THEIR sister's wedding day arrived; and Jane and Elizabeth felt for her probably more than she felt for herself. The carriage was sent to meet them at ----, and they were to return in it by dinner-time. Their arrival was
dreaded by the elder Miss Bennets, and Jane more especially, who gave Lydia the feelings which would have attended herself, had she been the
culprit, and was
wretched in the thought of what her sister must
endure.
妹妹的婚期到了,吉英和伊麗莎白都為她擔(dān)心,恐怕比妹妹自己擔(dān)心得還要厲害。家里打發(fā)了一部馬車到某某地方去接新夫婦,吃中飯時(shí)他們就可以來(lái)到。兩位姐姐都怕他們來(lái),尤其是吉英怕得厲害。她設(shè)身處地地想:要是麗迪雅這次丑行發(fā)生在她自己身上,她一定會(huì)感觸萬(wàn)千,再想到妹妹心里的難受,便越發(fā)覺(jué)得不好過(guò)。?
They came. The family were assembled in the breakfast room to receive them. Smiles
decked the face of Mrs. Bennet as the carriage drove up to the door; her husband looked
impenetrably grave; her daughters, alarmed, anxious, uneasy.
新夫婦來(lái)了。全家都集合在起居室里迎接他們。當(dāng)馬車停在門前的時(shí)候,班納特太太滿面堆著笑容,她丈夫卻板著臉。女兒們又是驚奇又是焦急,而且十分不安。
Lydia's voice was heard in the
vestibule; the door was thrown open, and she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards, embraced her, and welcomed her with
rapture; gave her hand, with an
affectionate smile, to Wickham, who followed his lady; and wished them both joy with an
alacrity which shewed no doubt of their happiness.
只聽(tīng)得門口已經(jīng)有了麗迪雅說(shuō)話的聲音,一會(huì)兒,門給打開(kāi)了,麗迪雅跑進(jìn)屋來(lái)。母親高興得要命,連忙走上前來(lái)歡迎她,擁抱她,一面又帶著親切的笑容把手伸給韋翰(他走在新婦后面),祝他們夫婦倆快活。班太太的話講得那么響亮,說(shuō)明了她相信他們倆一定會(huì)幸福。
Their reception from Mr. Bennet, to whom they then turned, was not quite so
cordial. His
countenance rather gained in
austerity; and he scarcely opened his lips. The easy assurance of the young couple, indeed, was enough to
provoke him. Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet was shocked. Lydia was Lydia still;
untamed,
unabashed, wild, noisy, and fearless. She turned from sister to sister, demanding their congratulations; and when at length they all sat down, looked eagerly round the room, took notice of some little alteration in it, and observed, with a laugh, that it was a great while since she had been there.
然后新夫婦轉(zhuǎn)身到班納特先生跟前,他對(duì)他們可沒(méi)有他太太那么熱誠(chéng)。只見(jiàn)他的臉色顯得分外嚴(yán)峻,連嘴也不張一下。這一對(duì)年輕夫婦那種安然自得的樣子,實(shí)在叫他生氣。伊麗莎白覺(jué)得厭惡,連吉英也禁不住感到驚駭。麗迪雅還是麗迪雅──不安分,不害羞,撒野吵嚷,天不怕地不怕的。她從這個(gè)姐姐跟前走到那個(gè)姐姐跟前,要她們一個(gè)個(gè)恭喜她。最后大家都坐下來(lái)了,她連忙掃視了一下這間屋子,看到里面稍許有些改變,便笑著說(shuō),好久不曾到這兒來(lái)了。
Wickham was not at all more distressed than herself, but his manners were always so pleasing, that had his character and his marriage been exactly what they ought, his smiles and his easy address, while he claimed their relationship, would have delighted them all. Elizabeth had not before believed him quite equal to such assurance; but she sat down, resolving within herself to draw no limits in future to the
impudence of an impudent man. She blushed, and Jane blushed; but the cheeks of the two who caused their confusion suffered no
variation of colour.
韋翰更沒(méi)有一點(diǎn)難受的樣子。他的儀表一向親切動(dòng)人,要是他為人正派一些,娶親合乎規(guī)矩一些,那么,這次來(lái)拜見(jiàn)岳家,他那笑容可掬、談吐安詳?shù)臉幼?,自然?huì)討人家歡喜。伊麗莎白從來(lái)不相信他竟會(huì)這樣厚顏無(wú)恥,她坐下來(lái)思忖道:一個(gè)人不要起臉來(lái)可真是漫無(wú)止境。她不禁紅了臉,吉英也紅了臉;可是那兩位當(dāng)事人,別人都為他們難為情,他們自己卻面不改色。
There was no want of discourse. The bride and her mother could neither of them talk fast enough; and Wickham, who happened to sit near Elizabeth, began enquiring after his
acquaintance in that neighbourhood, with a good humoured ease which she felt very unable to equal in her replies. They seemed each of them to have the happiest memories in the world. Nothing of the past was recollected with pain; and Lydia led
voluntarily to subjects which her sisters would not have
alluded to for the world.
這個(gè)場(chǎng)合確實(shí)是不愁沒(méi)有話談。新娘和她母親只覺(jué)得有話來(lái)不及說(shuō);韋翰湊巧坐在伊麗莎白身旁,便向她問(wèn)起附近一帶的熟人近況如何,問(wèn)得極其和悅從容,弄得她反而不能對(duì)答如流。這一對(duì)夫婦儼然心安理得,毫無(wú)羞恥之心。他們想起過(guò)去的事,心里絲毫不覺(jué)得難受;麗迪雅又不由自主地談到了許多事情──要是換了她姐姐們,這種事情是無(wú)論如何也說(shuō)不出口的。