ELIZABETH had been a good deal disappointed in not finding a letter from Jane on their first arrival at Lambton; and this disappointment had been renewed on each of the mornings that had now been spent there; but on the third, her repining was over, and her sister justified, by the receipt of two letters from her at once, on one of which was marked that it had been missent elsewhere. Elizabeth was not surprised at it, as Jane had written the direction remarkably ill.
伊麗莎白到藍白屯的時候，因為沒有立即接到吉英的來信，感到非常失望；第二天早上又感到同樣的失望?？墒堑搅说谌欤驮僖膊挥媒箲]了，再也不埋怨她的姐姐了，因為她這一天收到了姐姐兩封信，其中一封注明曾經(jīng)送錯了地方。伊麗莎白并不覺得詫異，因為吉英確實把地址寫得很潦草。

They had just been preparing to walk as the letters came in; and her uncle and aunt, leaving her to enjoy them in quiet, set off by themselves. The one missent must be first attended to; it had been written five days ago. The beginning contained an account of all their little parties and engagements, with such news as the country afforded; but the latter half, which was dated a day later, and written in evident agitation, gave more important intelligence. It was to this effect:
那兩封信送來的時候，他們剛剛要出去溜達；舅父母管自己走了，讓她一個人去靜靜地讀信。誤投過的那封信當然要先讀，那還是五天前寫的。信上先講了一些小規(guī)模的宴會和約會之類的事，又報道了一些鄉(xiāng)下的新聞；后一半?yún)s報道了重要消息，而且注明是下一天寫的，顯見得寫信人提筆時心緒很亂。后半封內(nèi)容如下：

"Since writing the above, dearest Lizzy, something has occurred of a most unexpected and serious nature; but I am afraid of alarming you -- be assured that we are all well. What I have to say relates to poor Lydia. An express came at twelve last night, just as we were all gone to bed, from Colonel Forster, to inform us that she was gone off to Scotland with one of his officers; to own the truth, with Wickham! -- Imagine our surprise. To Kitty, however, it does not seem so wholly unexpected. I am very, very sorry. So imprudent a match on both sides! -- But I am willing to hope the best, and that his character has been misunderstood. Thoughtless and indiscreet I can easily believe him, but this step (and let us rejoice over it) marks nothing bad at heart. His choice is disinterested at least, for he must know my father can give her nothing. Our poor mother is sadly grieved. My father bears it better. How thankful am I, that we never let them know what has been said against him; we must forget it ourselves. They were off Saturday night about twelve, as is conjectured, but were not missed till yesterday morning at eight. The express was sent off directly. My dear Lizzy, they must have passed within ten miles of us. Colonel Forster gives us reason to expect him here soon. Lydia left a few lines for his wife, informing her of their intention. I must conclude, for I cannot be long from my poor mother. I am afraid you will not be able to make it out, but I hardly know what I have written."
親愛的麗萃，寫了上半封信之后，發(fā)生了一件極其出人意料、極其嚴重的事；可是我又怕嚇壞了你。請放心吧，家里人都好，我這里要說的是關于可憐的麗迪雅的事。昨天晚上十二點鐘，我們正要睡覺和時候，突然接到弗斯脫上校一封快信，告訴我們說，麗迪雅跟他部下的一個軍官到蘇格蘭去了；老實說，就是跟韋翰私奔了！你想象我們當時多么驚奇。不過吉蒂卻以為這件事并非完全出人意料。我真難受。這兩個男女就這樣冒冒失失地配成了一對！可是我還是愿意從最好的方面去著想，希望別人都是誤解了他的人品。我固然認為他為人輕率冒昧，不過他這次的舉動未必就是存心不良（讓我們但愿如此吧）。至少他選中這個對象不是為了有利可圖，因為他一定知道父親沒有一個錢給她。可憐的母親傷心得要命。父親總算還支持得住。謝天謝地，好在我們從來沒有讓他們老人家知道外界對他的議論。我們自己也不必把它放在心上。據(jù)大家猜想，他們大概是星期六晚上十二點鐘走的，但是一直到昨天早上八點鐘，才發(fā)現(xiàn)這兩個失了蹤。于是弗斯脫上校連忙寫信告訴我們。親愛的麗萃，他們所經(jīng)過的地方離開我們一定不滿十英里。弗斯脫上校說，他一定立刻就到我們這里來。麗迪雅留了一封短信給弗斯脫太太，把他們兩人的意圖告訴了她。我不得不停筆了，因為我不能離開母親太久。我怕你一定覺得莫明其妙吧，我自己也簡直不知道在寫些什么。

Without allowing herself time for consideration, and scarcely knowing what she felt, Elizabeth, on finishing this letter, instantly seized the other, and opening it with the utmost impatience, read as follows -- it had been written a day later than the conclusion of the first:
伊麗莎白讀完了這封信以后，幾乎說不出自己是怎樣的感覺，想也沒有想一下，便連忙抓起另一封信，迫不及待一拆開就看。這封信比第一封信遲寫一天。

"By this time, my dearest sister, you have received my hurried letter; I wish this may be more intelligible, but though not confined for time, my head is so bewildered that I cannot answer for being coherent. Dearest Lizzy, I hardly know what I would write, but I have bad news for you, and it cannot be delayed. Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland. Colonel Forster came yesterday, having left Brighton the day before, not many hours after the express. Though Lydia's short letter to Mrs. F. gave them to understand that they were going to Gretna Green, something was dropped by Denny expressing his belief that W. never intended to go there, or to marry Lydia at all, which was repeated to Colonel F., who, instantly taking the alarm, set off from B. intending to trace their route. He did trace them easily to Clapham, but no farther; for on entering that place they removed into a hackney-coach and dismissed the chaise that brought them from Epsom. All that is known after this is that they were seen to continue the London road. I know not what to think. After making every possible enquiry on that side London, Colonel F. came on into Hertfordshire, anxiously renewing them at all the turnpikes, and at the inns in Barnet and Hatfield, but without any success; no such people had been seen to pass through. With the kindest concern he came on to Longbourn, and broke his apprehensions to us in a manner most creditable to his heart. I am sincerely grieved for him and Mrs. F., but no one can throw any blame on them.
親愛的妹妹，你現(xiàn)在大概收到了我那封匆促草成的信了吧。我希望這封信會把問題說得明白些；不過，時間雖然并不是急促，我的頭腦卻糊里糊涂，因此并不是擔保這封信一定會寫得有條有理。我的親麗萃，我簡直不知道該寫些什么，但是我總得把壞消息報道給你，而且事不宜遲。盡管韋翰先生和我們可憐的麗迪雅的婚姻是多么荒唐，可是我們卻巴不得聽到他們已經(jīng)結(jié)婚的消息，因為我們非常擔心他們并沒有到蘇格蘭去。弗斯脫上校前天寄出那封快信以后，稍隔數(shù)小時即由白利屯出發(fā)到我們這兒來，已于昨日抵達此間。雖然麗迪雅給弗太太的那封短信里說，他們倆要到格利那草場去，可是根據(jù)丹呢透露出來的口風，他相信韋決不打算到那兒去，也根本不打算跟麗迪雅結(jié)婚。弗上校一聽此話，大為駭異，便連忙從白出發(fā)，希望能追到他們。他一路追蹤覓跡，追到克拉普汗，這倒還不費什么事，可是再往前追便不容易，因為他們兩人到達此地后，便把從艾普桑雇來的馬車打發(fā)走了，重新雇了出租馬車。以后的先蹤去跡便頗難打聽，只聽見有人說，看見他們繼續(xù)往倫敦那方面去。我不知道應該怎樣想法。弗上校在倫敦竭力仔細打聽了一番以后，便來到哈福德郡，在沿路的關卡上以及巴納特和帽場兩地所有的旅館里，統(tǒng)統(tǒng)探尋了一遍，可是不得要領而返。大家都說沒有看見這樣的人走過。他無限關切地來到了浪搏恩，把他的種種疑慮全都誠心誠意地告訴了我們。我實在替他和弗太太難過；誰也不能怪他們夫婦倆。