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第101章（第1页）

ElizabethhadbeenagooddealdisappointedinnotfindingaletterfromJaneontheirfirstarrivalatLambton;andthisdisappointmenthadbeenrenewedoneachofthemorningsthathadnowbeenspentthere;butonthethirdherrepiningwasover，andhersisterjustified，bythereceiptoftwolettersfromheratonce，ononeofwhichwasmarkedthatithadbeenmissentelsewhere。Elizabethwasnotsurprisedatit，asJanehadwrittenthedirectionremarkablyill。

Theyhadjustbeenpreparingtowalkastheletterscamein;andheruncleandaunt，leavinghertoenjoytheminquiet，setoffbythemselves。Theonemissentmustfirstbeattendedto;ithadbeenwrittenfivedaysago。Thebeginningcontainedanaccountofalltheirlittlepartiesandengagements，withsuchnewsasthecountryafforded;butthelatterhalf，whichwasdatedadaylater，andwritteninevidentagitation，gavemoreimportantintelligence。Itwastothiseffect:

“Sincewritingtheabove，dearestLizzy，somethinghasoccurredofamostunexpectedandseriousnature;butIamafraidofalarmingyou—beassuredthatweareallwell。WhatIhavetosayrelatestopoorLydia。Anexpresscameattwelvelastnight，justaswewereallgonetobed，fromColonelForster，toinformusthatshewasgoneofftoScotlandwithoneofhisofficers;toownthetruth，withWickham!Imagineoursurprise。ToKitty，however，itdoesnotseemsowhollyunexpected。Iamvery，verysorry。Soimprudentamatchonbothsides!ButIamwillingtohopethebest，andthathischaracterhasbeenmisunderstood。ThoughtlessandindiscreetIcaneasilybelievehim，butthisstep（andletusrejoiceoverit）marksnothingbadatheart。Hischoiceisdisinterestedatleast，forhemustknowmyfathercangivehernothing。Ourpoormotherissadlygrieved。Myfatherbearsitbetter。HowthankfulamIthatweneverletthemknowwhathasbeensaidagainsthim;wemustforgetitourselves。TheywereoffSaturdaynightabouttwelve，asisconjectured，butwerenotmissedtillyesterdaymorningateight。Theexpresswassentoffdirectly。MydearLizzy，theymusthavepassedwithintenmilesofus。ColonelForstergivesusreasontoexpecthimheresoon。Lydialeftafewlinesforhiswife，informingheroftheirintention。Imustconclude，forIcannotbelongfrommypoormother。Iamafraidyouwillnotbeabletomakeitout，butIhardlyknowwhatIhavewritten。”

Withoutallowingherselftimeforconsideration，andscarcelyknowingwhatshefelt，Elizabethonfinishingthisletterinstantlyseizedtheother，andopeningitwiththeutmostimpatience，readasfollows:ithadbeenwrittenadaylaterthantheconclusionofthefirst。