Two days after Mr. Bennet’s return, as Jane and Elizabeth were walking together in the shrubbery behind the house, they saw the housekeeper coming towards them, and, concluding that she came to call them to their mother, went forward to meet her; —-
班纳特先生回家两天后，简和伊丽莎白一同在屋后的灌木丛中散步时，看到女管家向她们走来，以为她是来召唤她们去见母亲的，便向前走去迎接； —-

but, instead of the expected summons, when they approached her, she said to Miss Bennet, “I beg your pardon, madam, for interrupting you, but I was in hopes you might have got some good news from town, so I took the liberty of coming to ask.”
但是，当她们走近时，女管家却对班纳特小姐说，”女士，打扰了，我以为您可能从城里得到了一些好消息，所以我特地过来问一下。”

“What do you mean, Hill? We have heard nothing from town.”
“你说什么，希尔？我们没有收到城里的任何消息。”

“Dear madam,” cried Mrs. Hill, in great astonishment, “don’t you know there is an express come for master from Mr. Gardiner? —-
“亲爱的夫人，” 希尔太太惊讶地叫道，” 您不知道刚刚有特急快信给主人从加德纳先生那里来了吗？ —-

He has been here this half-hour, and master has had a letter.”
他已经到这儿半小时了，主人也收到了信。”

Away ran the girls, too eager to get in to have time for speech. —-
姐妹俩急匆匆地跑去，急于进入屋内以至于没有时间说话。 —-

They ran through the vestibule into the breakfast-room; —-
她们跑过前厅进入早餐室； —-

from thence to the library — their father was in neither; —-
从那儿又到了图书室——她们的父亲都不在； —-

and they were on the point of seeking him upstairs with their mother, when they were met by the butler, who said —
正当她们打算去楼上和母亲一起找他时，管家遇上了她们，说——

“If you are looking for my master, ma’am, he is walking towards the little copse.”
“如果您在找我家主人的话，太太，他正朝小树林那边走去。”

Upon this information they instantly passed through the hall once more, and ran across the lawn after their father, who was deliberately pursuing his way towards a small wood on one side of the paddock.
得到这消息后，她们立刻再次穿过大厅，跨过草坪追着父亲，后者正慢悠悠地向围场一边的小树林走去。

Jane, who was not so light nor so much in the habit of running as Elizabeth, soon lagged behind, while her sister, panting for breath, came up with him, and eagerly cried out —
简由于不如伊丽莎白那么轻捷，也没有经常跑步的习惯，很快就落在了后面，而她的妹妹上气不接下气地追上了父亲，急切地叫道——

“Oh, papa, what news — what news? Have you heard from my uncle?”
“哦，爸爸，有什么消息——什么消息？你有没有收到我的叔叔的消息？”

“Yes, I have had a letter from him by express.”
“是的，我收到了他的一封快信。”

“Well, and what news does it bring — good or bad?”
“那么，是什么消息——好消息还是坏消息？”

“What is there of good to be expected?” said he, taking the letter from his pocket. —-
“有什么好消息可期待呢？” 他说着从口袋里拿出那封信。” —-

“But perhaps you would like to read it.”
不过你或许想读一读吧。”

Elizabeth impatiently caught it from his hand. Jane now came up.
伊丽莎白急不可耐地从他手中夺过信件。简现在赶了上来。

“Read it aloud,” said their father, “for I hardly know myself what it is about.”
“大声读出来，” 她们的父亲说，” 因为我自己都不太清楚里面说的是些什么。”

“Gracechurch Street, Monday, August 2.
“Gracechurch Street, 周一, 8月2日。

“MY DEAR BROTHER, — At last I am able to send you some tidings of my niece, and such as, upon the whole, I hope will give you satisfaction. —-
“亲爱的哥哥，——我终于能为你带来有关我侄女的消息了，总体来说我希望这是能让你满意的消息。 —-

Soon after you left me on Saturday, I was fortunate enough to find out in what part of London they were. —-
你星期六离开我后不久，我就幸运地发现了他们在伦敦的位置。 —-

The particulars I reserve till we meet: it is enough to know they are discovered. —-
具体细节等我们见面再说：足够你知道的是，他们被找到了。 —-

I have seen them both — “
我见过了他们两个——“

“Then it is as I always hoped,” cried Jane; “they are married!”
“那么正如我总是希望的，” 简欢呼道，”他们已经结婚了！”

Elizabeth read on —
伊丽莎白继续读——

“I have seen them both. They are not married, nor can I find there was any intention of being so; —-
“我见过他们两个。他们并未结婚，我也找不到有结婚的意图； —-

but if you are willing to perform the engagements which I have ventured to make on your side, I hope it will not be long before they are. —-
但如果您愿意兑现我代您做出的承诺，我希望他们不久就会结婚。 —-

All that is required of you is, to assure to your daughter, by settlement, her equal share of the five thousand pounds secured among your children after the decease of yourself and my sister; —-
您所需要做的，就是向您的女儿通过一项法律安排，保证她在您和我的姐姐去世后，能在您的孩子们之间平分五千英镑； —-

and, moreover, to enter into an engagement of allowing her, during your life, one hundred pounds per annum. —-
另外，您还要承诺在您有生之年，每年给她一百英镑的生活费。 —-

These are conditions which, considering everything, I had no hesitation in complying with, as far as I thought myself privileged, for you. —-
考虑到所有情况，这些条件是我毫不犹豫地同意了，尽我认为我有权利代表您做出的。 —-

I shall send this by express, that no time may be lost in bringing me your answer. —-
我将通过快递发送这封信，以便尽快收到您的答复。 —-

You will easily comprehend, from these particulars, that Mr. Wickham’s circumstances are not so hopeless as they are generally believed to be. —-
通过这些细节，您将很容易理解威克姆先生的处境并不像人们普遍认为的那么没希望。 —-

The world has been deceived in that respect; —-
全世界在这方面都被欺骗了； —-

and I am happy to say there will be some little money, even when all his debts are discharged, to settle on my niece, in addition to her own fortune. —-
我很高兴地说，当他清偿所有债务后，仍会有一些小钱，可以在我侄女自己的财产之外再给她安置一些。 —-

If, as I conclude will be the case, you send me full powers to act in your name throughout the whole of this business, I will immediately give directions to Haggerston for preparing a proper settlement. —-
如果，如我推测的那样，您给我全权代表您处理整个事务，我将立即指示哈格斯顿为准备适当的财产安排做准备。 —-

There will not be the smallest occasion for your coming to town again; —-
您再来城里完全没有必要； —-

therefore stay quietly at Longbourn, and depend on my diligence and care. —-
因此，静静待在浪搏恩，并依赖我的勤奋和关怀。 —-

Send back your answer as soon as you can, and be careful to write explicitly. —-
尽快回复你的答案，并务必清晰地书写。 —-

We have judged it best that my niece should be married from this house, of which I hope you will approve. —-
我们认为最好是我侄女从这个家出嫁，我希望你能同意。她今天将来到我们这里。 —-

She comes to us to-day. I shall write again as soon as anything more is determined on. —-
一旦决定了更多的事情，我会再次写信。— 您的等等。 —-

— Your’s, etc. —-
“爱德华. —-

“EDW. GARDINER.”
加德纳。”

“Is it possible?” cried Elizabeth, when she had finished. —-
“这可能吗?” 伊丽莎白喊道，当她读完信。” —-

“Can it be possible that he will marry her?”
他真的会和她结婚吗?”

“Wickham is not so undeserving, then, as we have thought him,” said her sister. —-
“看来威克姆并不像我们先前想的那样不值得信赖,” 她的姐姐说。” —-

“My dear father, I congratulate you.”
亲爱的爸爸，我祝贺您。”

“And have you answered the letter?” said Elizabeth.
“你回信了吗?” 伊丽莎白问。

“No; but it must be done soon.”
“还没有；但是必须尽快。”

Most earnestly did she then intreat him to lose no more time before he wrote.
她极为迫切地请求他不要再浪费时间，马上写信。

“Oh! my dear father,” she cried, “come back and write immediately. —-
“哦！亲爱的爸爸，” 她哭着说，” 回来立即写信吧。 —-

Consider how important every moment is in such a case.”
考虑在这样的情况下每一刻都是多么重要。”

“Let me write for you,” said Jane, “if you dislike the trouble yourself.”
“让我代你写吧，” 简说，” 如果你不愿意麻烦的话。”

“I dislike it very much,” he replied; “but it must be done.”
“我确实非常不喜欢，” 他回答说；” 但这必须要做。”

And so saying, he turned back with them, and walked towards the house.
说着，他转身和她们一起走回了房子的方向。

“And may I ask — “ said Elizabeth; “but the terms, I suppose, must be complied with.”
“我可以问—“ 伊丽莎白说；” 但我猜，条款必须遵守。”

“Complied with! I am only ashamed of his asking so little.”
“遵守！我只是为他要求得这么少而感到羞耻。”

“And they must marry! Yet he is such a man!”
“他们必须结婚！然而他确实是那样的一个人！”

“Yes, yes, they must marry. There is nothing else to be done. —-
“是的，是的，他们必须结婚。别无选择。 —-

But there are two things that I want very much to know: —-
但有两件事我非常想要知道： —-

one is, how much money your uncle has laid down, to bring it about; and the other, how I am ever to pay him.”
一个是，你叔叔放了多少钱来促成这件事；另一个是，我该如何还给他。”

“Money! my uncle!” cried Jane; “what do you mean, sir?”
“钱！我叔叔！” 简惊呼道；”你什么意思，爸爸？”

“I mean, that no man in his senses would marry Lydia on so slight a temptation as one hundred a year during my life, and fifty after I am gone.”
“我的意思是，任何头脑正常的人都不会因为如此微小的诱惑，比如我在世时每年一百英镑，我去世后五十英镑，就去娶丽迪雅。”

“That is very true,” said Elizabeth; “though it had not occurred to me before. —-
“那确实是事实，” 伊丽莎白说；” 尽管这之前我还没想到。 —-

His debts to be discharged, and something still to remain! Oh! it must be my uncle’s doings! —-
他的债务得到偿清，还有些钱要留下！哦！一定是我叔叔的安排！ —-

Generous, good man, I am afraid he has distressed himself. —-
他是一个慷慨善良的人，我担心他让自己陷入了困境。 —-

A small sum could not do all this.”
少量的钱是办不到这一切的。”

“No,” said her father; “Wickham’s a fool if he takes her with a farthing less than ten thousand pounds. —-
“不会的，” 她的父亲说；”如果威克姆带着少于一万英镑就娶她，那他就是个傻瓜。 —-

I should be sorry to think so ill of him, in the very beginning of our relationship.”
如果在我们关系开始之初我就要如此低估他，我会感到遗憾。”

“Ten thousand pounds! Heaven forbid! How is half such a sum to be repaid?”
“一万英镑！天哪！怎么可能有办法偿还这么一大笔钱呢？”

Mr. Bennet made no answer, and each of them, deep in thought, continued silent till they reached the house. —-
班纳特先生没有回答，每个人都陷入了沉思，直到他们到达房子。 —-

Their father then went to the library to write, and the girls walked into the breakfast-room.
他们的父亲随后去了书房写信，而女孩们走进了早餐室。

“And they are really to be married!” cried Elizabeth, as soon as they were by themselves. —-
“他们真要结婚了！” 当她们单独一起时，伊丽莎白叫道。” —-

“How strange this is! And for this we are to be thankful. —-
这真奇怪！我们竟然得为此感到感激。 —-

That they should marry, small as is their chance of happiness, and wretched as is his character, we are forced to rejoice. Oh, Lydia!”
尽管他们幸福的机会渺茫，他的性格又是如此悲惨，我们还是被迫感到高兴。哦，丽迪雅！”

“I comfort myself with thinking,” replied Jane, “that he certainly would not marry Lydia if he had not a real regard for her. —-
“我安慰自己的想法是，” 简回答说，” 他肯定不会在没有真正喜爱丽迪雅的情况下娶她。 —-

Though our kind uncle has done something towards clearing him, I cannot believe that ten thousand pounds, or anything like it, has been advanced. —-
尽管我们亲切的叔叔已经在某种程度上帮了他清理债务，我无法相信已经提前给了一万英镑，或者类似的金额。 —-

He has children of his own, and may have more. —-
他自己有孩子，还可能会有更多。 —-

How could he spare half ten thousand pounds?”
他怎么可能拿出五万英镑的一半呢？”

“If we are ever able to learn what Wickham’s debts have been,” said Elizabeth, “and how much is settled on his side on our sister, we shall exactly know what Mr. Gardiner has done for them, because Wickham has not sixpence of his own. —-
“如果我们能够了解威克姆的债务到底是多少，” 伊丽莎白说，”以及他这边在我妹妹身上确立了多少，我们就会确切知道加德纳先生为他们做了些什么，因为威克姆自己连一文钱都没有。 —-

The kindness of my uncle and aunt can never be requited. —-
我叔叔和阿姨的慷慨永远无法报答。 —-

Their taking her home, and affording her their personal protection and countenance, is such a sacrifice to her advantage as years of gratitude cannot enough acknowledge. —-
他们把她带回家并为她提供个人的保护和支持，这种为她的利益所做的牺牲，是多年的感激都无法充分表达的。 —-

By this time she is actually with them! —-
此刻她实际上已经和他们在一起了！ —-

If such goodness does not make her miserable now, she will never deserve to be happy! —-
如果这样的善行现在不让她感到痛苦，那她就永远不配得到快乐！ —-

What a meeting for her, when she first sees my aunt!”
见到我阿姨时对她来说将是怎样的一次会面啊！”

“We must endeavour to forget all that has passed on either side,” said Jane: —-
“我们必须努力忘记双方发生的一切,”简说：” —-

“I hope and trust they will yet be happy. —-
我希望并相信他们最终会幸福的。 —-

His consenting to marry her is a proof, I will believe, that he is come to a right way of thinking. Their mutual affection will steady them; —-
他同意娶她为妻，我相信这是他已经开始正确认识事情。他们的相互爱慕将使他们稳定下来； —-

and I flatter myself they will settle so quietly, and live in so rational a manner, as may in time make their past imprudence forgotten.”
我自欺欺人地认为，随着时间的推移，他们理智的生活方式会让他们过去的轻率行为被遗忘。”

“Their conduct has been such,” replied Elizabeth, “as neither you, nor I, nor anybody can ever forget. —-
“他们的行为如此,”伊丽莎白回答说，” 你我，还有任何人都不可能忘记。 —-

It is useless to talk of it.”
谈论这些已经无济于事了。”

It now occurred to the girls that their mother was in all likelihood perfectly ignorant of what had happened. —-
现在，女孩们想到他们的母亲很可能对发生的事情完全不知情。 —-

They went to the library, therefore, and asked their father whether he would not wish them to make it known to her. —-
因此，他们去了图书室，问他们的父亲是否希望他们告诉她。 —-

He was writing, and, without raising his head, coolly replied —
他正在写作，没有抬起头，冷静地回答 —

“Just as you please.”
“随你们高兴。”

“May we take my uncle’s letter to read to her?”
“我们可以拿我叔叔的信给她听吗？”

“Take whatever you like, and get away.”
“拿你想拿的去吧，快走开。”

Elizabeth took the letter from his writing table, and they went up stairs together. —-
伊丽莎白从他的写字台上拿起信，她们一起上楼了。 —-

Mary and Kitty were both with Mrs. Bennet: one communication would, therefore, do for all. —-
玛丽和吉蒂都和班纳特夫人在一起：因此，一封信就可以通知他们所有人。 —-

After a slight preparation for good news, the letter was read aloud. —-
简稍微准备了一下好消息，然后大声朗读信件。 —-

Mrs. Bennet could hardly contain herself. —-
班纳特夫人几乎控制不住自己。 —-

As soon as Jane had read Mr. Gardiner’s hope of Lydia’s being soon married, her joy burst forth, and every following sentence added to its exuberance. —-
当简读到加德纳先生希望丽迪雅很快就会结婚时，她的喜悦爆发出来，信的每一句后文都增加了她的狂喜。 —-

She was now in an irritation as violent from delight, as she had ever been fidgetty from alarm and vexation. —-
她现在因欣喜而激动得和之前因惊恐和烦躁而不安一样。 —-

To know that her daughter would be married was enough. —-
知道她的女儿将出嫁就足够了。 —-

She was disturbed by no fear for her felicity, nor humbled by any remembrance of her misconduct.
她不为女儿的幸福感到担忧，也不为女儿的不当行为感到羞愧。

“My dear, dear Lydia!” she cried. “This is delightful indeed! She will be married! —-
“我亲爱的，亲爱的丽迪雅！” 她叫道。”这真是太令人高兴了！ —-

I shall see her again! She will be married at sixteen! My good, kind brother! —-
她将要结婚了！我将再次见到她！她将在十六岁结婚！ —-

I knew how it would be. I knew he would manage everything! How I long to see her! —-
我好心的、亲切的兄弟！我就知道会是这样，我知道他会安排好一切！ —-

and to see dear Wickham too? But the clothes, the wedding clothes! —-
我多么想见到她，也想见到亲爱的威克姆！但是衣服，婚纱！ —-

I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. —-
我将立即写信给我妹妹加德纳。 —-

Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him how much he will give her. —-
丽兹，亲爱的，跑到你父亲那儿，问问他会给她多少钱。 —-

Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell, Kitty, for Hill. I will put on my things in a moment. —-
等等，等等，我自己去。吉蒂，去按门铃，叫希尔来。我马上就穿好衣服。 —-

My dear, dear Lydia! — How merry we shall be together when we meet!”
我亲爱的，亲爱的丽迪雅！— 我们见面时会多么愉快啊！”

Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. Gardiner’s behaviour laid them all under.
她的长女试图通过引导她想到加德纳先生的行为给他们所有人带来的义务来减轻这些过激情绪的影响。

“For we must attribute this happy conclusion,” she added, “in a great measure to his kindness. —-
“因为我们必须在很大程度上归功于他的仁慈，才有了这个幸福的结局。” —-

We are persuaded that he has pledged himself to assist Mr. Wickham with money.”
她补充道，”我们相信他已经承诺会协助威克姆先生提供资金。”

“Well,” cried her mother, “it is all very right; who should do it but her own uncle? —-
“好吧，”她的母亲叫道，”这一切都很正确；除了她自己的叔叔谁还能做呢？ —-

If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money, you know; —-
如果他没有他自己的家庭，我和我的孩子们就得到了他所有的钱，你知道的； —-

and it is the first time we have ever had anything from him, except a few presents. —-
而且这还是我们第一次从他那里得到任何东西，除了一些礼物。 —-

Well! I am so happy! In a short time I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! —-
嗯！我真的好高兴！很快我就有一个女儿出嫁了。 —-

— how well it sounds! And she was only sixteen last June. — My dear Jane, I am in such a flutter, that I am sure I can’t write; —-
威克姆夫人！— 这听起来多好！她六月才刚满十六岁。— 我亲爱的简，我激动得简直不知所措，我肯定写不了信； —-

so I will dictate, and you write for me. —-
我会口述，你帮我写。 —-

We will settle with your father about the money afterwards; —-
我们稍后再和你父亲商量钱的事情； —-

but the things should be ordered immediately.”
但物品应立即订购。”

She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and cambric, and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait till her father was at leisure to be consulted. —-
她接着详细讨论了印花棉布、薄纱和细滑棉布，并将很快口述一些很丰富的订单，若不是简虽有些困难但还是说服她等到父亲有空时再商量。 —-

One day’s delay, she observed, would be of small importance; —-
她说，拖延一天对整件事影响不大； —-

and her mother was too happy to be quite so obstinate as usual. —-
而她的母亲也太高兴了，没有像平时那样固执。 —-

Other schemes, too, came into her head.
她的脑海中也浮现出了其他的计划。

“I will go to Meryton,” said she, “as soon as I am dressed, and tell the good, good news to my sister Phillips. —-
“我会打扮好后就去梅里屯，” 她说，”告诉我姐姐菲利普斯这个好消息。 —-

And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage. —-
回来的路上我可以拜访卢卡斯夫人和朗夫人. 吉蒂，跑一趟, 叫上马车。 —-

An airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure. —-
我确信出去透透气会对我有很大的好处。 —-

Girls, can I do anything for you in Meryton? Oh! here comes Hill! —-
姑娘们，我去梅里屯能为你们做点什么吗？哦！希尔来了！ —-

My dear Hill, have you heard the good news? Miss Lydia is going to be married; —-
亲爱的希尔，你听到那个好消息了吗？丽迪雅小姐要结婚了； —-

and you shall all have a bowl of punch to make merry at her wedding.”
在她的婚礼上，你们每个人都可以喝一碗果子酒来庆祝。

Mrs. Hill began instantly to express her joy. —-
希尔太太立刻开始表达她的喜悦。 —-

Elizabeth received her congratulations amongst the rest, and then, sick of this folly, took refuge in her own room, that she might think with freedom.
伊丽莎白在众人中接受了她的祝福，然后，对这些愚蠢感到厌烦，退回自己的房间，以便自由思考。

Poor Lydia’s situation must, at best, be bad enough; —-
可怜的丽迪雅的处境，即使是最好的情况，也足够糟糕了； —-

but that it was no worse, she had need to be thankful. She felt it so; —-
但是她得感激现在的情况并没有变得更糟。 —-

and though, in looking forward, neither rational happiness nor worldly prosperity could be justly expected for her sister, in looking back to what they had feared, only two hours ago, she felt all the advantages of what they had gained.
她感到了这一点；尽管向前看，她不能为妹妹期待合理的幸福或世俗的繁荣，但回想起两小时前他们所担心的，她感受到了他们所获得的一切优势。