如下陈述之后,我便希望能从此免受这类苛责。倘若在我为自己辩解的过程中,不得不提及一些可能触犯您情感的感受,我只能说一声抱歉。此乃情非得已,再多道歉亦属徒然。”

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magnitude /ˈmæɡnɪtjuːd/

n. 大小；重要性➕

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defiance /dɪˈfaɪəns/

n. 蔑视；挑战➕

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prosperity /prɒˈsperəti/

n. 繁荣➕

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depravity /dɪˈprævəti/

n. 堕落；邪恶➕

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severity /sɪˈverəti/

n. 严重性；严厉➕

🔊 "I had not been long in Hertfordshire, before I saw, in common with others, that Bingley preferred your eldest sister to any other young woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious attachment. I had often seen him in love before. At that ball, while I had the honour of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir William Lucas's accidental information, that Bingley's attentions to your sister had given rise to a general expectation of their marriage. He spoke of it as a certain event, of which the time alone could be undecided. From that moment I observed my friend's behaviour attentively; and I could then perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had ever witnessed in him. Your sister I also watched. Her look and manners were open, cheerful, and engaging as ever, but without any symptom of peculiar regard, and I remained convinced from the evening's scrutiny, that though she received his attentions with pleasure, she did not invite them by any participation of sentiment. If you have not been mistaken here, I must have been in an error. Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the latter probable. If it be so, if I have been misled by such error to inflict pain on her, your resentment has not been unreasonable. But I shall not scruple to assert, that the serenity of your sister's countenance and air was such as might have given the most acute observer a conviction that, however amiable her temper, her heart was not likely to be easily touched. That I was desirous of believing her indifferent is certain-but I will venture to say that my investigation and decisions are not usually influenced by my hopes or fears. I did not believe her to be indifferent because I wished it; I believed it on impartial conviction, as truly as I wished it in reason. My objections to the marriage were not merely those which I last night acknowledged to have the utmost force of passion to put aside, in my own case; the want of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me. But there were other causes of repugnance-causes which, though still existing, and existing to an equal degree in both instances, I had myself endeavoured to forget, because they were not immediately before me. These causes must be stated, though briefly. The situation of your mother's family, though objectionable, was nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself, by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even by your father. Pardon me. It pains me to offend you. But amidst your concern for the defects of your nearest relations, and your displeasure at this representation of them, let it give you consolation to consider that, to have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of the like censure, is praise no less generally bestowed on you and your eldest sister, than it is honourable to the sense and disposition of both. I will only say further that from what passed that evening, my opinion of all parties was confirmed, and every inducement heightened which could have led me before, to preserve my friend from what I esteemed a most unhappy connection. He left Netherfield for London, on the day following, as you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning."

“我到哈福德郡不久,便与旁人一样,看出彬格莱在当地年轻女子中独独钟情于令姐。但直到在尼日斐花园举行舞会那晚,我才开始担忧他动了真情。我以前常常见他坠入爱河。在那场舞会上,当我有幸与您共舞时,我才从威廉·卢卡斯爵士偶然透露的消息中第一次得知,彬格莱对令姐的殷勤已经让众人普遍预期他们将缔结婚姻。他说起此事来仿佛已成定局,只是时间未定罢了。从那一刻起,我便开始密切观察我朋友的一举一动；我那时就看出,他对班纳特小姐的偏爱,是我在他身上从未见过的。我也观察了令姐。她的神情举止一如既往地坦率、欢快、迷人,却没有任何特别倾心的迹象。经过那一晚的仔细观察,我深信,虽然她欣然接受他的殷勤,却并未以同等的情意来回报。倘若您没有看错,那必然是我误会了。您对令姐更深的了解,想必使后一种可能性更大。如果真是如此,如果我因这误会而令她痛苦,那么您的怨恨倒也并非没有道理。但我必须坦言,令姐那沉静的面容与仪态,足以让最敏锐的观察者深信,她性情虽温婉,心却不易被打动。我确实希望相信她无动于衷--但我敢说,我的调查与判断通常不受个人希望或恐惧的影响。我并非因为希望如此才相信她无动于衷；我相信这一点是基于不偏不倚的信念,正如我基于理性而希望如此一样。我反对这桩婚事,并不仅仅因为昨夜我承认的那些理由--就我个人而言,这些理由尚需强烈的热情方能克服；门户不当这一缺陷,对我朋友而言,其危害性远不如对我这般严重。但还有其他令人反感的缘由--这些缘由,尽管依然存在,并且在这两桩婚事中都同等程度地存在着,但我自己曾竭力忘却,因为它们并非近在眼前。这些缘由必须陈述,尽管只能简而言之。令堂娘家的情况固然令人侧目,但与您母亲本人、您三位妹妹,甚至偶尔令尊本人所屡屡--几乎是一贯--暴露出的那种全然不知礼数的行为相比,便不足挂齿了。恕我直言。冒犯您让我深感痛苦。但在您为至亲的缺点而忧虑、为我的这番描述而不快之际,不妨这样想想以自慰:您与令姐举止得体,未曾沾染此类非议,这既为您二位赢得了普遍赞誉,也彰显了您二位的见识与性情。我只想再说一点,从那一晚的所见所闻,我对各方的看法都得到了印证,先前那些促使我保护朋友,使其免于我所认为的极不幸之结合的种种动机,也就愈发强烈了。他随后便离开尼日斐花园前往伦敦,我相信您一定记得,他本是打算很快就回来的。”

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scrutiny /ˈskruːtəni/

n. 仔细检查➕

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partiality /ˌpɑːʃiˈæləti/

n. 偏爱➕

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countenance /ˈkaʊntənəns/

n. 面容；镇定➕

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amiable /ˈeɪmiəbəl/

adj. 和蔼可亲的➕

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repugnance /rɪˈpʌɡnəns/

n. 厌恶；矛盾➕

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propriety /prəˈpraɪəti/

n. 得体；适当➕

🔊 "The part which I acted is now to be explained. His sisters' uneasiness had been equally excited with my own; our coincidence of feeling was soon discovered, and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in detaching their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly in London. We accordingly went-and there I readily engaged in the office of pointing out to my friend the certain evils of such a choice. I described, and enforced them earnestly. But, however this remonstrance might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not suppose that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it not been seconded by the assurance that I hesitated not in giving, of your sister's indifference. He had before believed her to return his affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. But Bingley has great natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgment than on his own. To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself, was no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the work of a moment. I cannot blame myself for having done thus much. There is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair on which I do not reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in town. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without ill consequence is perhaps probable; but his regard did not appear to me enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done, however, and it was done for the best. On this subject I have nothing more to say, no other apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister's feelings, it was unknowingly done and though the motives which governed me may to you very naturally appear insufficient, I have not yet learnt to condemn them."

“现在要解释一下我当时扮演的角色。他两位姐妹的不安与我如出一辙；我们这种情感的契合很快就被发现；我们都同样意识到事不宜迟,必须立刻将她们的兄弟从中解脱出来,于是我们当即决定一同赶往伦敦与他汇合。我们随即动身--到了那里,我便欣然承担起责任,向我的朋友指出如此选择必将带来的种种弊害。我恳切地向他描述并强调了这些弊端。然而,尽管这番规劝可能动摇或延缓了他的决心,但我认为,若不是随后我又毫不犹豫地向他断言令姐对此并无情意,这桩婚事最终或许还是阻止不了。在此之前,他一直相信令姐是以真诚的情感回报他的爱恋,即便这情感并未达到同等热烈的程度。但彬格莱天性极为谦逊,对我的判断比对他自己的更为信赖。因此,要让他相信自己是一厢情愿,倒也不是什么难事。一旦说服他相信了这一点,再劝他不要返回哈福德郡,便几乎是水到渠成的事了。对于所做的这一切,我无可自责。整件事中,唯有一处行事令我至今思之不安；那便是我不惜屈尊采用了权谋手段,向他隐瞒了令姐也在城里的消息。这件事我知道,彬格莱小姐也知道；但她哥哥至今仍被蒙在鼓里。他们即便相见,或许也未必会造成恶果；但在我看来,他对令姐的感情并未完全熄灭,相见仍有几分危险。或许这种隐瞒、这种伪装有失我的身份；然而,事已至此,况且初衷本是为了大家好。关于此事,我无话可说,亦无其他歉意可表。若我伤害了令姐的感情,那也是出于无心；尽管在您看来,我所持的动机或许显得极不充分,但我至今仍未学会谴责这些动机。”

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remonstrance /rɪˈmɒnstrəns/

n. 抗议；劝诫➕

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condescended /ˌkɒndɪˈsendɪd/

v. 屈尊；俯就➕

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extinguished /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

v. 熄灭；消灭➕

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concealment /kənˈsiːlmənt/

n. 隐藏➕

🔊 "With respect to that other, more weighty accusation, of having injured Mr. Wickham, I can only refute it by laying before you the whole of his connection with my family. Of what he has particularly accused me I am ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate, I can summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity."

“关于另一项更为严重的指控,即我伤害了韦翰先生,我唯有向您和盘托出他与我们家的全部瓜葛,才能予以反驳。我不知他具体指控了我什么；但我所要陈述之事的真实性,却能召来不止一位无可置疑的诚实证人为我作证。”

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refute /rɪˈfjuːt/

v. 驳斥➕

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veracity /vəˈræsəti/

n. 真实性；诚实➕

🔊 "Mr. Wickham is the son of a very respectable man, who had for many years the management of all the Pemberley estates, and whose good conduct in the discharge of his trust naturally inclined my father to be of service to him; and on George Wickham, who was his godson, his kindness was therefore liberally bestowed. My father supported him at school, and afterwards at Cambridge-most important assistance, as his own father, always poor from the extravagance of his wife, would have been unable to give him a gentleman's education. My father was not only fond of this young man's society, whose manners were always engaging; he had also the highest opinion of him, and hoping the church would be his profession, intended to provide for him in it. As for myself, it is many, many years since I first began to think of him in a very different manner. The vicious propensities-the want of principle, which he was careful to guard from the knowledge of his best friend, could not escape the observation of a young man of nearly the same age with himself, and who had opportunities of seeing him in unguarded moments, which Mr. Darcy could not have. Here again I shall give you pain-to what degree you only can tell. But whatever may be the sentiments which Mr. Wickham has created, a suspicion of their nature shall not prevent me from unfolding his real character-it adds even another motive."

“韦翰先生乃一极可敬之人的儿子,此人曾多年掌管彭伯里的全部产业；他忠于职守,品行端正,先父自然乐于施以援手；因而对于他的教子乔治·韦翰,先父的恩惠更是慷慨相赐。先父供他上学,后来又供他上了剑桥大学--这是至关重要的资助,因为他自己的父亲由于妻子挥霍无度,始终一贫如洗,无力给予他绅士的教育。先父不仅喜爱与这位年轻人交往,因其举止总是讨人喜欢；他还对其寄予厚望,希望他能以教会为业,并打算在教会中为他谋一份生计。至于我自己,早在许多许多年前,我就开始以截然不同的眼光看待他了。他那些邪恶的癖好--那缺乏原则的品性--虽然他小心翼翼地瞒着他最好的朋友,却未能逃过一个与他年纪相仿、有机会看到他疏于防范之时的年轻人的眼睛,而这是达西先生所无法看到的。这里我又要令您痛苦了--痛苦到何种程度,唯有您自己知晓。但无论韦翰先生引起了您怎样的情感,对其性质的猜疑不应阻止我揭露他的真实品性--这甚至给了我另一个动机。”

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propensities /prəˈpensətiz/

n. 倾向；癖好➕

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unguarded /ʌnˈɡɑːdɪd/

adj. 无防备的；不留神的➕

🔊 "My excellent father died about five years ago; and his attachment to Mr. Wickham was to the last so steady, that in his will he particularly recommended it to me, to promote his advancement in the best manner that his profession might allow-and if he took orders, desired that a valuable family living might be his as soon as it became vacant. There was also a legacy of one thousand pounds. His own father did not long survive mine, and within half a year from these events, Mr. Wickham wrote to inform me that, having finally resolved against taking orders, he hoped I should not think it unreasonable for him to expect some more immediate pecuniary advantage, in lieu of the preferment, by which he could not be benefited. He had some intention, he added, of studying law, and I must be aware that the interest of one thousand pounds would be a very insufficient support therein. I rather wished, than believed him to be sincere; but, at any rate, was perfectly ready to accede to his proposal. I knew that Mr. Wickham ought not to be a clergyman; the business was therefore soon settled-he resigned all claim to assistance in the church, were it possible that he could ever be in a situation to receive it, and accepted in return three thousand pounds. All connection between us seemed now dissolved. I thought too ill of him to invite him to Pemberley, or admit his society in town. In town I believe he chiefly lived, but his studying the law was a mere pretence, and being now free from all restraint, his life was a life of idleness and dissipation. For about three years I heard little of him; but on the decease of the incumbent of the living which had been designed for him, he applied to me again by letter for the presentation. His circumstances, he assured me, and I had no difficulty in believing it, were exceedingly bad. He had found the law a most unprofitable study, and was now absolutely resolved on being ordained, if I would present him to the living in question-of which he trusted there could be little doubt, as he was well assured that I had no other person to provide for, and I could not have forgotten my revered father's intentions. You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this entreaty, or for resisting every repetition to it. His resentment was in proportion to the distress of his circumstances-and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me to others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period every appearance of acquaintance was dropped. How he lived I know not. But last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on my notice."

“我先父大约在五年前去世；他对韦翰先生的眷顾始终不渝,乃至在遗嘱中特别叮嘱我,务必在其职业允许的最佳范围内提携他--倘若他接受圣职,则希望一旦有俸禄优厚的家庭牧师职位出缺,便由他继任。此外还遗赠给他一千英镑。他父亲在我父亲去世后不久也故去了；此后不到半年,韦翰先生便写信告知我,说他最终决定不接受圣职,并希望我认为他期望获得一些更直接的金钱利益以替代那份他无法受益的圣俸的想法,并非没有道理。他还补充说,他有志于研习法律,而我必定明白,一千英镑的利息对于支持此项研习是远远不够的。我与其说是相信,不如说是希望他是真诚的；但无论如何,我十分乐意应允他的提议。我知道韦翰先生不宜担任牧师之职；于是事情很快就解决了--他放弃了对教会援助的一切权利,即便他将来有可能获得此等援助,而他则接受三千英镑作为回报。至此,我们之间的一切联系似乎都已断绝。我对他评价甚低,不愿邀请他来彭伯里,也不愿在城里与他往来。我相信他主要住在城里,但他所谓研习法律不过是个托词；如今既已摆脱一切束缚,他便过上了游手好闲、放荡不羁的生活。大约有三年时间,我很少听到他的消息；但在原本预定给他的那个牧师职位的现任者去世后,他又写信给我,请求我行使圣职推荐权。他信誓旦旦地告诉我--而我也毫不费力地相信了--他的境况极其糟糕。他发现研习法律毫无收益可言,现在已决意接受圣职,只要我肯推荐他担任前述那个牧师职位--对此他深信不疑,因为他确信我没有其他需要安置的人,而我总不至于忘记先父的遗愿。您大概不会责备我拒绝了他的恳求,也不会责备我抵制了他的一再请求吧。他的怨恨与他境况的窘迫成正比--而且他无疑在向旁人诋毁我时,与在当面指责我时同样激烈。此后,我们之间便断绝了一切表面的交往。我不知道他是如何过活的。但去年夏天,他又一次极其令人痛苦地闯入了我的视线。”

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pecuniary /pɪˈkjuːniəri/

adj. 金钱的➕

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preferment /prɪˈfɜːmənt/

n. 晋升；优先权➕

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dissipation /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/

n. 消散；挥霍➕

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incumbent /ɪnˈkʌmbənt/

n. 现任者；牧师➕

🔊 "I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish to forget myself, and which no obligation less than the present should induce me to unfold to any human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was left to the guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. About a year ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who presided over it, to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse; and after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed the knowledge of it to herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support the idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked up to as a father, acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine what I felt and how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings prevented any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who left the place immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of course removed from her charge. Mr. Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed."

“现在我必须提及一件我自己但愿能忘却的事,若非情势所迫,我断不会向任何人透露。说了这么多,我相信您定会保守秘密。舍妹比我小十多岁,由先母的外甥费茨威廉上校和我本人监护。大约一年前,我们把她从学校接出来,在伦敦为她安置了住所；去年夏天,她随照管她的那位女士去了拉姆斯盖特；韦翰先生也去了那里,无疑是出于设计；因为后来证明,他与杨吉太太早已相识,而我们极其不幸地误信了此人的品行；在她的纵容与协助下,他极力向乔治安娜献殷勤,而舍妹那颗柔善的心,仍深深记得他儿时对她的好,竟被说服相信自己爱上了他,并同意与之私奔。她当时年仅十五岁,这必须成为她的借口；在陈述了她的轻率之后,我很高兴能补充一句:我能得知此事,全亏了她自己。在他们预定私奔前一两天,我出人意料地突然出现在他们面前；当时,乔治安娜不忍心让她几乎视同父亲的兄长伤心难过,便将一切和盘托出。您可以想见我当时的感受以及我如何行事。为顾及舍妹的声誉与情感,我未将此事公之于众；但我写信给韦翰先生,他当即离开了那里,杨吉太太自然也被解除了职务。韦翰先生的主要目标无疑是舍妹那三万英镑的财产；但我忍不住猜想,向我报复的希望也是一个强烈的诱因。若他得逞,他的报复可真是彻底了。”

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connivance /kəˈnaɪvəns/

n. 默许；共谋➕

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elopement /ɪˈləʊpmənt/

n. 私奔➕

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imprudence /ɪmˈpruːdəns/

n. 轻率；不谨慎➕

🔊 "This, Madam, is a faithful narrative of every event in which we have been concerned together; and if you do not absolutely reject it as false, you will, I hope, acquit me henceforth of cruelty towards Mr. Wickham. I know not in what manner, under what form of falsehood he has imposed on you; but his success is not perhaps to be wondered at. Ignorant as you previously were of everything concerning either, detection could not be in your power, and suspicion certainly not in your inclination."

“小姐,以上便是我俩之间所发生诸事的忠实叙述；倘若您不将其斥为全然虚妄,那么我希望,您今后不会再认为我残酷对待韦翰先生。我不知道他是以何种方式、何种谎言蒙蔽了您；但他的成功或许也不足为奇。您先前对双方的情况一无所知,自然无力明辨是非,况且您也绝无猜疑之心。”

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narrative /ˈnærətɪv/

n. 叙述；故事➕

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acquit /əˈkwɪt/

v. 宣告无罪；免除➕

🔊 "You may possibly wonder why all this was not told you last night; but I was not then master enough of myself to know what could or ought to be revealed. For the truth of everything here related, I can appeal more particularly to the testimony of Colonel Fitzwilliam, who, from our near relationship and constant intimacy, and, still more, as one of the executors of my father's will, has been unavoidably acquainted with every particular of these transactions. If your abhorrence of me should make my assertions valueless, you cannot be prevented by the same cause from confiding in my cousin; and that there may be the possibility of consulting him, I shall endeavour to find some opportunity of putting this letter in your hands in the course of the morning. I will only add, God bless you."

“您或许会奇怪,为何昨夜不将这一切告知于您；但我当时心绪纷乱,无法确定什么可以、什么应当透露。至于这里所陈述的一切的真实性,我尤其可以恳请您向费茨威廉上校求证；他既是我的近亲,又与我常相往来,更何况,他还是先父遗嘱的执行人之一,自然对这些事务的每一个细节都了如指掌。倘若您对我的憎恶使得我的陈述变得一文不值,但同样的原因不会阻止您信赖我的表兄；为了让您有可能向他求证,我将设法在今天上午找机会将这封信交到您手中。最后,愿上帝保佑您。”

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abhorrence /əbˈhɒrəns/

n. 憎恶；厌恶➕

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executors /ɪɡˈzekjʊtəz/

n. 遗嘱执行人➕

🔊 "Fitzwilliam Darcy."

达西。

Chapter thirty-five (第三十五章)