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第139章（第1页）

Duringtheirwalk，itwasresolvedthatMr.Bennetsconsentshouldbeaskedinthecourseoftheevening.Elizabethreservedtoherselftheapplicationforhermothers.Shecouldnotdeterminehowhermotherwouldtakeit;sometimesdoubtingwhetherallhiswealthandgrandeurwouldbeenoughtoovercomeherabhorrenceoftheman.Butwhethershewereviolentlysetagainstthematch，orviolentlydelightedwithit，itwascertainthathermannerwouldbeequallyilladaptedtodocredittohersense;andshecouldnomorebearthatMr.Darcyshouldhearthefirstrapturesofherjoy，thanthefirstvehemenceofherdisapprobation.

Intheevening，soonafterMr.Bennetwithdrewtothelibrary，shesawMr.Darcyrisealsoandfollowhim，andheragitationonseeingitwasextreme.Shedidnotfearherfathersopposition，buthewasgoingtobemadeunhappy;andthatitshouldbethroughhermeans—thatshe，hisfavouritechild，shouldbedistressinghimbyherchoice，shouldbefillinghimwithfearsandregretsindisposingofher—wasawretchedreflection，andshesatinmiserytillMr.Darcyappearedagain，when，lookingathim，shewasalittlerelievedbyhissmile.InafewminutesheapproachedthetablewhereshewassittingwithKitty;and，whilepretendingtoadmireherwork，saidinawhisper，“Gotoyourfather，hewantsyouinthelibrary.”

Shewasgonedirectly.

Herfatherwaswalkingabouttheroom，lookinggraveandanxious.“Lizzy，”

saidhe，“whatareyoudoing?Areyououtofyoursenses，tobeacceptingthisman?Havenotyoualwayshatedhim?”

Howearnestlydidshethenwishthatherformeropinionshadbeenmorereasonable，herexpressionsmoremoderate!Itwouldhavesparedherfromexplanationsandprofessionswhichitwasexceedinglyawkwardtogive;buttheywerenownecessary，andsheassuredhim，withsomeconfusion，ofherattachmenttoMr.Darcy.

“Or，inotherwords，youaredeterminedtohavehim.Heisrich，tobesure，andyoumayhavemorefineclothesandfinecarriagesthanJane.Butwilltheymakeyouhappy?”

“Haveyouanyotherobjection，”

saidElizabeth，“thanyourbeliefofmyindifference?”

“Noneatall.Weallknowhimtobeaproud，unpleasantsortofman;butthiswouldbenothingifyoureallylikedhim.”

“Ido，Idolikehim，”

shereplied，withtearsinhereyes，“Ilovehim.Indeedhehasnoimproperpride.Heisperfectlyamiable.Youdonotknowwhathereallyis;thenpraydonotpainmebyspeakingofhiminsuchterms.”

“Lizzy，”

saidherfather，“Ihavegivenhimmyconsent.Heisthekindofman，indeed，towhomIshouldneverdarerefuseanything，whichhecondescendedtoask.Inowgiveittoyou，ifyouareresolvedonhavinghim.Butletmeadviseyoutothinkbetterofit.Iknowyourdisposition，Lizzy.Iknowthatyoucouldbeneitherhappynorrespectable，unlessyoutrulyesteemedyourhusband;unlessyoulookeduptohimasasuperior.Yourlivelytalentswouldplaceyouinthegreatestdangerinanunequalmarriage.Youcouldscarcelyescapediscreditandmisery.Mychild，letmenothavethegriefofseeingyouunabletorespectyourpartnerinlife.Youknownotwhatyouareabout.”

Elizabeth，stillmoreaffected，wasearnestandsolemninherreply;andatlength，byrepeatedassurancesthatMr.Darcywasreallytheobjectofherchoice，byexplainingthegradualchangewhichherestimationofhimhadundergone，relatingherabsolutecertaintythathisaffectionwasnottheworkofaday，buthadstoodthetestofmanymonthssuspense，andenumeratingwithenergyallhisgoodqualities，shedidconquerherfathersincredulity，andreconcilehimtothematch.