DAY 12; Mar. 9
4 Elizabeth meets Mr. Wickham （4-2）
1. ‘Netherfield is quite near Meryton，I suppose？How long has—has Mr. Darcy been staying there？’
2. ‘He has been there about a month，’replied Elizabeth．Unwilling to let the matter drop，she added，‘He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire，I understand．’
3. ‘Yes，’replied Wickham，‘his income is ten thousand a year at least．I know more about him than most people，as I have been closely connected with his family since childhood．’
4. Elizabeth could only look surprised．
5. ‘You might well be surprised，Miss Bennet，at my saying that，after noticing，as you probably did，the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday．Do you know Mr. Darcy well？’
6. ‘As well as I ever wish to！’cried Elizabeth．‘I've spent four days in the same house as him，and I consider him very disagreeable．’
7. ‘I've known him too long and too well to judge fairly whether he's disagreeable or not．But I believe most people would be astonished by your opinion．’
8. ‘He is not at all liked here in Hertfordshire．Everybody is disgusted with his pride．You won't find him praised by anyone．’
9. ‘I can't pretend to be sorry that he is valued as he deserves， but with him I believe it doesn't often happen．The world is blinded by his fortune and importance，or frightened by his proud behaviour，and sees him only as he chooses to be seen．’After a pause Wickham added，‘I wonder if he's likely to stay at Netherfield much longer．’
10. ‘I don't know at all，but I hope his presence won't stop you becoming an officer in the regiment here．’
11. ‘Oh no！I won't be driven away by Mr. Darcy．If he wishes to avoid seeing me，he must go．The reason I have for avoiding him is one I could easily make public to the whole world（向全世界公开）—he has treated me very badly．His late（已故的） father，Miss Bennet，was one of the best men who ever lived，and the most faithful friend I ever had．And whenever I'm with this Mr. Darcy，I think of his father with the most painful regret．Mr. Darcy has behaved wickedly towards me，but I could forgive him anything except the insult to his father's memory．’
12. Elizabeth was fascinated，and listened eagerly，but did not like to ask any questions．Mr. Wickham began to speak more generally about Meryton and the charming people he had met there．
13. In fact，that's why I was tempted to join the regiment（军团）．I'd heard that Meryton society is most agreeable society，I confess（坦白），is necessary to me．I have been a disappointed man， you see．I did not intend to join the army at all．The Church ought to have been my profession，and I should at this moment have a comfortable income as a Derbyshire rector教区牧师，if the gentleman we were speaking of just now had wished it．’
14. ‘Indeed！’
15. ‘Yes—Mr. Darcy's father had always been very fond of me， and intended to give me the post of rector(牧师） of Pemberley．But unfortunately，after his death，when the post became vacant，it was given to someone else．’
16. ‘No！’cried Elizabeth，horrified．‘But how could that happen？Why didn't you get legal advice，and claim what was rightfully yours？’
17. Mr. Darcy's father had not stated his wish in writing．A man of honour could not have doubted his intention，but Mr. Darcy chose to treat it as a recommendation only．I really can not accuse myself of(责怪自己） having done anything to deserve to lose the post．The fact is，he hates me．I think he was jealous of his father's affection for me，which annoyed him from the beginning．
18. ‘This is very shocking！I hadn't thought Mr. Darcy as bad as this，although I've never liked him．I assumed he felt superior to everyone else，but did not suspect（怀疑） him of behaving in such a wicked，unjust，inhuman way！’
19. ‘We grew up together at Pemberley，you know．My father gave up all his time to take care of the Pemberley farms，and was greatly appreciated as a close friend by the late Mr. Darcy， who promised just before my father's death to provide for（供养） me． The present Mr. Darcy did not choose to respect that promise．’
20. ‘How strange that Mr. Darcy's pride has not made him help you！Surely he's too proud to wish to appear dishonest— which is what I must call him．’
Task for Pride and Prejudice 12
NOTES：
let the matter drop：不再提这件事；罢休
large property：大笔财产
Derbyshire：n. 德比郡（英国英格兰中部的郡）
know more about：知道更多；了解更多
is closely connected with：密切相关
well be surprised：很惊讶
cold manner：态度冷淡
know sb well：对…很熟悉； know well：掌握
disagreeable：adj. 不愉快的；厌恶的；不为人喜的；难相处的；脾气坏的
judge fairly：公正地裁判
not at all：一点也不；别客气
disgust with：对…的厌恶
