Had Elizabeth's opinion been all drawn from her own family, she could not have formed a very pleasing picture of conjugal felicity or domestic comfort. Her father, captivated by youth and beauty, and that appearance of good humour which youth and beauty generally give, had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind had, very early in their marriage, put an end to all real affection for her. Respect, esteem, and confidence had vanished for ever; and all his views of domestic happiness were overthrown. But Mr. Bennet was not of a disposition to seek comfort, for the disappointment which his own imprudence had brought on, in any of those pleasures which too often console the unfortunate for their folly or their vice. He was fond of the country and of books; and from these tastes had arisen his principal enjoyments. To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This is not the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe to his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given.
Elizabeth, however, had never been blind to the impropriety of her father's behaviour as a husband. She had always seen it with pain; but respecting his abilities, and grateful for his affectionate treatment of herself, she endeavoured to forget what she could not overlook, and to banish from her thoughts that continual breach of conjugal obligation and decorum which, in exposing his wife to the contempt of her own children, was so highly reprehensible. But she had never felt so strongly as now the disadvantages which must attend the children of so unsuitable a marriage, nor ever been so fully aware of the evils arising from so ill-judged a direction of talents; talents which rightly used, might at least have preserved the respectability of his daughters, even if incapable of enlarging the mind of his wife.
When Elizabeth had rejoiced over Wickham's departure, she found little other cause for satisfaction in the loss of the regiment. Their parties abroad were less varied than before; and at home she had a mother and sister whose constant repinings at the dulness of every thing around them threw a real gloom over their domestic circle; and, though Kitty might in time regain her natural degree of sense, since the disturbers of her brain were removed, her other sister, from whose disposition greater evil might be apprehended, was likely to be hardened in all her folly and assurance by a situation of such double danger as a watering place and a camp. Upon the whole, therefore, she found what has been sometimes found before, that an event to which she had looked forward with impatient desire, did not, in taking place, bring all the satisfaction she had promised herself. It was consequently necessary to name some other period for the commencement of actual felicity; to have some other point on which her wishes and hopes might be fixed, and by again enjoying the pleasure of anticipation, console herself for the present, and prepare for another disappointment. Her tour to the Lakes was now the object of her happiest thoughts; it was her best consolation for all the uncomfortable hours which the discontentedness of her mother and Kitty made inevitable; and could she have included Jane in the scheme, every part of it would have been perfect.
"But it is fortunate," thought she, "that I have something to wish for. Were the whole arrangement complete, my disappointment would be certain. But here, by my carrying with me one ceaseless source of regret in my sister's absence, I may reasonably hope to have all my expectations of pleasure realized. A scheme of which every part promises delight, can never be successful; and general disappointment is only warded off by the defence of some little peculiar vexation."
When Lydia went away, she promised to write very often and very minutely to her mother and Kitty; but her letters were always long expected, and always very short. Those to her mother contained little else, than that they were just returned from the library, where such and such officers had attended them, and where she had seen such beautiful ornaments as made her quite wild; that she had a new gown, or a new parasol, which she would have described more fully, but was obliged to leave off in a violent hurry, as Mrs. Forster called her, and they were going to the camp; -- and from her correspondence with her sister, there was still less to be learnt -- for her letters to Kitty, though rather longer, were much too full of lines under the words to be made public.
After the first fortnight or three weeks of her absence, health, good humour, and cheerfulness began to re-appear at Longbourn. Everything wore a happier aspect. The families who had been in town for the winter came back again, and summer finery and summer engagements arose. Mrs. Bennet was restored to her usual querulous serenity, and by the middle of June Kitty was so much recovered as to be able to enter Meryton without tears; an event of such happy promise as to make Elizabeth hope that by the following Christmas, she might be so tolerably reasonable as not to mention an officer above once a day, unless, by some cruel and malicious arrangement at the War-Office, another regiment should be quartered in Meryton.
The time fixed for the beginning of their Northern tour was now fast approaching; and a fortnight only was wanting of it, when a letter arrived from Mrs. Gardiner, which at once delayed its commencement and curtailed its extent. Mr. Gardiner would be prevented by business from setting out till a fortnight later in July, and must be in London again within a month; and as that left too short a period for them to go so far, and see so much as they had proposed, or at least to see it with the leisure and comfort they had built on, they were obliged to give up the Lakes, and substitute a more contracted tour; and, according to the present plan, were to go no farther northward than Derbyshire. In that county, there was enough to be seen to occupy the chief of their three weeks; and to Mrs. Gardiner it had a peculiarly strong attraction. The town where she had formerly passed some years of her life, and where they were now to spend a few days, was probably as great an object of her curiosity, as all the celebrated beauties of Matlock, Chatsworth, Dovedale, or the Peak.
Elizabeth was excessively disappointed; she had set her heart on seeing the Lakes; and still thought there might have been time enough. But it was her business to be satisfied -- and certainly her temper to be happy; and all was soon right again.
With the mention of Derbyshire, there were many ideas connected. It was impossible for her to see the word without thinking of Pemberley and its owner. "But surely," said she, "I may enter his county with impunity, and rob it of a few petrified spars without his perceiving me."
The period of expectation was now doubled. Four weeks were to pass away before her uncle and aunt's arrival. But they did pass away, and Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, with their four children, did at length appear at Longbourn. The children, two girls of six and eight years old, and two younger boys, were to be left under the particular care of their cousin Jane, who was the general favourite, and whose steady sense and sweetness of temper exactly adapted her for attending to them in every way -- teaching them, playing with them, and loving them.
The Gardiners staid only one night at Longbourn, and set off the next morning with Elizabeth in pursuit of novelty and amusement. One enjoyment was certain -- that of suitableness as companions; a suitableness which comprehended health and temper to bear inconveniences -- cheerfulness to enhance every pleasure -- and affection and intelligence, which might supply it among themselves if there were disappointments abroad.
It is not the object of this work to give a description of Derbyshire, nor of any of the remarkable places through which their route thither lay; Oxford, Blenheim, Warwick, Kenelworth, Birmingham, &c. are sufficiently known. A small part of Derbyshire is all the present concern. To the little town of Lambton, the scene of Mrs. Gardiner's former residence, and where she had lately learned that some acquaintance still remained, they bent their steps, after having seen all the principal wonders of the country; and within five miles of Lambton, Elizabeth found from her aunt that Pemberley was situated. It was not in their direct road, nor more than a mile or two out of it. In talking over their route the evening before, Mrs. Gardiner expressed an inclination to see the place again. Mr. Gardiner declared his willingness, and Elizabeth was applied to for her approbation.
"My love, should not you like to see a place of which you have heard so much?" said her aunt. "A place too, with which so many of your acquaintance are connected. Wickham passed all his youth there, you know."
Elizabeth was distressed. She felt that she had no business at Pemberley, and was obliged to assume a disinclination for seeing it. She must own that she was tired of great houses; after going over so many, she really had no pleasure in fine carpets or satin curtains.
Mrs. Gardiner abused her stupidity. "If it were merely a fine house richly furnished," said she, "I should not care about it myself; but the grounds are delightful. They have some of the finest woods in the country."
Elizabeth said no more -- but her mind could not acquiesce. The possibility of meeting Mr. Darcy, while viewing the place, instantly occurred. It would be dreadful! She blushed at the very idea; and thought it would be better to speak openly to her aunt than to run such a risk. But against this there were objections; and she finally resolved that it could be the last resource, if her private enquiries as to the absence of the family were unfavourably answered.
Accordingly, when she retired at night, she asked the chambermaid whether Pemberley were not a very fine place, what was the name of its proprietor, and, with no little alarm, whether the family were down for the summer. A most welcome negative followed the last question -- and her alarms being now removed, she was at leisure to feel a great deal of curiosity to see the house herself; and when the subject was revived the next morning, and she was again applied to, could readily answer, and with a proper air of indifference, that she had not really any dislike to the scheme.
To Pemberley, therefore, they were to go.
--正文
要是让伊丽莎白说说自家人，她可能说不出什么家庭幸福，婚姻舒适之类的好话。她父亲当年被年轻美貌迷住，因为年轻美貌往往会带来很大的乐趣，便娶了这么个理解力差，思想狭隘的女人，结果结婚没多久，他便失去了所有对她的喜爱。尊重，自尊，自信永远消失掉了，而他对于幸福家庭的认知也发生了改变。很多人自己因为鲁莽而婚姻不幸，就会去寻欢作乐企图补偿自己的愚蠢的，错误的行为，但是本内特老爷的性格并不会这样。他喜欢农村生活，喜欢读书，也就因此沉浸其中。对于他老婆，他则没有什么责任感，她的无知和愚蠢对他来说，反而是种娱乐。这种娱乐一般来说，不是男性想从自己老婆那里得到的东西。但是如果没有其它的娱乐方式的话，聪明人会自得其乐。
但是，伊丽莎白一直都知道自己的父亲其实是个不称职的丈夫。她总是痛心地见证这些事情，但是因为她很敬重父亲的能力，而且也感激她对待自己很好，所以她总是试图忘记这些事情，父亲故意把妻子暴露在自己孩子的鄙视之中，这其实是对婚姻义务与得体的背叛，这是十分不得体的做法，而伊丽莎白只能尽力不去想它。但是她从没有像现在这样感觉到，不合适的婚姻给孩子带来的坏处。也从没有像现在这样意识到才华运用不当所造成的后果。本内特老爷的才华如果用对地方的话，就算没法让自己夫人增长智慧，但怎么也能让自己的女儿受人尊敬。
维克汉姆离开的时候，伊丽莎白还很开心，但是很快她发现民兵团离开后，也没有什么特别值得高兴的地方。出外聚会的机会越来越少了，而在家里面，有个母亲和妹妹时时刻刻跟她抱怨着家里有多么无聊，而这让待在家里也没有什么乐趣可言了。凯蒂可能过段日子就会恢复原有的理性，而因为干扰她大脑的莉迪亚离开了，而莉迪亚的性格可能会让她犯下更大的错，她现在待在海边的营地里，很可能会做出更蠢的事情。总得来说，因此她发现了之前也发现过的事情：就是那些她曾经等不及希望发生的事情，真正发生的时候，并不会让她有多么满意。因此，她不得不把幸福寄托到以后，也许以后她的愿望能够成功，也能再次享受期待的乐趣，这让她此刻感到安慰，也能面对再次的失望。她现在最希望能去湖边玩耍，这对她那牢骚满腹的母亲和凯蒂所带来的折磨来说，是最好的解压良药。如果她能带简一起去，那就完美了。
“但是很幸运的是，”她又想，“我还有东西可以期待。如果整个计划全都实现的话，我是一定会失望的。姐姐要是不跟着一起去，那我一定会觉得遗憾，但是留在这里我倒可以实现自己的希望。一个十全十美的计划，是肯定不会成功的。而只有出其不意的小烦恼，才能不让人失望。”
莉迪亚离家的时候，承诺说一些会经常写信给她母亲和凯蒂。但是她总是隔很久才写封信回来，而且来信都很短。写给她母亲的信总是说不了什么东西，说得无非是些她们刚从图书馆回去了，在哪又遇到了这么几个军官，又或者说在哪里她又见到了很漂亮的装饰，简直疯掉了。又或者说些，她刚买了件裙子，或者遮阳伞。这些事情本来她该细说点的，但是总是因为福斯特太太叫她去军营，就匆匆停笔不写了。从她给凯蒂的心里能看的东西就更少了，因为虽然写得更长一些了，但是废话更多也说不出什么。
莉迪亚走后的前两三周，蘑菇屯的家里又开始充满了健康，幽默和欢快的氛围。每件事情都看起来更开心了。去城里过冬的家庭也都回来了，夏天的漂亮衣服又开始出现了，夏天的邀约也开始多了起来。本内特太太又跟往常一样，一直抱怨，六月中旬凯蒂也恢复了好多，现在去梅屯也不会掉眼泪了。这件开心事让伊丽莎白开始期待——到今年圣诞节，凯蒂就应该会变得更理性，一天也不会提一次军官了，除非那些战争管理处的人又做些恶毒的安排，在梅屯再安扎一个民兵团。
她们定好的北上之旅的日子，很快就要到了。还剩两个星期的时候，加德纳夫人来了一封信推迟了游玩的日期，并缩短了游玩的地方。加德纳先生因为公事外出，要晚一周到七月份才回来，然后一个月内必须回伦敦去。所以留给他们游玩的日子就少很多了，没法去看之前提议的地方，或者说至少没有那种闲情逸致去玩了。他们必须放弃去湖边玩，只能转而缩小游玩的范围。根据新定的方案，他们最远只能到北边的德比郡。在那边的农村，有足够多的东西给他们看三个星期了，而这个地方对加德纳夫人也有很强的吸引力。在那儿她之前待过几年，如今又要去游玩几天，这个地方就跟那些知名的景点Matlock,chatsworth,Dovedale和 peak一样，吸引着她的目光。
伊丽莎白无比失望，她早就想去看湖水，但她还是想着时间也许够去看的。但是他自己的愿望需要被满足，也是她自己需要振作起来，所以很快她就没事了。
提到德比郡的时候，就会有很多的想法。对她来说，出去看看世界而不想着彭伯里和它的主人是不可能的。她说，“我大可大摇大摆的走到他的庄子，偷几块木头他也不知道。”
等待的时间现在加倍了。距离伊丽莎白的叔叔婶婶到来，还有四个星期。但是最终四周还是过去了，而加德纳夫妇，带着他们的四个孩子，最终也来到了蘑菇屯。四个孩子里有两个小姑娘，一个六岁，一个八岁，还有两个更小的男孩，特意被带过来给他们的表姐简来照顾。每个小孩都喜欢简，她性格稳定，脾气甜美，正好让她适合在方方面面照顾他们——教他们，跟他们玩，并且爱护他们。
加德纳夫人在蘑菇屯只待了一晚上，第二天一早就跟伊丽莎白去寻求新鲜娱乐了。有一种娱乐是可以确定的，这一伙人搭伙十分合适。大家身体健康，脾气相投，可以避免旅途中的不愉快。而乐观的性格又会让快乐更加强烈。而且他们乐观又聪明，就算路上遇到什么扫兴的事情，也不会影响心情。
他们此行的目的并不是要把德比郡详细地转一圈，也不是想逛遍路上经过的好景点。牛津，布兰尼姆，华威，克莱尔维斯，伯明翰等地方都广为人知。他们的目标只有德比郡的一个小地方——莱姆顿。加德纳夫人之前就住在这里，而且她最近得知之前的熟人有些还住在那里，他们看完村子里主要的景观后，走下了马车。伊丽莎白从姑妈那里听说，离莱姆顿五英里就是彭伯里了。彭伯里虽然不在他们的路径上，但是绕一下路也不超过一两英里。前一晚他们就讨论过路线了，加德纳夫人表示想再去看看这个地方。加德纳先生也赞同，然后加德纳夫人就询问伊丽莎白的意见：“亲爱的，你不想去看看你一直听说的地方吗？而且那地方也又很多你的熟人，维克汉姆的童年是在那里度过的，你知道吧。”
伊丽莎白有点亚历山大。她觉得自己去彭伯里根本没事做，所以就不想去。她觉得厌倦看到这些大房子了。看过那么多大房子后，再见到这些好地板，缎窗帘，确实也觉得没什么乐趣。
加德纳夫人怪她怎么这么笨。“如果这只是个家具很好的房子，”她说，“我自己也不会在意的。但是这个房子地板特别不错，他们用的是这个国家最好的木头。”
伊丽莎白没有再说什么，但是她的脑袋并不打算服从。她突然想到，假如去观看这个地方，有可能会遇到达西。那可真是太可怕了！想到这里，她突然就脸红了。她觉得与其选择撞运气，倒不如跟姑妈直说这件事。但是要这么做还有些顾虑。她最终决定，自己可以先偷偷打听下，如果打听不到再去跟姑妈说也不迟。
因此，晚上她准备休息的时候，就问女佣彭伯里这个地方怎么样，主人叫什么名字，然后又小心地问一家人夏天有没有在这住。对于最后这个问题，女佣欢快地给了否定回答。现在担心消失了，她也放松下来很想去看看房子到底怎么样。第二天早上这个话题又被提起，然后姑妈又问了她的意见，她故作不关心的回答说，去看看也没什么不可以。
因此，他们决定去了彭伯里。
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