[Pride and Prejudice] Liz's Little Vest

After the boxing match, Tom Lefroy only glanced in Lydia's direction before heading straight for the waiting room.

"Why doesn't he come to talk to me?" Lydia muttered.

"What did he ask you to talk about? Would you like to discuss the cover of The History of Tom Jones the Outcast?"

"You know, I don't like reading books."

"No one is born fond of reading, and the habit of reading is cultivated slowly. If you don't try it, how will you know?" Elizabeth followed the persuasion.

"Okay." Lydia reluctantly agreed.

On the way home, the sun finally broke through the thick clouds, the fog lifted from the streets of London, and the cold winter seemed to recede into the corners of the town.

With the appearance of the sun, all the sadness and gloom gradually faded away.

Before Elizabeth could appreciate the rare warmth in winter, she was told by the housekeeper's wife that there was a visitor at home.

"Mr. Elton?" She was a little surprised, not knowing why he appeared here.

"Miss Elizabeth, I heard from Mr. Jenner that you were ill. Are you well now?"

"It's all right, thank you for your concern." Elizabeth replied.

The two fell into an extremely awkward silence.Elizabeth was the first to speak again: "Did you bring the news of "Pride and Prejudice"? Let's go to the study and talk."

Gentleman Elton nodded, but there was some embarrassment in his expression.

Lydia blinked at Elizabeth as if realizing something, and signaled her to go upstairs first, so as not to disturb the two "negotiations".

Elizabeth and Mr. Elton entered the study one after another.She tied up the curtains to let the sunlight into the room from the French windows on the left and right.

The weather is sunny enough to raise the temperature in the room.But she looked at him obviously chilled, and she lit some stove.

"Mr. Elton, have you had a drink? Have you been to the ladies' magazine? I smell the familiar wine."

"Your powers of observation are astonishing, Miss Elizabeth," said Elton.

This sentence made Elizabeth slightly distracted.

She thought of that sunny afternoon when Darcy looked into her eyes seriously and said the same sentence in the carriage.And at the ball, he hugged her and whispered in her ear.And in the quiet studio, she painted for him, and felt the warm eyes from time to time.besides……

The more she thought about it, the memory came along with her thoughts.A rosy color slowly floated from her neck to the roots of her ears.

Such a scene had special meaning in Mr. Elton's eyes.

"I've just spoken to editor Tom about the placement and publication of Pride and Prejudice and Emma," he explained.While speaking, he casually took out a box from the bag he brought.

"What about Editor Tom's proposal?"

"Pride and Prejudice ended its early publication in June this year. Next, Emma will be published in twelve issues, with a total remuneration of [-] pounds. Publishing copyright fees will be charged separately. What do you think, Miss Elizabeth?"

"Four hundred pounds!" Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise, which is fully twice the salary of "Pride and Prejudice".Adding the two together, she now has an income of fifteen hundred pounds.

""Pride and Prejudice" received a very good response after it was published, but the publication results are unknown. Therefore, the copyright dealer discussed and decided that the copyright fee for "Emma" will be determined after "Pride and Prejudice" is published. Eight hundred pounds is absolutely no problem Whether it can be doubled or more depends on the sales of the former.”

"I have no problem at all," Elizabeth said, "but my intuition tells me that this is not the main purpose of your visit today, Mr. Elton."

"You are a very clever young lady, and no one will dislike you," said Mr. Elton, speaking very slowly, as if he had some deep meaning.He held the red box tightly in his hand, "I want to give you a surprise, maybe you may not like it, but—"

"Is this the published book of "Pride and Prejudice"?" Elizabeth exclaimed in surprise, which made her completely ignore the embarrassment flashing in Mr. Elton's eyes.

She walked forward quickly, looked at Mr. Elton's flushed cheeks, and joked: "It's such a good thing, editor Tom must have entertained you with high-quality wine, Mr. Elton? You seem to be drinking too much." La!"

"Miss Elizabeth, this—"

His words were quickly interrupted by Elizabeth who was in an excited mood. She said, "Can you show me? I'm very curious now."

"Maybe—it's not what you imagined, Miss Elizabeth." He handed over the box, a little at a loss.

"Are you worried that I will be critical, Mr. Elton? I trust the publisher and your judgment," she reassured.

Such reassurance did not in the least relieve Mr. Elton's anxiety.

He watched Elizabeth slowly open the red box, as if he was looking at something deep in his heart, which was being pushed away bit by bit.

The red box was specially chosen by him, it set off Elizabeth's rosy lips, and the gift he carefully selected in the box.

"Thank you for your care, Mr. Elton." Elizabeth smiled gratefully.However, when she unpacked and opened the box, the smile faded away little by little.Instead, there was some embarrassing surprise.

This is a rose.

Deep pink rose of England.The petals spread out layer by layer, like a dancing ballet girl.

Next to it is a card with neat fonts [1]:

"Splendid landscapes, gardens of roses.

You are the darling of wealth, beautiful and pious.

I would like to stop and spend the rest of my life with you.

I have always admired you, Thomas Elton. "

Elizabeth: "..."

Another man proposing.

Could it be that during her "illness" period, she gave people an epiphany of love?

"Feel sorry."

Elizabeth opened her mouth, not knowing what else to say.Just as she was organizing her words, her hand was suddenly grasped tightly.

"Mr. Elton." Elizabeth's tone was elegant and calm.In order to restrain him, she tried to take a step back, "You—"

"Please listen to me, Miss Elizabeth, I just ask you to listen to me." Elton's voice was bitter, but he did not let go of Elizabeth's hand.

He calmed down a little, and said with a wry smile: "I didn't expect much at first. But even if there was no hope, I wanted to give it a go. Although—although your performance encouraged me at the beginning, obviously, this I was thinking too much. I was thinking too much."

He felt Elizabeth's reluctance, and slowly let go of her hand, as if letting go of the most important thing in his life.

"Miss Elizabeth, I love you. From the first day I met you. Maybe the world thinks that women should not create, that women's works are not popular and cannot show the social outlook, but I have never thought about it this way. Miss Elizabeth, ever since I learned that you are the author of "First Impressions", I have fallen in love with you hopelessly."

"Your ingenuity, your wit, everything about you... attracted me. I didn't want to be so eager, but—"

"Sorry." Elizabeth interrupted him.It would be bad for both of them to express feelings like this again, "Mr. Elton, you are a good friend I respect, that's all."

"So, am I still inferior to Mr. Darcy?" asked Mr. Elton after half a minute's silence.

"He's literally the most important person in my life."

Mr. Elton fell silent again.Elizabeth didn't want to provoke him any more, so she turned her back and looked out the window blankly.

"I see." Mr. Elton broke the nearly 5-minute silence with a low voice, "Actually, I knew it would not work, but I just wanted to try it. I don't regret it, Miss Elizabeth. Thank you for your firm Reply. I am very sorry to interrupt your lovely afternoon and have a nice day."

After speaking, before Elizabeth could speak, he left quickly.

All that remains is the bright red box and the English rose inside.

Just 10 minutes apart, this rose is no longer gorgeous.It was like an abandoned child, sitting alone on the desk in the study.

Elizabeth looked out the window and rubbed her temples.

In just two days, she broke the hearts of the two men.

She even laughed at herself silently, if there is any man asking for marriage, come quickly.Rejected together, but also to comfort each other.

Of course—she didn't like being proposed by someone she didn't love.Such a cold rejection made her feel uncomfortable.

The temples were getting more and more painful. Elizabeth was about to go upstairs to rest. The housekeeper's wife came to report that the previous visitor had returned and wanted to ask to see Elizabeth.

what's the situation?

Elizabeth was a little baffled.But politely asked the housekeeper's wife to invite him to the study.

The throbbing pain in her temples made her impatient.

Elizabeth looked out of the window with her back turned, not wanting to speak.Be prepared to wait for the other person to speak first so that she can answer in a targeted manner.

He didn't speak.

Elizabeth only heard the other party's footsteps from far and near, and then judged that he stopped by the desk.

He seemed to be flipping through the box of presents, as if he had picked up the rose.

Could it be that Mr. Elton suddenly realized something and wanted to make a comeback and propose again?Elizabeth frowned and kept rubbing her temples.

If the other party doesn't speak, her previous strategy will fail.Elizabeth had no choice but to preemptively: "Mr. Elton, you are my respected friend. I am very grateful for your presence in my life. For your love, I—"

"..."

She heard the other party's heavy breathing, and the sound of putting down the box.

This interrupted her refusal slightly.However, before she picked up the words again, she heard the other party ask in disbelief:

"Mr. Elton, have I proposed to you?"

this sound?

Elizabeth turned her head slowly, feeling her heart beating faster.

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Note:

[1] Adapted from Byron's poem.