🔊 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. Mrs. Gardiner, having waited at home all the morning for the arrival of her husband, now joined them, and when she heard that no news had been received, she looked disappointed and concerned.

大家都盼望着第二天早晨能收到班纳特先生的信,但邮差来了,却没有带来他片言只字。家里人原就知道,在平常日子里,他是个最懒得动笔、最拖沓的写信人；但在这种时候,他们本指望他会勤快些。他们不得不推断,他没有什么好消息可报告；但即使如此,他们也想能确知。嘉丁纳太太在家里等了一上午丈夫的到来,现在也来了,听说没有消息,她显得失望而关切。

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negligent /ˈneɡlɪdʒənt/

adj. 疏忽的,粗心大意的➕

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dilatory /ˈdɪlətəri/

adj. 拖拉的,迟缓的➕

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correspondent /ˌkɒrəˈspɒndənt/

n. 通信者；记者➕

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exertion /ɪɡˈzɜːʃn/

n. 努力,尽力；运用➕

🔊 The misery of suspense was equally felt by all, and each sought relief in words of doubt or comfort. Mr. Gardiner had set off immediately; and till he returned, they could do nothing but wait and hope. Mrs. Bennet was the most afflicted; she could not sit still, nor attempt any employment, but walked from room to room, calling out in accents of lamentation and self-pity. 'Oh! my poor Lydia!' she cried. 'What is to become of her! What will she do! How is she to be maintained! And my poor husband, how will he bear it! I am sure I shall never see him again, for he will die of a broken heart. Oh! that I had gone with him! but I was afraid of the small-pox. Why did not I send for my sister Gardiner? She would have been of use. But now it is too late. Oh! my dear, dear Lydia!'

悬而未决的痛苦同样折磨着每一个人,大家各以疑虑或安慰的话语来寻求解脱。嘉丁纳先生已经立即动身了；在他回来之前,他们除了等待和盼望,别无他法。班纳特太太最为悲痛；她坐立不安,什么事也做不了,只是在房间里走来走去,用哀怨和自怜的语调叫喊着。“哦！我可怜的莉迪亚！”她喊道。“她可怎么办啊！她该做什么！她怎么维持生计！还有我可怜的丈夫,他怎么受得了！我肯定再也见不到他了,因为他会心碎而死的。哦！我真该跟他一起去的！但我怕天花。为什么我没派人去请我姐姐嘉丁纳？她肯定能帮上忙。可现在太迟了。哦！我亲爱的,亲爱的莉迪亚！”

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suspense /səˈspens/

n. 悬念,焦虑不安➕

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afflicted /əˈflɪktɪd/

adj. 受折磨的,痛苦的➕

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lamentation /ˌlæmenˈteɪʃn/

n. 哀悼,悲叹➕

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self-pity /ˌself ˈpɪti/

n. 自怜,自我怜悯➕

🔊 In this manner the day passed away, and the evening brought no alteration. The next morning produced no letter, and the following day was equally barren of intelligence. Mrs. Bennet's impatience became extreme, and her complaints more loud and frequent. She accused everybody of indifference and neglect, and declared that she was sure her husband was killed, and that she should never see him again. Her daughters did what they could to comfort her, but their efforts were ineffectual. At length, a letter arrived from Mr. Gardiner, which contained the welcome news that Mr. Bennet was safe and well, but that he had not yet been able to trace Lydia. This gave some temporary relief, though the anxiety was far from over.

这一天就这样过去了,晚上也没有任何变化。第二天早晨没有信来,第三天也同样杳无音讯。班纳特太太的不耐烦到了极点,她的抱怨声也越来越响、越来越频繁。她指责每个人都漠不关心、疏忽大意,并断言她确信丈夫已遭杀害,她再也见不到他了。她的女儿们尽力安慰她,但她们的劝解无济于事。终于,嘉丁纳先生来了一封信,信中带来喜讯说班纳特先生平安无事,但他尚未能追踪到莉迪亚。这给了他们一些暂时的宽慰,尽管焦虑还远未结束。

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alteration /ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃn/

n. 改变,改动➕

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barren /ˈbærən/

adj. 贫瘠的,荒芜的；无结果的➕

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impatience /ɪmˈpeɪʃns/

n. 不耐烦,急躁➕

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ineffectual /ˌɪnɪˈfektʃuəl/

adj. 无效的,不起作用的➕

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temporary /ˈtemprəri/

adj. 暂时的,临时的➕

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anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/

n. 焦虑,忧虑➕

Chapter thirty-eight (第三十八章)