Chapter 61

CAPITULO LXI

Happy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her two most deserving daughters. With what delighted pride she afterwards visited Mrs. Bingley, and talked of Mrs. Darcy, may be guessed. I wish I could say, for the sake of her family, that the accomplishment of her earnest desire in the establishment of so many of her children produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, amiable, well-informed woman for the rest of her life; though perhaps it was lucky for her husband, who might not have relished domestic felicity in so unusual a form, that she still was occasionally nervous and invariably silly. El día en que la señora Bennet se separó de sus dos mejores hijas, fue de gran bienaventuranza para todos sus sentimientos maternales. Puede suponerse con qué delicioso orgullo visitó después a la señora Bingley y habló de la señora Darcy. Querría poder decir, en atención a su familia, que el cumplimiento de sus más vivos anhelos al ver colocadas a tantas de sus hijas, surtió el feliz efecto de convertirla en una mujer sensata, amable y juiciosa para toda su vida; pero quizá fue una suerte para su marido (que no habría podido gozar de la dicha del hogar en forma tan desusada) que siguiese ocasionalmente nerviosa e invariablemente mentecata.
Mr. Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly; his affection for her drew him oftener from home than anything else could do. He delighted in going to Pemberley, especially when he was least expected. El señor Bennet echó mucho de menos a su Elizabeth; su afecto por ella le sacó de casa con una frecuencia que no habría logrado ninguna otra cosa. Le deleitaba ir a Pemberley, especialmente cuando menos le esperaban.
Mr. Bingley and Jane remained at Netherfield only a twelvemonth. So near a vicinity to her mother and Meryton relations was not desirable even to his easy temper, or her affectionate heart. The darling wish of his sisters was then gratified; he bought an estate in a neighbouring county to Derbyshire, and Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other. Bingley y Jane sólo estuvieron un año en Netherfield. La proximidad de su madre y de los parientes de Meryton no era deseable ni aun contando con el fácil carácter de Bingley y con el cariñoso corazón de Jane. Entonces se realizó el sueño dorado de las hermanas de Bingley; éste compró una posesión en un condado cercano a Derbyshire, y Jane y Elizabeth, para colmo de su felicidad, no estuvieron más que a treinta millas de distancia.
Kitty, to her very material advantage, spent the chief of her time with her two elder sisters. In society so superior to what she had generally known, her improvement was great. She was not of so ungovernable a temper as Lydia; and, removed from the influence of Lydia′s example, she became, by proper attention and management, less irritable, less ignorant, and less insipid. From the further disadvantage of Lydia′s society she was of course carefully kept, and though Mrs. Wickham frequently invited her to come and stay with her, with the promise of balls and young men, her father would never consent to her going. Catherine, sólo por su interés material, se pasaba la mayor parte del tiempo con sus dos hermanas mayores; y frecuentando una sociedad tan superior a la que siempre había conocido, progresó notablemente. Su temperamento no era tan indomable como el de Lydia, y lejos del influjo de ésta, llegó, gracias a una atención y dirección conveniente, a ser menos irritable, menos ignorante y menos insípida. Como era natural, la apartaron cuidadosamente de las anteriores desventajas de la compañía de Lydia, y aunque la señora Wickham la invitó muchas veces a ir a su casa, con la promesa de bailes y galanes, su padre nunca consintió que fuese.
Mary was the only daughter who remained at home; and she was necessarily drawn from the pursuit of accomplishments by Mrs. Bennet′s being quite unable to sit alone. Mary was obliged to mix more with the world, but she could still moralize over every morning visit; and as she was no longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters′ beauty and her own, it was suspected by her father that she submitted to the change without much reluctance. Mary fue la única que se quedó en la casa y se vio obligada a no despegarse de las faldas de la señora Bennet, que no sabía estar sola. Con tal motivo tuvo que mezclarse más con el mundo, pero pudo todavía moralizar acerca de todas las visitas de las mañanas, y como ahora no la mortificaban las comparaciones entre su belleza y la de sus hermanas, su padre sospechó que había aceptado el cambio sin disgusto.
As for Wickham and Lydia, their characters suffered no revolution from the marriage of her sisters. He bore with philosophy the conviction that Elizabeth must now become acquainted with whatever of his ingratitude and falsehood had before been unknown to her; and in spite of every thing, was not wholly without hope that Darcy might yet be prevailed on to make his fortune. The congratulatory letter which Elizabeth received from Lydia on her marriage, explained to her that, by his wife at least, if not by himself, such a hope was cherished. The letter was to this effect: En cuanto a Wickham y Lydia, las bodas de sus hermanas les dejaron tal como estaban. Él aceptaba filosóficamente la convicción de que Elizabeth sabría ahora todas sus falsedades y toda su ingratitud que antes había ignorado; pero, no obstante, alimentaba aún la esperanza de que Darcy influiría para labrar su suerte. La carta de felicitación por su matrimonio que Elizabeth recibió de Lydia daba a entender que tal esperanza era acariciada, si no por él mismo, por lo menos por su mujer. Decía textualmente así:
"MY DEAR LIZZY, «Mi querida Lizzy:
"I wish you joy. If you love Mr. Darcy half as well as I do my dear Wickham, you must be very happy. It is a great comfort to have you so rich, and when you have nothing else to do, I hope you will think of us. I am sure Wickham would like a place at court very much, and I do not think we shall have quite money enough to live upon without some help. Any place would do, of about three or four hundred a year; but however, do not speak to Mr. Darcy about it, if you had rather not. Te deseo la mayor felicidad. Si quieres al señor Darcy la mitad de lo que yo quiero a mi adorado Wickham, serás muy dichosa. Es un gran consuelo pensar que eres tan rica; y cuando no tengas nada más que hacer, acuérdate de nosotros. Estoy segura de que a Wickham le gustaría muchísimo un destino de la corte, y nunca tendremos bastante dinero para vivir allí sin alguna ayuda. Me refiero a una plaza de trescientas o cuatrocientas libras anuales aproximadamente; pero, de todos modos, no le hables a Darcy de eso si no lo crees conveniente.»
"Yours, etc."
As it happened that Elizabeth had much rather not, she endeavoured in her answer to put an end to every entreaty and expectation of the kind. Such relief, however, as it was in her power to afford, by the practice of what might be called economy in her own private expences, she frequently sent them. It had always been evident to her that such an income as theirs, under the direction of two persons so extravagant in their wants, and heedless of the future, must be very insufficient to their support; and whenever they changed their quarters, either Jane or herself were sure of being applied to for some little assistance towards discharging their bills. Their manner of living, even when the restoration of peace dismissed them to a home, was unsettled in the extreme. They were always moving from place to place in quest of a cheap situation, and always spending more than they ought. His affection for her soon sunk into indifference; her′s lasted a little longer; and in spite of her youth and her manners, she retained all the claims to reputation which her marriage had given her. Y como daba la casualidad de que Elizabeth lo creía muy inconveniente, en su contestación trató de poner fin a todo ruego y sueño de esa índole. Pero con frecuencia le mandaba todas las ayudas que le permitía su práctica de lo que ella llamaba economía en sus gastos privados. Siempre se vio que los ingresos administrados por personas tan manirrotas como ellos dos y tan descuidados por el porvenir, habían de ser insuficientes para mantenerse. Cada vez que se mudaban, o Jane o ella recibían alguna súplica de auxilio para pagar sus cuentas. Su vida, incluso después de que la paz les confinó a un hogar, era extremadamente agitada. Siempre andaban cambiándose de un lado para otro en busca de una casa más barata y siempre gastando más de lo que podían. El afecto de Wickham por Lydia no tardó en convertirse en indiferencia; el de Lydia duró un poco más, y a pesar de su juventud y de su aire, conservó todos los derechos a la reputación que su matrimonio le había dado.
Though Darcy could never receive him at Pemberley, yet, for Elizabeth′s sake, he assisted him further in his profession. Lydia was occasionally a visitor there, when her husband was gone to enjoy himself in London or Bath; and with the Bingleys they both of them frequently staid so long, that even Bingley′s good humour was overcome, and he proceeded so far as to talk of giving them a hint to be gone. Aunque Darcy nunca recibió a Wickham en Pemberley, le ayudó a progresar en su carrera por consideración a Elizabeth. Lydia les hizo alguna que otra visita cuando su marido iba a divertirse a Londres o iba a tomar baños. A menudo pasaban temporadas con los Bingley, hasta tan punto que lograron acabar con el buen humor de Bingley y llegó a insinuarles que se largasen.
Miss Bingley was very deeply mortified by Darcy′s marriage; but as she thought it advisable to retain the right of visiting at Pemberley, she dropt all her resentment; was fonder than ever of Georgiana, almost as attentive to Darcy as heretofore, and paid off every arrear of civility to Elizabeth. La señorita Bingley quedó muy resentida con el matrimonio de Darcy, pero en cuanto se creyó con derecho a visitar Pemberley, se le pasó el resentimiento: estuvo más loca que nunca por Georgiana, casi tan atenta con Darcy como en otro tiempo y tan cortés con Elizabeth que le pagó sus atrasos de urbanidad.
Pemberley was now Georgiana′s home; and the attachment of the sisters was exactly what Darcy had hoped to see. They were able to love each other even as well as they intended. Georgiana had the highest opinion in the world of Elizabeth; though at first she often listened with an astonishment bordering on alarm at her lively, sportive, manner of talking to her brother. He, who had always inspired in herself a respect which almost overcame her affection, she now saw the object of open pleasantry. Her mind received knowledge which had never before fallen in her way. By Elizabeth′s instructions, she began to comprehend that a woman may take liberties with her husband which a brother will not always allow in a sister more than ten years younger than himself. Georgiana se quedó entonces a vivir en Pemberley y se encariñó con su hermana tanto como Darcy había previsto. Las dos se querían tiernamente. Georgiana tenía el más alto concepto de Elizabeth, aunque al principio se asombrase y casi se asustase al ver lo juguetona que era con su hermano; veía a aquel hombre que siempre le había inspirado un respeto que casi sobrepasaba al cariño, convertido en objeto de francas bromas. Su entendimiento recibió unas luces con las que nunca se había tropezado. Ilustrada por Elizabeth, empezó a comprender que una mujer puede tomarse con su marido unas libertades que un hermano nunca puede tolerar a una hermana diez años menor que él.
Lady Catherine was extremely indignant on the marriage of her nephew; and as she gave way to all the genuine frankness of her character in her reply to the letter which announced its arrangement, she sent him language so very abusive, especially of Elizabeth, that for some time all intercourse was at an end. But at length, by Elizabeth′s persuasion, he was prevailed on to overlook the offence, and seek a reconciliation; and, after a little further resistance on the part of his aunt, her resentment gave way, either to her affection for him, or her curiosity to see how his wife conducted herself; and she condescended to wait on them at Pemberley, in spite of that pollution which its woods had received, not merely from the presence of such a mistress, but the visits of her uncle and aunt from the city. Lady Catherine se puso como una fiera con la boda de su sobrino, y como abrió la esclusa a toda su genuina franqueza al contestar a la carta en la que él le informaba de su compromiso, usó un lenguaje tan inmoderado, especialmente al referirse a Elizabeth, que sus relaciones quedaron interrumpidas por algún tiempo. Pero, al final, convencido por Elizabeth, Darcy accedió a perdonar la ofensa y buscó la reconciliación. Su tía resistió todavía un poquito, pero cedió o a su cariño por él o a su curiosidad por ver cómo se comportaba su esposa, de modo que se dignó visitarles en Pemberley, a pesar de la profanación que habían sufrido sus bosques no sólo por la presencia de semejante dueña, sino también por las visitas de sus tíos de Londres.
With the Gardiners, they were always on the most intimate terms. Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved them; and they were both ever sensible of the warmest gratitude towards the persons who, by bringing her into Derbyshire, had been the means of uniting them. Con los Gardiner estuvieron siempre los Darcy en las más íntima relación. Darcy, lo mismo que Elizabeth, les quería de veras; ambos sentían la más ardiente gratitud por las personas que, al llevar a Elizabeth a Derbyshire, habían sido las causantes de su unión.

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