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Гордость и предубеждение
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Глава 42
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Pride and Prejudice
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1
The time fixed for the beginning of their northern tour was now fast approaching,
2
and a fortnight only was wanting of it,
3
when a letter arrived from Mrs. Gardiner,
4
which at once delayed its commencement and curtailed its extent.
5
Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from setting out till a fortnight later in July,
6
and must be in London again within a month,
7
and as that left too short a period for them to go so far,
8
and see so much as they had proposed,
9
or at least to see it with the leisure and comfort they had built on,
10
they were obliged to give up the Lakes,
11
and substitute a more contracted tour,
12
and,
13
according to the present plan,
14
were to go no farther northwards than Derbyshire.
15
In that county there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks;
16
and to Mrs. Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction.
17
The town where she had formerly passed some years of her life,
18
and where they were now to spend a few days,
19
was probably as great an object of her curiosity as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock,
20
Chatsworth,
21
Dovedale,
22
or the Peak.
23
Elizabeth was excessively disappointed;
24
she had set her heart on seeing the Lakes,
25
and still thought there might have been time enough.
26
But it was her business to be satisfied—and certainly her temper to be happy;
27
and all was soon right again.
28
With the mention of Derbyshire there were many ideas connected.
29
It was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its owner.
30
“But surely,”
31
said she,
32
“I may enter his county with impunity,
33
and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me.”
34
The period of expectation was now doubled.
35
Four weeks were to pass away before her uncle and aunt’s arrival.
36
But they did pass away,
37
and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner,
38
with their four children,
39
did at length appear at Longbourn.
40
The children,
41
two girls of six and eight years old,
42
and two younger boys,
43
were to be left under the particular care of their cousin Jane,
44
who was the general favourite,
45
and whose steady sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every way—teaching them,
46
playing with them,
47
and loving them.
48
The Gardiners stayed only one night at Longbourn,
49
and set off the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement.
50
One enjoyment was certain—that of suitableness of companions;
51
a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear inconveniences—cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure—and affection and intelligence,
52
which might supply it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad.
53
It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire,
54
nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay;
55
Oxford,
56
Blenheim,
57
Warwick,
58
Kenilworth,
59
Birmingham,
60
etc.
61
are sufficiently known.
62
A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern.
63
To the little town of Lambton,
64
the scene of Mrs. Gardiner’s former residence,
65
and where she had lately learned some acquaintance still remained,
66
they bent their steps,
67
after having seen all the principal wonders of the country;
68
and within five miles of Lambton,
69
Elizabeth found from her aunt that Pemberley was situated.
70
It was not in their direct road,
71
nor more than a mile or two out of it.
72
In talking over their route the evening before,
73
Mrs. Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again.
74
Mr. Gardiner declared his willingness,
75
and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.
76
“My love,
77
should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so much?”
78
said her aunt;
79
“a place,
80
too,
81
with which so many of your acquaintances are connected.
82
Wickham passed all his youth there,
83
you know.”
84
Elizabeth was distressed.
85
She felt that she had no business at Pemberley,
86
and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it.
87
She must own that she was tired of seeing great houses;
88
after going over so many,
89
she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.
90
Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity.
91
“If it were merely a fine house richly furnished,”
92
said she,
93
“I should not care about it myself;
94
but the grounds are delightful.
95
They have some of the finest woods in the country.”
96
Elizabeth said no more—but her mind could not acquiesce.
97
The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy,
98
while viewing the place,
99
instantly occurred.
100
It would be dreadful!
101
She blushed at the very idea,
102
and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk.
103
But against this there were objections;
104
and she finally resolved that it could be the last resource,
105
if her private inquiries to the absence of the family were unfavourably answered.
106
Accordingly,
107
when she retired at night,
108
she asked the chambermaid whether Pemberley were not a very fine place?
109
what was the name of its proprietor?
110
and,
111
with no little alarm,
112
whether the family were down for the summer?
113
A most welcome negative followed the last question—and her alarms now being removed,
114
she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house herself;
115
and when the subject was revived the next morning,
116
and she was again applied to,
117
could readily answer,
118
and with a proper air of indifference,
119
that she had not really any dislike to the scheme.
120
To Pemberley,
121
therefore,
122
they were to go.
123
End of chapter 42.
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