Miss Mary in Pride and Prejudice

This visit by the Earl of Leicester aroused somewhat more suspicion and uneasiness than his last visit at Pemberley, when it was never quite possible to guess what he was going to do at Pemberley; Mr. Darcy is busy.After listening to Mary's description of the situation at the time, Elizabeth immediately called a servant and asked him to go back to Pemberley to inquire about the news. As a result, he met a messenger sent by Mr. Darcy on the way.

Mr. Darcy had sent Mrs. de Bourgh's urgent letter the night before, together with his accompanying note.From Mrs. de Bourgh's letter, everyone learned an unimaginable news that could never have been imagined——Miss Anne had eloped with someone.When Elizabeth read the letter to everyone, she couldn't help saying aloud when she read this sentence: "Anne? This is absolutely impossible." Jane took the letter gently and continued to read to everyone:

"My most trusted aunt and nephew, I still cannot believe the fact that my Anne actually deserted her mother, her family, her responsibilities, and eloped with a mean and vile gardener. Yes, it is unbelievable to say that the gardener was recommended to me by the Earl of Leicester to improve the Rosings rose varieties for me. I trusted the Earl so much and took in that villain without hesitation. Why? I can imagine that the villain actually harbored evil intentions and deliberately seduced the innocent and innocent Anne. My daughter, her life was ruined just like that, and Rosings was also ruined..."

After reading this, Jane couldn't help sighing: "No wonder the Earl came to Mr. Darcy in a hurry just now. Obviously, Mrs. de Bourgh also wrote to him." That unbearable past, and the untold pain it brought to them and the whole family at that time and afterwards.

Mary's main concern was Anne, and she interrupted hastily to ask, "And Anne? Where is she now?" Jane looked back quickly, and said, "Before she left home, she left a A letter saying she was going to Glenor Meadows in Scotland to marry a young man named Henry Davies."

Mary murmured: "Yes, of course she can only go to Scotland. Poor Anne...brave Anne..." Jane skimmed the letter over again, shaking her head as she read: "Mrs. She was so angry that she blamed Earl Leicester for this incident, thinking that he was ignorant of people and recommended someone who was wrong, which led to this evil result—this kind of attack is very important to Leicester. The Earl is not fair. Oh, and she blamed Mary and you—Elizabeth, I cannot read to you these impudent things she wrote, lest you should feel insulted, but considering her situation and Feelings, everyone should forgive her as much as possible."

Elizabeth said angrily: "Of course she will blame everyone except herself. In fact, she is the culprit who should review and be responsible the most. Maybe Anne's elopement was not just out of love, but more of a culprit. To get away from that mother." Jane shouted reproachfully: "Elizabeth, you are so cynical, what mother in the world doesn't want her children to be happy?"

At this time, Mary, who had always stayed out of it, suddenly interjected: "However, that old lady didn't want to make Anne happy, she just wanted to keep everything under her control—she was the root of Annie's unhappiness. She was right when she scolded me, and during my stay at Rosings, I did not instill in Annie the idea of ​​resistance." Such a radical expression and such passionate emotion almost surprised the sisters.

In the end, the gentle Mr. Bingley reminded Elizabeth to see what was written in the note attached by Mr. Darcy, so as to know their next plan.Elizabeth unfolded the note, and there were only a few lines written hastily on it. Mr. Darcy told Elizabeth that he and the Earl of Leicester would chase them along the road from Kent to Scotland, and once they caught up, they would persuade Anne go home.If Anne refuses, everything will be considered in the long run. The current problem is that Mrs. de Bower can't accept this improper marriage of her daughter at all, and claims that once Anne insists on marrying Mr. Davis, she will cancel Anne's marriage. right of inheritance.Mr. Darcy finally said that if he found Anne, he hoped that Mary could persuade her as a friend.

The news, therefore, had to be waited for, that Elizabeth, fearful of Georgiana being left alone at Pemberley, soon returned to Pemberley.In order to keep Jane from worrying about this matter, Mary also followed Elizabeth to Pemberley. She thought that if Mr. Darcy found Anne, he would most likely take her back to Pemberley, where she would meet her friends. , much more convenient and comfortable than in Howards End.

But after Mr. Darcy and the Earl of Leicester left, there was no news. Everyone waited anxiously for a whole week. During this period, Mrs. de Bourgh came to inquire about the news almost twice a day, and at the same time scolded everyone.Elizabeth was considerate of her mood and didn't bother with her. On the contrary, she calmly comforted her old man.

Finally, on the Wednesday of the second week, Elizabeth received a letter from Mr. Darcy, which described in detail how they tracked all the way, and found Anne’s message to them in the blacksmith shop in Glenner Meadow. Mr Davies has been married and gone to Edinburgh.The whereabouts of the newlyweds became confusing. Fortunately, the Earl of Leicester had a wide network of contacts, and Mr. Darcy was very experienced in finding people, so they finally found Anne in the small town of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. trail.

It turned out that the little jewelry that Anne carried had been pawned off, and they were in financial difficulties. Davis had to find a job as a gardener in an aristocratic mansion, which he was familiar with, and Anne was placed in the Stay in a family hotel in town.

Now they've been found, but things get trickier.Because Mrs. de Bourgh fainted when she heard the news of her daughter's marriage. After waking up, she refused to accept this fact. She claimed that Anne was not her daughter. She would rather Anne die than accept this dishonorable Marriage; a while later called Davis a liar and abductor, and asked Mr. Darcy to call the police to put Davis in prison and bring her daughter back intact.

In view of Mrs. de Bower's hysterical and uncompromising attitude, Mr. Darcy and the Earl of Leicester, after many discussions with Anne and Davis, finally persuaded the two to return to England and temporarily live in the Earl of Leicester's house. A small cottage in the Lake District.Now, Mr. Darcy has a long way to go. He needs to go to Rosings to convince Mrs. de Bourgh in person, and the Earl of Leicester also has a lot of affairs to deal with, and it is impossible to stay with Anne all the time, so they discussed, It was thought it best for Mary to accompany Anne to the Lake District.

Of course, Mary agreed obligatoryly. It can be said that Anne is her only close friend in her boudoir. She has always cared about her very much and hoped that she would be happy.Mary originally wanted to apologize to Aunt Gardner, saying that she would not be able to participate in the sightseeing tour of the Lake District, but after discussion, the reasonable Aunt Gardner proposed a more perfect plan.Because the Lake District villa of the Earl of Leicester happened to be located in the lakeside town of Lake Windermere, although Mary went to accompany Anne first, the Gardners followed the original plan and met Mary in Windermere Town. Things have a clue, and they will decide on the next step.

With such a satisfactory plan, Mary set out for the Lake District.Elizabeth sent two footmen to escort her, and was met by the Earl of Leicester's servant along the way, and the journey was arranged in the most comfortable way.However, Mary was not in the mood to appreciate the scenery of lakes and mountains along the way. When she thought that Anne, who had always been weak and independent, took this step bravely than anyone else, she had mixed feelings. Worrying about Annie's uncertain future.

In this way, she traveled day and night, and soon arrived in Windermere Town.It was Henry Davis himself who greeted her at the inn. Now that she saw Mr. Davis, Mary still could not calmly forgive him, because Anne undoubtedly made too many sacrifices in this marriage.But for Annie's sake, she still greeted him nicely.

Mr. Davies looked distressed and worried.He told Mary that after the Earl of Leicester settled the young couple properly, he had left the Lake District because he had other important matters to deal with, and he would not be able to return until about two weeks later.Mary felt relieved by this news, but at the same time felt a little bit disappointed. She couldn't figure out why she was in such a state of mind. After all, she would like to see the count, or hope that it would be better for him not to appear again. .

Mr. Davies went on to say that they are currently living in a country farmhouse a few miles away from the center of Windermere. It is said that it is the former residence of the Earl of Leicester, where his parents died. Furniture, enough to settle down.He asked Mary if she could walk the distance?Of course, there was no problem. Mary entrusted the owner of the inn to deliver her luggage to the address Mr. Davis said, and then set off with Mr. Davis.

On the way, Mr. Davis was silent at first, and then Mary couldn't help asking him if he and Annie were happy after marrying Anne?As if in a violent outburst of emotion, he suddenly confessed to Mary all the suffering and regret he had suffered during this period of time.

"For God's sake!" he cried mournfully, "if you have any pity for me, please don't ask me that question. My poor Anne, every time I think of her, my My heart is about to break! How could I be so selfish and determined to go my own way back then!" He covered his eyes with his hands, but tears flowed from between his fingers.

Mary reproached him gravely, and this attitude was so unfair to Anne that it was a kind of blasphemy.Mr. Davis lamented: "Please scold me with more severe language, because I have to scold myself countless times every day now. I only wanted to pursue happiness and get Anne's love, but found that I dragged her into the abyss of misfortune—she married a penniless pauper, and from then on she would give up all the elegant and luxurious things in her original life, refuse all the joy and happiness that money can provide, and shrink back together with me In a poor corner! How could she endure such hopeless poverty and desperation? She was brought up in a wealthy and elegant environment, and never knew what it was to make a living. She could withstand the pressure of others Cold-eyed? She will regret it, she will regret it soon, and then she will hate me, hate me for bringing her to such a state..."

His grief was so deep and real that Mary was so moved that she said nothing, but let him pour out his sorrows.When the outburst had subsided and Mr. Davies had fallen back into the original melancholy silence, Mary carefully resumed the subject: "Please don't be so troubled, I believe you have not established happiness." In the rich and luxurious life—you have friends who are very generous, and they will not look down on you because you live in a humble place. Besides, you and Anne will not be happy because they live in a mansion and eat good food?"

"As long as I can be with her, I will be happy even if I live in a hut with vegetable soup and black bread. But, Anne, my Anne, how can I have the heart to let her suffer with me?" ?”

Mary stopped, and said earnestly: "Believe me, Mr. Davis, Henry, I think now that I can call you Henry, Anne will feel exactly the same as you. This situation will become a good thing for her self-esteem and self-reliance." She will never be distressed or humiliated by being poor and poor, and she will always be with you-as long as you are worthy of her sacrifice."

Although Mary assured her with such certainty, she was not very certain in her heart. She looked at the increasingly desolate surrounding environment and imagined that in such a place, in a low farmhouse, there would be no servants, no comfortable living room. Furniture, only endless hard housework, will Anne still be the original Anne?