Chapter 20
MR. COLLINS was not left long to the silent contemplation of his successful love; for Mrs. Bennet, having dawdled about in the vestibule to watch for the end of the conference, no sooner saw Elizabeth open the door and with quick step pass her towards the staircase, than she entered the breakfast room, and congratulated both him and herself in warm terms on the happy prospect of their nearer connection. Mr. Collins received and returned these felicitations with equal pleasure, and then proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview, with the result of which he trusted he had every reason to be satisfied, since the refusal which his cousin had stedfastly given him would naturally flow from her bashful modesty and the genuine delicacy of her character.
This information, however, startled Mrs. Bennet; -- she would have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to encourage him by protesting against his proposals, but she dared not to believe it, and could not help saying so.
"But depend upon it, Mr. Collins," she added, "that Lizzy shall be brought to reason. I will speak to her about it myself directly. She is a very headstrong foolish girl, and does not know her own interest; but I will make her know it."
"Pardon me for interrupting you, Madam," cried Mr. Collins; "but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If therefore she actually persists in rejecting my suit, perhaps it were better not to force her into accepting me, because if liable to such defects of temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity."
"Sir, you quite misunderstand me," said Mrs. Bennet, alarmed. "Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these. In every thing else she is as good natured a girl as ever lived. I will go directly to Mr. Bennet, and we shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure."
She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her husband, called out as she entered the library,
"Oh! Mr. Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins, for she vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her."
Mr. Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in the least altered by her communication.
"I have not the pleasure of understanding you," said he, when she had finished her speech. "Of what are you talking?"
"Of Mr. Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy."
"And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems an hopeless business."
"Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her marrying him."
"Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion."
Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library.
"Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared. "I have sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?" Elizabeth replied that it was. "Very well -- and this offer of marriage you have refused?"
"I have, Sir."
"Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is not it so, Mrs. Bennet?"
"Yes, or I will never see her again."
"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. -- Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."
Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning; but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed.
"What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, by talking in this way? You promised me to insist upon her marrying him."
"My dear," replied her husband, "I have two small favours to request. First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as may be."
Not yet, however, in spite of her disappointment in her husband, did Mrs. Bennet give up the point. She talked to Elizabeth again and again; coaxed and threatened her by turns. She endeavoured to secure Jane in her interest but Jane with all possible mildness declined interfering; -- and Elizabeth, sometimes with real earnestness and sometimes with playful gaiety, replied to her attacks. Though her manner varied, however, her determination never did.
Mr. Collins, meanwhile, was meditating in solitude on what had passed. He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what motive his cousin could refuse him; and though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way. His regard for her was quite imaginary; and the possibility of her deserving her mother's reproach prevented his feeling any regret.
While the family were in this confusion, Charlotte Lucas came to spend the day with them. She was met in the vestibule by Lydia, who, flying to her, cried in a half whisper, "I am glad you are come, for there is such fun here! -- What do you think has happened this morning? -- Mr. Collins has made an offer to Lizzy, and she will not have him."
Charlotte had hardly time to answer, before they were joined by Kitty, who came to tell the same news, and no sooner had they entered the breakfast-room, where Mrs. Bennet was alone, than she likewise began on the subject, calling on Miss Lucas for her compassion, and entreating her to persuade her friend Lizzy to comply with the wishes of all her family. "Pray do, my dear Miss Lucas," she added in a melancholy tone, "for nobody is on my side, nobody takes part with me, I am cruelly used, nobody feels for my poor nerves."
Charlotte's reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and Elizabeth.
"Aye, there she comes," continued Mrs. Bennet, "looking as unconcerned as may be, and caring no more for us than if we were at York, provided she can have her own way. -- But I tell you what, Miss Lizzy, if you take it into your head to go on refusing every offer of marriage in this way, you will never get a husband at all -- and I am sure I do not know who is to maintain you when your father is dead. -- I shall not be able to keep you -- and so I warn you. -- I have done with you from this very day. -- I told you in the library, you know, that I should never speak to you again, and you will find me as good as my word. I have no pleasure in talking to undutiful children, -- Not that I have much pleasure indeed in talking to any body. People who suffer as I do from nervous complaints can have no great inclination for talking. Nobody can tell what I suffer! -- But it is always so. Those who do not complain are never pitied."
Her daughters listened in silence to this effusion, sensible that any attempt to reason with or sooth her would only increase the irritation. She talked on, therefore, without interruption from any of them till they were joined by Mr. Collins, who entered with an air more stately than usual, and on perceiving whom, she said to the girls,
"Now, I do insist upon it, that you, all of you, hold your tongues, and let Mr. Collins and me have a little conversation together."
Elizabeth passed quietly out of the room, Jane and Kitty followed, but Lydia stood her ground, determined to hear all she could; and Charlotte, detained first by the civility of Mr. Collins, whose inquiries after herself and all her family were very minute, and then by a little curiosity, satisfied herself with walking to the window and pretending not to hear. In a doleful voice Mrs. Bennet thus began the projected conversation. -- "Oh! Mr. Collins!" --
"My dear Madam," replied he, "let us be for ever silent on this point. Far be it from me," he presently continued, in a voice that marked his displeasure, "to resent the behaviour of your daughter. Resignation to inevitable evils is the duty of us all; the peculiar duty of a young man who has been so fortunate as I have been in early preferment; and I trust I am resigned. Perhaps not the less so from feeling a doubt of my positive happiness had my fair cousin honoured me with her hand; for I have often observed that resignation is never so perfect as when the blessing denied begins to lose somewhat of its value in our estimation. You will not, I hope, consider me as shewing any disrespect to your family, my dear Madam, by thus withdrawing my pretensions to your daughter's favour, without having paid yourself and Mr. Bennet the compliment of requesting you to interpose your authority in my behalf. My conduct may, I fear, be objectionable in having accepted my dismission from your daughter's lips instead of your own. But we are all liable to error. I have certainly meant well through the whole affair. My object has been to secure an amiable companion for myself, with due consideration for the advantage of all your family, and if my manner has been at all reprehensible, I here beg leave to apologise."
第二十章
柯林斯先生獨(dú)自一個(gè)人默默地幻想著美滿的姻緣，可是并沒有想上多久，因?yàn)榘嗉{特太太一直待在走廊里混時(shí)間，等著聽他們倆商談的結(jié)果，現(xiàn)在看見伊麗莎白開了門，匆匆忙忙走上樓去，她便馬上走進(jìn)飯廳，熱烈地祝賀柯林斯先生，祝賀她自己，說是他們今后大有親上加親的希望了。柯林斯先生同樣快樂地接受了她的祝賀，同時(shí)又祝賀了她一番，接著就把他跟伊麗莎白剛才的那場談話，一五一十地講了出來，說他有充分的理由相信，談話的結(jié)果很令人滿意，因?yàn)樗谋砻秒m然再三拒絕，可是那種拒絕，自然是她那羞怯淑靜和嬌柔細(xì)致的天性的流露。
這一消息可叫班納特太太嚇了一跳。當(dāng)然，要是她的女兒果真是口頭上拒絕他的求婚，骨子里卻在鼓勵(lì)他，那她也會(huì)同樣覺得高興的，可是她不敢這么想，而且不得不照直說了出來。
她說：“柯林斯先生，你放心吧，我會(huì)叫麗萃懂事一些的。我馬上就要親自跟她談?wù)�。她是個(gè)固執(zhí)的傻姑娘，不明白好歹；可是我會(huì)叫她明白的�！�
“對不起，讓我插句嘴，太太，”柯林斯先生叫道：“要是她果真又固執(zhí)又傻，那我就不知道她是否配做我理想的妻子了，因?yàn)橄笪疫@樣地位的人，結(jié)婚自然是為了要幸福。這么說，如果她真拒絕我的求婚，那倒是不要勉強(qiáng)她好，否則，她脾氣方面有了這些缺點(diǎn)，她對于我的幸福決不會(huì)不什么好處。”
班納特太太吃驚地說：“先生，你完全誤會(huì)了我的意思，麗萃不過在這類事情上固執(zhí)些，可是遇到別的事情，她的性子再好也沒有了。我馬上去找班納特先生，我們一下子就會(huì)把她這個(gè)問題談妥的，我有把握。”
她不等他回答，便急忙跑到丈夫那兒去，一走進(jìn)他的書房就嚷道：
“噢，我的好老爺，你得馬上出來一下；我們鬧得天翻地覆了呢。你得來勸勸麗萃跟柯林斯先生結(jié)婚，因?yàn)樗�咒發(fā)誓不要他；假如你不趕快來打個(gè)圓場，他就要改變主意，反過來不要她了�！�
班納特先生見她走進(jìn)來，便從書本上抬起眼睛，安然自得、漠不關(guān)心地望著她臉上。他聽了她的話，完全不動(dòng)聲色。
她說完以后，他便說道：“抱歉，我沒有聽懂你究竟說些什么�！�
“我說的是柯林斯先生和麗萃的事，麗萃表示不要柯林斯先生，柯林斯先生也開始說他不要麗萃了�！�
“這種事叫我有什么辦法？看來是件沒有指望的事。”
“你去同麗萃說說看吧。就跟她說，你非要她跟他結(jié)婚不可�！�
“叫她下來吧。讓我來跟她說。”
班納特太太拉下了鈴，伊麗莎白小姐給叫到書房里來了。
爸爸一見她來，便大聲說：“上這兒來，孩子，我叫你來談一件要緊的事。我聽說柯林斯先生向你求婚，真有這回事嗎？”伊麗莎白說，真有這回事�！昂芎�。你把這樁婚事回絕了嗎？”
“我回絕了，爸爸。”
“很好，我們現(xiàn)在就來談到本題。你的媽非要你答應(yīng)不可。我的好太太，可不是嗎？”
“是的，否則我看也不要看到她了�！�
“擺在你面前的是個(gè)很不幸的難題，你得自己去抉擇，伊麗莎白。從今天起，你不和父親成為陌路人，就要和母親成為陌路人。要是你不嫁給柯林斯先生，你的媽就不要再見你，要是你嫁給他，我就不要再見你了。”
伊麗莎白聽到了那樣的開頭和這樣的結(jié)論，不得不笑了一笑；不過，這可苦了班納特太太，她本以為丈夫一定會(huì)照著她的意思來對待這件事的，哪里料到反而叫她大失所望�！澳氵@話是什么意思，我的好老爺？你事先不是答應(yīng)了我，非叫她嫁給他不可嗎？”
“好太太，”丈夫回答道，“我有兩件事要求你幫幫忙。第一，請你允許我自由運(yùn)用我自己的書房。我真巴不得早日在自己書房里圖個(gè)清閑自在�！�
班納特太太雖然碰了一鼻子灰，可是并不甘心罷休。她一遍又一遍地說服伊麗莎白，一忽兒哄騙，一忽兒威脅。她想盡辦法拉著吉英幫忙，可是吉英偏不愿意多管閑事，極其委婉地謝絕了。伊麗莎白應(yīng)付得很好，一忽兒情意懇切，一忽兒又是嘻皮笑臉，方式盡管變來變換去，決心卻始終如一。
這當(dāng)兒，柯林斯先生獨(dú)自把剛才的那一幕深思默想了一番。他的把自己估價(jià)太高了，因此弄不明白表妹所以拒絕他，原因究竟何在。雖說他的自尊心受到了傷害，可是他別的方面絲毫也不覺得難過。他對他的好感完全是憑空想象的，他又以為她的母親一定會(huì)責(zé)罵她，因此心里便也不覺得有什么難受了，因?yàn)樗に赣H的罵是活該，不必為她過意不去。
正當(dāng)這一家子鬧得亂紛紛的時(shí)候，夏綠蒂·盧卡斯上她們這兒來玩了。麗迪雅在大門品碰到她，立刻奔上前去湊近她跟前說道：“你來了我真高興，這兒正鬧得有趣呢！你知道今天上午發(fā)生了什么事？柯林斯先生向麗萃求婚，麗萃偏偏不肯要他。”
夏綠蒂還沒來得及回答，吉蒂就走到她們跟前來了，把同樣的消息報(bào)道了一遍。她們走進(jìn)起坐間，只見班納特太太正獨(dú)自待在那兒，馬上又和她們談到這話題上來，要求盧卡斯小姐憐恤憐恤她老人家，勸勸她的朋友麗萃順從全家人的意思�！扒笄竽惆�，盧卡斯小姐，”她又用苦痛的聲調(diào)說道：“誰也不站在我一邊，大家都故意作踐我，一個(gè)個(gè)都對我狠心透頂，誰也不能體諒我的神經(jīng)。”
夏綠蒂正要回答，恰巧吉英和伊麗莎白走進(jìn)來了，因此沒有開口。
“嘿，她來啦，”班納特太太接下去說�！翱此荒槤M不在乎的神氣，一些不把我們放在心上，好象是冤家對頭，一任她自己獨(dú)斷獨(dú)行。──麗萃小姐，讓我老實(shí)告訴你吧；如果你一碰到人家求婚，就象這樣拒絕，那你一生一世都休想弄到一個(gè)丈夫。瞧你爸爸去世以后，還有誰來養(yǎng)你。我是養(yǎng)不活你的，事先得跟你聲明。從今天起，我跟你一刀兩斷。你知道，剛剛在書房里，我就跟你說過，我再也不要跟你說話了，瞧我說得到就做得到。我不高興跟忤逆的女兒說話。老實(shí)說，跟誰說話都不大樂意。象我這樣一個(gè)神經(jīng)上有病痛的人，就沒有多大的興致說話。誰也不知道我的苦楚！不過天下事總是這樣的，你嘴上不訴苦，就沒有人可憐你。”
女兒們一聲不響，只是聽著她發(fā)牢騷。她們都明白，要是你想跟她評(píng)評(píng)理，安慰安慰她，那就等于火上加油。她嘮嘮叨叨往下說，女兒們沒有一個(gè)來岔斷她的話。最后，柯林斯先生進(jìn)來了，臉上的神氣比平常顯得益發(fā)莊嚴(yán)，她一見到他，便對女兒們這樣說：
“現(xiàn)在我要你們一個(gè)個(gè)都住嘴，讓柯林斯先生跟我談一會(huì)兒�！�
伊麗莎白靜悄悄地走出去了，吉英和吉蒂跟著也走了出去，只有麗迪雅站在那兒不動(dòng)，正要聽聽他們談些什么。夏綠蒂也沒有走，先是因?yàn)榭铝炙瓜壬凶屑?xì)細(xì)問候她和她的家庭，所以不便即走，隨后又為了滿足她自己的好奇心，便走到窗口，去偷聽他們談話。只聽得班納特太太開始怨聲怨氣地把預(yù)先準(zhǔn)備好的一番話談出來：“哦，柯林斯先生�！�
“親愛的太太，”柯林斯先生說，“這件事讓我們再也別提了吧。我決不會(huì)怨恨令嬡這種行為�！彼f到這里，聲調(diào)中立刻流露出極其不愉快的意味：“我們大家都得逆來順受，象我這樣年少得志，小小年紀(jì)就得到了人家的器重，特別應(yīng)該如此，我相信我一切都聽天由命。即使蒙我那位美麗的表妹不棄，答應(yīng)了我的求婚，或許我仍然免不了要懷疑，是否就此會(huì)獲得真正的幸福，因?yàn)槲乙幌蛘J(rèn)為，幸福一經(jīng)拒絕，就不值得我們再加重視。遇到這種場合，聽天由命是再好不過的辦法。親愛的太太，我這樣收回了對令嬡的求婚，希望你別以為這是對您老人家和班納特先生不恭敬的表示，別怪我沒要求你們出面代我調(diào)停一下。只不過我并不是受到您拒絕，而是受到令嬡的拒絕，這一點(diǎn)也許值得遺憾。可是人人都難免有個(gè)陰錯(cuò)陽差的時(shí)候。我對于這件事始終是一片好心好意。我的目的就是要找一個(gè)可愛的伴侶，并且適當(dāng)?shù)乜紤]到府上的利益；假使我的態(tài)度方面有什么地方應(yīng)該受到責(zé)備的話，就讓我當(dāng)面道個(gè)謙吧�！�
Chapter 21
THE discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, his feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her, and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself, were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility in listening to him, was a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to her friend.
The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill humour or ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he still meant to stay.
After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton, to inquire if Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town and attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and vexation, and the concern of every body was well talked over. -- To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self imposed.
"I found," said he, "as the time drew near, that I had better not meet Mr. Darcy; -- that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself."
She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to her. His accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the compliment it offered to herself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing him to her father and mother.
Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and was opened immediately. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw her dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected herself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane invited her to follow her up stairs. When they had gained their own room, Jane taking out the letter, said,
"This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains, has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town; and without any intention of coming back again. You shall hear what she says."
She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that day in Grosvenor street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. The next was in these words. "I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; but we will hope at some future period, to enjoy many returns of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the mean while may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that." To these high flown expressions, Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must soon cease to regard it, in the enjoyment of his.
"It is unlucky," said she, after a short pause, "that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks forward, may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends, will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? -- Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by them."
"Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you --"
"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London, might be concluded in three or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the croud, but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you."
"It is evident by this," added Jane, "that he comes back no more this winter."
"It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he should."
"Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. -- He is his own master. But you do not know all. I will read you the passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from you." "Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already, he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing, her relations all wish the connection as much as his own, and a sister's partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?"
"What think you of this sentence, my dear Lizzy?" -- said Jane as she finished it. "Is it not clear enough? -- Does it not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference, and that if she suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?"
"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. -- Will you hear it?"
"Most willingly."
"You shall have it in few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you."
Jane shook her head.
"Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. -- No one who has ever seen you together, can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley I am sure cannot. She is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is this. We are not rich enough, or grand enough for them; and she is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion that when there has been one intermarriage, she may have less trouble in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and I dare say it would succeed, if Miss de Bourgh were out of the way. But, my dearest Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest degree less sensible of your merit than when he took leave of you on Tuesday, or that it will be in her power to persuade him that instead of being in love with you, he is very much in love with her friend."
"If we thought alike of Miss Bingley," replied Jane, "your representation of all this, might make me quite easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is, that she is deceived herself."
"That is right. -- You could not have started a more happy idea, since you will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to be deceived by all means. You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer."
"But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry elsewhere?"
"You must decide for yourself," said Elizabeth, "and if, upon mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him."
"How can you talk so?" -- said Jane faintly smiling, -- "You must know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could not hesitate."
"I did not think you would; -- and that being the case, I cannot consider your situation with much compassion."
"But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never be required. A thousand things may arise in six months!"
The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the utmost contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of Caroline's interested wishes, and she could not for a moment suppose that those wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young man so totally independent of every one.
She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she felt on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect. Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart.
They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct; but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern, and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen to go away, just as they were all getting so intimate together. After lamenting it however at some length, she had the consolation of thinking that Mr. Bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at Longbourn, and the conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration that, though he had been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full courses.
第二十一章
關(guān)于柯林斯先生求婚問題的，討論差不多就要結(jié)束了，現(xiàn)在伊麗莎白只感到一種照例難免的的不愉快，有時(shí)候還要聽她母親埋怨一兩聲。說到那位先生本人，他可并不顯得意氣沮喪，也沒有表現(xiàn)出要回避她的樣子，只是氣憤憤地板著臉，默然無聲。他簡直不跟她說話，他本來的那一股熱情，到下半天都轉(zhuǎn)移到盧卡斯小姐身上去了。盧小姐滿有禮貌地聽著他說話，這叫大家都松了口氣，特別是她的朋友。
班納特太太直到第二天還是同樣不高興，身體也沒有復(fù)元�？铝炙瓜壬策�是那樣又氣憤又傲慢的樣子。伊麗莎白原以為他這樣一氣，就會(huì)早日離開此地，誰知道他決不因此而改變原來的計(jì)劃，他講她要到星期六才走，便決定要待到星期六。
吃過早飯，小姐們上麥里屯去打聽韋翰先生回來了沒有，同時(shí)為了他沒有參加尼日斐花園的舞會(huì)而去向他表示惋惜。她們一走到鎮(zhèn)上就遇見了他，于是他陪著小姐們上她們姨媽家里去，他在那兒把他的歉意，他的煩惱，以及他對于每個(gè)人的關(guān)注，談了個(gè)暢快。不過他卻在伊麗莎白面前自動(dòng)說明，那次舞會(huì)是他自己不愿意去參加。
他說：“當(dāng)時(shí)日期一天天迫近，我心里想，還是不要碰見達(dá)西先生的好；我覺得要同他在同一間屋子里，在同一個(gè)舞會(huì)上，待上好幾個(gè)鐘頭，那會(huì)叫我受不了，而且可能會(huì)鬧出些笑話來，弄得彼此都不開心�！�
她非常贊美他的涵養(yǎng)功夫。當(dāng)韋翰和另一位軍官跟她們一塊兒回浪博恩來的時(shí)候，一路上他特別照顧她，因此他們有充分的空暇來討論這個(gè)問題，而且還客客氣氣地彼此恭維了一陣。他所以要伴送她們，是為了兩大利益；一來可以讓她高興高興，二來可以利用這個(gè)大好機(jī)會(huì)，去認(rèn)識(shí)認(rèn)識(shí)她的雙親。
她們剛回到家里，班納特小姐就接到一封從尼日斐花園寄來的信。信立刻拆開了，里面裝著一張小巧、精致、熨燙得很平滑的信箋，字跡是出自一位小姐的娟秀流利的手筆。伊麗莎白看到姐姐讀信時(shí)變了臉色，又看到她全神貫注在某幾段上面。頃該之間，吉英又鎮(zhèn)靜了下來，把信放在一旁，象平常一樣，高高興興地跟大家一起聊天；可是伊麗莎白仍然為這件事焦急，因此對韋翰也分心了。韋翰和他的同伴一走，吉英便對她做了個(gè)眼色，叫她跟上樓去。一到了她們自己房里，吉英就拿出信來，說道：“這是另羅琳·彬格萊寫來的，信上的話真叫我大吃一驚。她們一家人現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)離開尼日斐花園上城里去了，再也不打算回來了。你看看她怎么說的吧。”
于是她先把第一句念出來，那句話是說，她們已經(jīng)決定，立刻追隨她們的弟兄上城里去，而且要在當(dāng)天趕到格魯斯汶納街吃飯，原來赫斯脫先生就住在那條街上。接下去是這樣寫的：──“親愛的朋友，離開哈福德郡，除了你的友誼以外，我真是一無留戀，不過，我希望將來有一天，還是可以象過去那樣愉快地來往，并希望目前能經(jīng)常通信，無話不談，以抒離悃。臨筆不勝企盼�！币聋惿讓@些浮話奢詞，亦只是姑妄聽之；雖說她們這一次突然的遷走叫她感到驚奇，可是她并不覺得真有什么可以惋惜的地方。她們離開了尼日斐花園，未必彬格萊先生便不會(huì)再在那兒住下去；至于說到跟她們沒有了來往，她相信吉英只要跟彬格萊先生時(shí)常見面，也就無所謂了。
歇了片刻，伊麗莎白說道：“不幸得很，你朋友們臨走以前，你沒有來得及去看她們一次。可是，彬格萊小姐既然認(rèn)為將來還有重聚的歡樂，難道我們不能希望這一天比她意料中來得早一些嗎？將來做了姑嫂，不是比今天做朋友更滿意嗎？彬格萊先生不會(huì)被她們久留在倫敦的�！�
“咖羅琳肯定地說，她們一家人，今年冬天誰也不會(huì)回到哈�？砹�。讓我念給你聽吧：
‘我哥哥昨天和我們告別的時(shí)候，還以為他這次上倫敦去，只要三四天就可以把事情辦好；可是我們認(rèn)為辦不到，同時(shí)我們相信，查爾斯一進(jìn)了城，決不肯馬上就走，因此我們決計(jì)追蹤前去，免得他冷冷清清住在旅館里受罪。我很多朋友都上倫敦去過冬了；親愛的朋友，我本來還希望聽到你進(jìn)城去的消息，結(jié)果我失望了。我真摯地希望你在哈福德郡照常能夠極其愉快地度過圣誕節(jié)。希望你有很多漂亮的男朋友，免得我們一走，你便會(huì)因?yàn)樯倭巳齻�(gè)朋友而感到難受。’
“這明明是說，”吉英補(bǔ)充道，“他今年冬天不會(huì)回來啦�！�
“這不過說明彬格萊小姐不要他回來罷了�！�
“你為什么這樣想法？那一定是他自己的意思。他自己可以作主�？墒悄氵�沒有全部知道呢。我一定要把那特別叫我傷心的一段讀給你聽。我對你完全不必忌諱�！_(dá)西先生急著要去看看他妹妹；說老實(shí)話，我們也差不多同樣熱切地希望和她重逢。我以為喬治安娜·達(dá)西無論在容貌方面，舉止方面，才藝方面，的確再也沒有人能夠比得上。露薏莎和我都大膽地希望她以后會(huì)做我們的嫂嫂，因此我們對她便越發(fā)關(guān)切了。我不知道以前有沒有跟你提起過我對這件事的感覺，可是當(dāng)此離開鄉(xiāng)村之際，我不愿意不把這些感覺說出來，我相信你不會(huì)覺得這是不合理的吧。我的哥哥已經(jīng)深深地受上了她，他現(xiàn)在可以時(shí)常去看她，他們自會(huì)更加親密起來；雙方的家庭方面都同樣盼望這門親事能夠成功。我想，如果我說，查爾斯最善于博取任何女人的歡心，這可不能是出于做姐妹的偏心，瞎說一陣吧。既是各方面都贊成這段姻緣，而且事情毫無阻礙，那么，最親愛的吉英，我衷心希望著這件人人樂意的事能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn)，你能說我錯(cuò)嗎？’你覺得這一句怎么樣，親愛的麗萃？”吉英讀完了以后說�！罢f得還不夠清楚嗎？這不是明明白白地表明她們不希望、也不愿意我做她們的嫂嫂嗎？不是說明了她完全相信他的哥哥對我無所謂嗎？而且不也是說明了：假如她懷疑到我對他有感情，她就要?jiǎng)裎遥ǘ嗵澦@樣好心腸！）當(dāng)心些嗎？這些話還能有別的解釋嗎？”
“當(dāng)然可以有別的解釋；我的解釋就和你的解釋完全兩樣。你愿意聽一聽嗎？”
“非常愿意。”
“這只消三言兩語就可以說明白。彬格萊小姐看出他哥哥愛上了你，可是她卻希望他和達(dá)西小姐結(jié)婚。她跟著他到城里去，就為的是要把他絆住在那兒，而且竭力想來說服你，叫你相信他對你沒有好感�！�
吉英搖搖頭。
“吉英，你的確應(yīng)該相信我。凡是看見過你們倆在一起的人，都不會(huì)懷疑到他的感情。我相信彬格萊小姐也不會(huì)懷疑，她不是那么一個(gè)傻瓜。要是她看到達(dá)西先生對她的愛有這樣的一半，她就要辦嫁妝了�？墒菃栴}是這樣的：在她們家里看來，我們還不夠有錢，也不夠有勢，她所以急于想把達(dá)西小姐配給她哥哥，原來還有一個(gè)打算，那就是說，親上加親以后，親上再加親就更省事了。這件事當(dāng)然很費(fèi)了一些心機(jī)，我敢說，要不是德·包爾小姐從中作梗，事情是會(huì)成功的。可是最親愛的吉英，你千萬不要因?yàn)楸蚋袢R小姐告訴你說，她哥哥已經(jīng)深深地愛上了達(dá)西小姐，你就以為彬格萊先生自從星期二和你分別以來，對你的傾心有絲毫變卦，也別以為她真有本事叫她哥哥不愛你，而去愛上她那位女朋友。”
“假如我對彬格萊小姐看法是一致的，”吉英回答道，“那么，你的一切想法就會(huì)大大地讓我安心了�？墒俏抑滥氵@種說法很偏心。珈羅琳不會(huì)故意欺騙任何人，我對這件事只能存一個(gè)希望，那就是說，一定是她自己想錯(cuò)了。”
“這話說得對。我的想法既然不能安慰你，你自己居然轉(zhuǎn)得出這樣的好念頭來，那是再好也沒有了，你就相信是她自己想錯(cuò)了吧�，F(xiàn)在你算是對她盡了責(zé)任，再也用不著煩惱�！�
“可是，親愛的妹妹，即使從最好的方面去著想，我能夠給這個(gè)人的，而他的姐妹和朋友們都希望他跟別人結(jié)婚，這樣我會(huì)幸福嗎？”
“那就得看你自己的主張如何，”伊麗莎白說。“如果你考慮成熟以后，認(rèn)為得罪了他的姐妹們所招來的痛苦，比起做他的太太所得來的幸福還要大，那么，我勸你決計(jì)拒絕了他算數(shù)。”
“你怎么說得出這種話？”吉英微微一笑。“你要知道，即使她們的反對使我萬分難受，我還是不會(huì)猶豫的�！�
“我并沒有說你會(huì)猶豫；既然如此，我就可以不必再為你擔(dān)心了�！�
“倘若他今年冬天不回來，我就用不著左思右想了。六個(gè)月里會(huì)有多少變動(dòng)啊。”
所謂他不會(huì)回來，這種想法伊麗莎白大不以為然。她覺得那不過是咖羅琳一廂情愿。她認(rèn)為珈羅琳這種愿望無論是露骨地說出來也罷，委婉地說出來也罷，對于一個(gè)完全無求于人的青年來說，決不會(huì)發(fā)生絲毫影響。
她把自己對這個(gè)問題的感想，解釋給她姐姐聽，果然一下子就收到了很好的效果，她覺得非常高興。吉英這樣的性子，本來不會(huì)輕易意志消沉，從此便漸漸產(chǎn)生了希望認(rèn)為彬格萊先生準(zhǔn)定會(huì)回到尼日斐花園一，使她萬事如意，盡管有時(shí)候她還是懷疑多于希望。
最后姐妹倆一致主張，這事在班納特太太面前不宜多說，只要告訴她一聲，這一家人家已經(jīng)離開此地，不必向她說明他走原因；可是班納特太太光是聽到這片段的消息，已經(jīng)大感不安，甚至還哭了起來，埋怨自己運(yùn)氣太壞，兩位貴婦人剛剛跟她處熟就走了。不過傷心了一陣以后，她又用這樣的想法來安慰自己；彬格萊先生不久就會(huì)回來，到浪博恩來吃飯；最后她心安理得地說，雖然只不過邀他來便飯，她一定要費(fèi)些心思，請他吃兩道大菜。
Chapter 22
THE Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again during the chief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. "It keeps him in good humour," said she, "and I am more obliged to you than I can express." Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; -- its object was nothing less than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so favourable that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost sure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here, she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success could be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. His reception however was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house, he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waved for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained.
Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent; and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr. Collins's present circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whom they could give little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with more interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decided opinion that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife should make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still, he would be her husband. -- Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such disapprobation. She resolved to give her the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct questions on his return, as required some ingenuity to evade, and he was at the same time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing to publish his prosperous love.
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his other engagements might allow him to visit them.
"My dear Madam," he replied, "this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible."
They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said,
"But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, my good sir? -- You had better neglect your relations, than run the risk of offending your patroness."
"My dear sir," replied Mr. Collins, "I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her ladyship's concurrence."
"You cannot be too much on your guard. Risk any thing rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied that we shall take no offence."
"Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, as well as for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Elizabeth."
With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally surprised to find that he meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him. She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was a solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an example as her's, he might become a very agreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this kind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before.
The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him, seemed almost as far from possibility as that she could encourage him herself, and her astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she could not help crying out,
"Engaged to Mr. Collins! my dear Charlotte, -- impossible!"
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained her composure, and calmly replied,
"Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? -- Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?"
But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure her with tolerable firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all imaginable happiness.
"I see what you are feeling," replied Charlotte, -- "you must be surprised, very much surprised, -- so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state."
Elizabeth quietly answered "Undoubtedly;" -- and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers of marriage within three days, was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating picture! -- And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.
第二十二章
這一天班納特全家都被盧卡斯府上請去吃飯，又多蒙盧卡斯小姐一片好意，整日陪著柯林斯先生談話。伊麗莎白利用了一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)向她道謝。她說：“這樣可以叫他精神痛快些，我對你真是說不盡的感激�！毕木G蒂說，能夠替朋友效勞，非常樂意，雖然花了一點(diǎn)時(shí)間，卻得到了很大的快慰。這真是太好了；可是夏綠蒂的好意，遠(yuǎn)非伊麗莎白所能意料；原來夏綠蒂是有意要盡量逗引柯林斯先生跟她自己談話，免得他再去向伊麗莎白獻(xiàn)殷勤。她這個(gè)計(jì)謀看來進(jìn)行得十分順利。晚上大家分手的時(shí)候，夏綠蒂幾乎滿有把握地感覺到，要不是柯林斯先生這么快就要離開哈福德郡，事情一定能成功。但是她這樣的想法，未免太不了解他那如火如荼、獨(dú)斷獨(dú)行的性格。且說第二天一大早，柯林斯就采用了相當(dāng)狡猾的辦法，溜出了浪博恩，趕到盧家莊來向她屈身求愛。他唯恐給表妹們碰到了，他認(rèn)為，假若讓她們看見他走開，那就必定會(huì)讓她們猜中他的打算，而他不等到事情有了成功的把握，決不愿意讓人家知道。雖說他當(dāng)場看到夏綠蒂對他頗有情意，因此覺得這事十拿九穩(wěn)可以成功，可是從星期三那場冒險(xiǎn)以來，他究竟不敢太魯莽了。不過人家倒很巴結(jié)地接待了他。盧卡斯小姐從樓上窗口看見他向她家里走來，便連忙到那條小道上去接他，又裝出是偶然相逢的樣子。她萬萬想不到，柯林斯這一次竟然給她帶來了說不盡的千情萬愛。
在短短的一段時(shí)間里，柯林斯先生說了多多少少的話，于是兩人之間便一切都講妥了，而且雙方都很滿意。一走進(jìn)屋子，他就誠懇地要求她擇定吉日，使他成為世界上最幸福的人，雖說這種請求，暫應(yīng)該置之不理，可是這位小姐并不想要拿他的幸福當(dāng)兒戲。他天生一副蠢相，求起愛來總是打動(dòng)不了女人的心，女人一碰到他求愛，總是請他碰壁。盧卡斯小姐所以愿意答應(yīng)他，完全是為了財(cái)產(chǎn)打算，至于那筆財(cái)產(chǎn)何年何月可以拿到手，她倒不在乎。
他們倆立刻就去請求威廉爵士夫婦加以允許，老夫婦連忙高高興興地答應(yīng)了。他們本來沒有什么嫁妝給女兒，論柯林斯先生目前的境況，真是再適合不過的一個(gè)女婿，何況他將來一定會(huì)發(fā)一筆大財(cái)。盧卡斯太太立刻帶著空前未有過的興趣，開始盤算著班納特先生還有多少年可活；威廉爵士一口斷定說，只要林斯先生一旦得到了浪博恩的財(cái)產(chǎn)，他夫婦倆就大有覲見皇上的希望了。總而言之，這件大事叫全家人都快活透頂。幾位小女兒都滿懷希望，認(rèn)為這一來可以早一兩年出去交際了，男孩子們再也不擔(dān)心夏綠蒂會(huì)當(dāng)老處女了。只有夏綠蒂本人倒相當(dāng)鎮(zhèn)定。她現(xiàn)在初步已經(jīng)成功，還有時(shí)間去仔細(xì)考慮一番。她想了一下，大致滿意。柯林斯先生固然既不通情達(dá)理，又不討人喜愛，同他相處實(shí)在是件討厭的事，他對她的愛也一定是空中樓閣，不過她還是要他做丈夫。雖然她對于婚姻和夫婦生活，估價(jià)都不甚高，可是，結(jié)婚到底是她一貫的目標(biāo)，大凡家境不好而又受過相當(dāng)教育的青年女子，總是把結(jié)婚當(dāng)作僅有的一條體面的退路。盡管結(jié)婚并不一定會(huì)叫人幸福，但總算約她自己安排了一個(gè)最可靠的儲(chǔ)藏室日后可以不致挨凍受饑。她現(xiàn)在就獲得這樣一個(gè)儲(chǔ)藏室了。她今年二十七歲，人長得又不標(biāo)致，這個(gè)儲(chǔ)藏室當(dāng)然會(huì)使她覺得無限幸運(yùn)。只有一件事令人不快──那就是說，伊麗莎白·班納特準(zhǔn)會(huì)對這門親事感到驚奇，而她又是一向把伊麗莎白的交情看得比什么人的交情都重要。伊麗莎白一定會(huì)詫異，說不定還要埋怨她。雖說她一經(jīng)下定決心便不會(huì)動(dòng)搖，然而人家非難起來一定會(huì)使她難受。于是她決定親自把這件事告訴她，囑咐柯林斯先生回到浪博恩吃飯的時(shí)候，不要在班納特家里任何人面前透露一點(diǎn)風(fēng)聲。對方當(dāng)然唯命是從，答應(yīng)保守秘密，其實(shí)秘密是很難保守，因?yàn)樗鋈サ锰昧�，一定�?huì)引起人家的好奇心，因此他一回去，大家立刻向他問長問短，他得要有幾分能耐才能夠遮掩過去，加上他又巴不得把此番情場得意的情況宣揚(yáng)出去，因此他好容易才克制住了。
他明天一大早就要啟程，來不及向大家辭行，所以當(dāng)夜太太小姐們就寢的時(shí)候，大家便相互話別；班納特太太極其誠懇、極有禮貌地說，以后他要是有便再來浪博恩，上她們那兒去玩玩，那真叫她們太高興了。
他回答道：“親愛的太太，承蒙邀約，不勝感激，我也正希望能領(lǐng)受這份盛意；請你放心，我一有空就來看你們。”
大家都吃了一驚，尤其是班納特先生，根本不希望他馬上回來，便連忙說道：
“賢侄，你不怕珈苔琳夫人不贊成嗎？你最好把親戚關(guān)系看得淡一些，免得擔(dān)那么大的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)，得罪了你的女施主�！�
柯林斯先生回答道：“老長輩，我非常感激你這樣好心地提醒我，請你放心，這樣重大的事，不得到她老人家的同意，我決不會(huì)冒昧從事�！�
“多小心一些只會(huì)有益處。什么事都不要緊，可千萬不能叫她老人家不高興。要是你想到我們這兒來，而她卻不高興讓你來（我覺得這是非�？赡艿模�，那么就請你安分一些，待在家里，你放心，我們決不會(huì)因此而見怪的。”
“老長輩，請相信我，蒙你這樣好心地關(guān)注，真叫我感激不盡。你放心好了，你馬上就會(huì)收到我一封謝函，感謝這一點(diǎn)，感謝我在哈�？っ赡銈儗ξ业姆N種照拂。至于諸位表妹，雖然我去不了多少日子，且請恕我冒昧，就趁著現(xiàn)在祝她們健康幸福，連伊麗莎白表妹也不例外�！�
太太小姐們便行禮如儀，辭別回房；大家聽說他竟打算很快就回來，都感到驚訝。班納特太太滿以為他是打算向她的哪一個(gè)小女兒求婚，也許能勸勸曼麗去應(yīng)承他。曼麗比任何姐妹都看重他的能力。他思想方面的堅(jiān)定很叫她傾心；他雖然比不上她自己那樣聰明，可是只要有一個(gè)象她這樣的人作為榜樣，鼓勵(lì)他讀書上進(jìn)，那他一定會(huì)成為一個(gè)稱心如意的伴侶。只可惜一到第二天早上，這種希望就完全破滅了。盧卡斯小姐剛一吃過早飯，就來訪問，私下跟伊麗莎白把前一天的事說了出來。
早在前一兩天，伊麗莎白就一度想到，柯林斯先生可能一廂情愿，自以為愛上了她這位朋友，可是，要說夏綠蒂會(huì)慫恿他，那未免太不可能，正如她自己不可能慫恿他一樣，因此她現(xiàn)在聽到這件事，不禁大為驚訝，連禮貌也不顧了，竟大聲叫了起來：
“跟柯林斯先生訂婚！親愛的夏綠蒂，那怎么行！”
盧卡斯小姐乍聽得這一聲心直口快的責(zé)備，鎮(zhèn)靜的臉色不禁變得慌張起來，好在這也是她意料中事，因此她立刻就恢復(fù)了常態(tài)，從容不迫地說：
“你為什么這樣驚奇，親愛的伊麗莎？柯林斯先生不幸沒有得到你的賞識(shí)，難道就不作興他得到別的女人的賞識(shí)嗎？”
伊麗莎白這時(shí)候已經(jīng)鎮(zhèn)定下來，便竭力克制著自己，用相當(dāng)肯定的語氣預(yù)祝他們倆將來良緣美滿，幸福無疆。
夏綠蒂回答道：“我明白你的心思，你一定會(huì)感到奇怪，而且感到非常奇怪，因?yàn)樵诓痪靡郧�，柯林斯先生還在想跟你結(jié)婚�？墒牵灰憧障聛戆堰@事情細(xì)細(xì)地想一下，你就會(huì)贊成我的做法。你知道我不是個(gè)羅曼諦克的人，我決不是那樣的人。我只希望有一個(gè)舒舒服服的家。論柯林斯先生的性格、社會(huì)關(guān)系和身份地位，我覺得跟他結(jié)了婚，也能夠獲得幸福，并不下于一般人結(jié)婚時(shí)所夸耀的那種幸福�！�
伊麗莎白心平氣和地回答道：“毫無問題�！彼齻儌z別別扭扭地在一起待了一會(huì)兒，便和家人一塊坐下。夏綠蒂?zèng)]有過多久就走了；伊麗莎白獨(dú)自把剛才聽到的那些話仔細(xì)想了一下。這樣不合適的一門親事，真使她難受了好久。說起柯林斯先生三天之內(nèi)求了兩次婚，本就夠稀奇了，如今竟會(huì)有人應(yīng)承他，實(shí)在是更稀奇。她一向覺得，夏綠蒂關(guān)于婚姻問題方面的見解，跟她頗不一致，卻不曾料想到一旦事到臨頭，她竟會(huì)完全不顧高尚的情操，來屈就一些世俗的利益。夏綠蒂做了柯林斯的妻子，這真是天下最丟人的事！她不僅為這樣一個(gè)朋友的自取其辱、自貶身份而感到難受，而且她還十分痛心地?cái)喽ǎ笥涯榈倪@一個(gè)鬮兒，決不會(huì)給她自己帶來多大的幸福。
Chapter 23
ELIZABETH was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what she had heard, and doubting whether she were authorised to mention it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter to announce her engagement to the family. With many compliments to them, and much self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the houses, he unfolded the matter, -- to an audience not merely wondering, but incredulous; for Mrs. Bennet, with more perseverance than politeness, protested he must be entirely mistaken, and Lydia, always unguarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed,
"Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? -- Do not you know that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?"
Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have borne without anger such treatment; but Sir William's good breeding carried him through it all; and though he begged leave to be positive as to the truth of his information, he listened to all their impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy.
Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his account, by mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte herself; and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters, by the earnestness of her congratulations to Sir William, in which she was readily joined by Jane, and by making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.
Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great deal while Sir William remained; but no sooner had he left them than her feelings found a rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy together; and fourthly, that the match might be broken off. Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole; one, that Elizabeth was the real cause of all the mischief; and the other, that she herself had been barbarously used by them all; and on these two points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could console and nothing appease her. -- Nor did that day wear out her resentment. A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months were gone before she could at all forgive their daughter.
Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion, and such as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort; for it gratified him, he said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter!
Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but she said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness; nor could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable. Kitty and Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news to spread at Meryton.
Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was, though Mrs. Bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive happiness away.
Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again. Her disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her sister, of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could never be shaken, and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, as Bingley had now been gone a week, and nothing was heard of his return.
Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and was counting the days till she might reasonably hope to hear again. The promised letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday, addressed to their father, and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted. After discharging his conscience on that head, he proceeded to inform them, with many rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having obtained the affection of their amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas, and then explained that it was merely with the view of enjoying her society that he had been so ready to close with their kind wish of seeing him again at Longbourn, whither he hoped to be able to return on Monday fortnight; for Lady Catherine, he added, so heartily approved his marriage, that she wished it to take place as soon as possible, which he trusted would be an unanswerable argument with his amiable Charlotte to name an early day for making him the happiest of men.
Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was as much disposed to complain of it as her husband. -- It was very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceedingly troublesome. -- She hated having visitors in the house while her health was so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the most disagreeable. Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued absence.
Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this subject. Day after day passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the report which shortly prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to Netherfield the whole winter; a report which highly incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous falsehood.
Even Elizabeth began to fear -- not that Bingley was indifferent -- but that his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as she was to admit an idea so destructive of Jane's happiness, and so dishonourable to the stability of her lover, she could not prevent its frequently recurring. The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters and of his overpowering friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss Darcy and the amusements of London, might be too much, she feared, for the strength of his attachment.
As for Jane, her anxiety under this suspence was, of course, more painful than Elizabeth's; but whatever she felt she was desirous of concealing, and between herself and Elizabeth, therefore, the subject was never alluded to. But as no such delicacy restrained her mother, an hour seldom passed in which she did not talk of Bingley, express her impatience for his arrival, or even require Jane to confess that if he did not come back, she should think herself very ill used. It needed all Jane's steady mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable tranquillity.
Mr. Collins returned most punctually on the Monday fortnight, but his reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his first introduction. He was too happy, however, to need much attention; and luckily for the others, the business of love-making relieved them from a great deal of his company. The chief of every day was spent by him at Lucas Lodge, and he sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed.
Mrs. Bennet was really in a most pitiable state. The very mention of any thing concerning the match threw her into an agony of ill humour, and wherever she went she was sure of hearing it talked of. The sight of Miss Lucas was odious to her. As her successor in that house, she regarded her with jealous abhorrence. Whenever Charlotte came to see them she concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession; and whenever she spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, was convinced that they were talking of the Longbourn estate, and resolving to turn herself and her daughters out of the house as soon as Mr. Bennet were dead. She complained bitterly of all this to her husband.
"Indeed, Mr. Bennet," said she, "it is very hard to think that Charlotte Lucas should ever be mistress of this house, that I should be forced to make way for her, and live to see her take my place in it!"
"My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor."
This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet, and, therefore, instead of making any answer, she went on as before,
"I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate, If it was not for the entail I should not mind it."
"What should not you mind?"
"I should not mind any thing at all."
"Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such insensibility."
"I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for any thing about the entail. How any one could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one's own daughters I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! -- Why should he have it more than anybody else?"
"I leave it to yourself to determine," said Mr. Bennet.
第二十三章
伊麗莎白正跟母親和姐妹坐在一起，回想剛才所聽到的那件事，決不定是否可以把它告訴大家，就在這時(shí)候，威廉·盧卡斯爵士來了。他是受了女兒的拜托，前來班府上宣布她訂婚的消息。他一面敘述這件事，一面又大大地恭維了太太小姐們一陣，說是兩家能結(jié)上親，他真感到榮幸。班府上的人聽了，不僅感到驚異，而且不相信真有這回事。班納特太太再也顧不得禮貌，竟一口咬定他弄錯(cuò)了。麗迪雅一向又任性又撒野，不由得叫道：
“天哪！威廉爵士，你怎么會(huì)說出這番話來？你不知道柯林斯先生要娶麗萃嗎？”
遇到這種情形，只有象朝廷大臣那樣能夠逆來順受的人，才不會(huì)生氣，好在威廉爵士頗有素養(yǎng)，竟沒有把它當(dāng)一回事，雖然他要求她們相信他說的是實(shí)話，可是他卻使出了極大的忍耐功夫，滿有禮貌地聽著她們無理的談吐。
伊麗莎白覺得自己有責(zé)任幫助他來打開這種僵局，于是挺身而出，證明他說的實(shí)話，說是剛剛已經(jīng)聽到夏綠蒂本人談起過了。為了盡力使母親和妹妹們不再大驚小怪，她便誠懇地向威廉爵士道喜，吉英馬上也替她幫腔，又用種種話來說明這門婚姻是何等幸福，柯林斯先生品格又非常好，漢斯福和倫敦相隔不遠(yuǎn)往返方便。
班納特太太在威廉爵士面前，實(shí)在氣得說不出話；可是他一走，她那一肚子牢騷便馬上發(fā)泄出來。第一，她堅(jiān)決不相信這回事；第二，她斷定柯林斯先生受了騙；第三，她相信這一對夫婦決不會(huì)幸福；第四，這門親事可能會(huì)破裂。不過她卻從整個(gè)事件上簡單地得出了兩個(gè)結(jié)論──一個(gè)是：這場笑話全都是伊麗莎白一手造成的；另一個(gè)是，她自己受盡了大家的欺負(fù)虐待；在那一整天里，她所談的大都是這兩點(diǎn)。隨便怎么也安慰不了她，隨便怎么也平不了她的氣。直到晚上，怨憤依然沒有消散。她見到伊麗莎白就罵，一直罵了一個(gè)星期之久。她同威廉爵士或盧卡斯太太說起話來，總是粗聲粗氣，一直過了一個(gè)月才好起來；至于夏綠蒂，她竟過了好幾個(gè)月才寬恕了她。
對班納特先生說來，這件事反而使他心情上益發(fā)灑脫，據(jù)他說，這次所經(jīng)過的一切，真使他精神上舒服到極點(diǎn)。他說，他本以為夏綠蒂·盧卡斯相當(dāng)懂事，哪知道她簡直跟他太太一樣蠢，比起他的女兒來就更要蠢了，他實(shí)在覺得高興！
吉英也承認(rèn)這門婚姻有些奇怪，可是她嘴上并沒說什么，反而誠懇地祝他們倆幸福。雖然伊麗莎白再三剖白給她聽，她卻始終以為這門婚姻未必一定不會(huì)幸福。吉蒂和麗迪雅根本不羨慕盧卡斯小姐，因?yàn)榭铝炙瓜壬贿^是個(gè)傳教士而已；這件事根本影響不了她們，除非把它當(dāng)作一件新聞，帶到麥里屯去傳播一下。
再說到盧卡斯太太，她既然也有一個(gè)女兒獲得了美滿的姻緣，自然衷心快慰，因而也不會(huì)不想到趁此去向班納特太太反唇相譏一下。于是她拜望浪博恩的次數(shù)比往常更加頻繁，說是她如今多么高興，不過班納特太太滿臉惡相，滿口的毒話，也足夠叫她掃興的了。
伊麗莎白和夏綠蒂之間從此竟有了一層隔膜，彼此不便提到這樁事。伊麗莎白斷定她們倆再也不會(huì)象從前那樣推心置腹。她既然在夏綠蒂身上失望，便越發(fā)親切地關(guān)注到自己姐姐身上來。她深信姐姐為人正直，作風(fēng)優(yōu)雅，她這種看法決不會(huì)動(dòng)搖。她關(guān)心姐姐的幸福一天比一天來得迫切，因?yàn)楸蚋袢R先生已經(jīng)走了一個(gè)星期，卻沒有聽到一點(diǎn)兒她要回來的消息。
吉英很早就給珈羅琳寫了回信，現(xiàn)在正在數(shù)著日子，看看還得過多少天才可以又接到她的信�？铝炙瓜壬孪却饝�(yīng)寫來的那封謝函星期二就收到了，信是寫給她們父親的，信上說了多少感激的話，看他那種過甚其辭的語氣，就好象在他們府上叨光了一年似的。他在這方面表示了歉意以后，便用了多少歡天喜地的措辭，告訴他們說，他已經(jīng)有幸獲得他們的芳鄰盧卡斯小姐的歡心了，他接著又說，為了要去看看他的心上人，他可以趁便來看看他們，免得辜負(fù)他們善意的期望，希望能在兩個(gè)禮拜以后的星期一到達(dá)浪博恩；他又說，珈苔琳夫人衷心地贊成他趕快結(jié)婚，并且希望愈早愈好，他相信他那位心上人夏綠蒂?zèng)Q不會(huì)反對及早定出佳期，使他成為天下最幸福的人。對班納特太太說來，柯林斯先生的重返浪博恩，如今并不是什么叫人快意的事了。她反而跟她丈夫一樣地大為抱怨。說也奇怪，柯林斯不去盧家莊，卻要來到浪搏恩，這真是既不方便，又太麻煩。她現(xiàn)在正當(dāng)健康失調(diào)，因此非常討厭客人上門，何況這些癡情種子都是很討厭的人。班納特太太成天嘀咕著這些事，除非想到彬格萊一直不回來而使她感到更大的痛苦時(shí)，她方才住口。
吉英跟伊麗莎白都為這個(gè)問題大感不安。一天又一天，聽不到一點(diǎn)關(guān)于他的消息，只聽得麥里屯紛紛傳言，說他今冬再也不會(huì)上尼日斐花園來了，班納特太太聽得非常生氣，總是加以駁斥，說那是誣蔑性的謠言。
連伊麗莎白也開始恐懼起來了，她并不是怕彬格萊薄情，而是怕他的姐妹們真的絆住了他。盡管她不愿意有這種想法，因?yàn)檫@種想法對于吉英的幸福既有不利，對于吉英心上人的忠貞，也未免是一種侮辱，可是她還是往往禁不住要這樣想。他那兩位無情無義的姐妹，和那位足以制服他的朋友同心協(xié)力，再加上達(dá)西小姐的窈窕嫵媚，以及倫敦的聲色娛樂，縱使他果真對她念念不忘，恐怕也掙脫不了那個(gè)圈套。
至于吉英，她在這種動(dòng)蕩不安的情況下，自然比伊麗莎白更加感到焦慮，可是她總不愿意把自己的心事暴露出來，所以她和伊麗莎白一直沒有提到這件事。偏偏她母親不能體貼她的苦衷，過不了一個(gè)鐘頭就要提到彬格萊，說是等待他回來實(shí)在等待心焦，甚至硬要吉英承認(rèn)──要是彬格萊果真不回來，那她一定會(huì)覺得自己受了薄情的虧待。幸虧吉英臨事從容不迫，柔和鎮(zhèn)定，好容易才忍受了她這些讒言誹語。
柯林斯先生在兩個(gè)禮拜以后的星期一準(zhǔn)時(shí)到達(dá)，可是浪搏恩卻不象他初來時(shí)那樣熱烈地歡迎他了。他實(shí)在高興不過也用不著別人獻(xiàn)殷勤。這真是主人家走運(yùn)，多虧他戀愛成了功，這才使別人能夠清閑下來，不必再去跟他周旋。他每天把大部分時(shí)間消磨在盧家莊，一直挨到盧府上快要睡覺的時(shí)候，才回到浪搏恩來，向大家道歉一聲，請大家原諒他終日未歸。
班納特太太著實(shí)可憐。只要一提到那門親事，她就會(huì)不高興，而且隨便她走到那兒，她總會(huì)聽到人們談起這件事。她一看到盧卡斯小姐就覺得討厭。一想到盧卡斯小姐將來有一天會(huì)接替她做這幢屋子里的主婦，她就益發(fā)嫉妒和厭惡。每逢夏綠蒂來看她們，她總以為人家是來考察情況，看看還要過多少時(shí)候就可以搬進(jìn)來�。幻糠晗木G蒂跟柯林斯先生低聲說話的時(shí)候，她就以為他們是在談?wù)摾瞬鞯募耶a(chǎn)，是在計(jì)議一俟班納特先生去世以后，就要把她和她的幾個(gè)女兒攆出去。她把這些傷心事都說給她丈夫聽。
她說：“我的好老爺，夏綠蒂·盧卡斯遲早要做這屋子里的主婦，我卻非得讓她不可，眼睜睜看著她來接替我的位置，這可叫我受不了！”
“我的好太太，別去想這些傷心事吧。我們不妨從好的方面去想。說不定我比你的壽命還要長，我們姑且就這樣來安慰自己吧�！�
可是這些話安慰不了班納特太太，因此她非但沒有回答，反而象剛才一樣地訴苦下去。
“我一想到所有的產(chǎn)業(yè)都得落到他們手里，就受不了。要不是為了繼承權(quán)的問題，我才不在乎呢�！�
“你不在乎什么？”
“什么我都不在乎�！�
“讓我們謝天謝地，你頭腦還沒有不清楚到這種地步�！�
“我的好老爺，凡是有關(guān)繼承權(quán)的事，我決不會(huì)謝天謝地的。隨便哪個(gè)人，怎么肯昧著良心，不把財(cái)產(chǎn)遺傳給自己的女兒們？我真弄不懂，何況一切都是為了柯林斯先生的緣故！為什么偏偏要他享有這份遺產(chǎn)？”
“我讓你自己去想吧。”班納特先生說。
Chapter 24
MISS Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for the winter, and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the country.
Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy's praise occupied the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on, and Caroline boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter. She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an inmate of Mr. Darcy's house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of the latter with regard to new furniture. Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this, heard it in silent indignation. Her heart was divided between concern for her sister, and resentment against all the others. To Caroline's assertion of her brother's being partial to Miss Darcy she paid no credit. That he was really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him, she could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness of temper, that want of proper resolution which now made him the slave of his designing friends, and led him to sacrifice his own happiness to the caprice of their inclinations. Had his own happiness, however, been the only sacrifice, he might have been allowed to sport with it in what ever manner he thought best; but her sister's was involved in it, as, she thought, he must be sensible himself. It was a subject, in short, on which reflection would be long indulged, and must be unavailing. She could think of nothing else, and yet whether Bingley's regard had really died away, or were suppressed by his friends' interference; whether he had been aware of Jane's attachment, or whether it had escaped his observation; whichever were the case, though her opinion of him must be materially affected by the difference, her sister's situation remained the same, her peace equally wounded.
A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; but at last on Mrs. Bennet's leaving them together, after a longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master, she could not help saying,
"Oh! that my dear mother had more command over herself; she can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot, and we shall all be as we were before."
Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude, but said nothing.
"You doubt me," cried Jane, slightly colouring; "indeed you have no reason. He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I have not that pain. A little time therefore. -- I shall certainly try to get the better."
With a stronger voice she soon added, "I have this comfort immediately, that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side, and that it has done no harm to any one but myself."
"My dear Jane!" exclaimed Elizabeth, "you are too good. Your sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say to you. I feel as if I had never done you justice, or loved you as you deserve."
Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back the praise on her sister's warm affection.
"Nay," said Elizabeth, "this is not fair. You wish to think all the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of any body. I only want to think you perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good will. You need not. There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense. I have met with two instances lately; one I will not mention; the other is Charlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable! in every view it is unaccountable!"
"My dear Lizzy, do not give way to such feelings as these. They will ruin your happiness. You do not make allowance enough for difference of situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability, and Charlotte's prudent, steady character. Remember that she is one of a large family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be ready to believe, for every body's sake, that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our cousin."
"To oblige you, I would try to believe almost any thing, but no one else could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her understanding, than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, as well as I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who marries him, cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though it is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger, security for happiness."
"I must think your language too strong in speaking of both," replied Jane, "and I hope you will be convinced of it, by seeing them happy together. But enough of this. You alluded to something else. You mentioned two instances. I cannot misunderstand you, but I intreat you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking that person to blame, and saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does."
"And men take care that they should."
"If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine."
"I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley's conduct to design," said Elizabeth; "but without scheming to do wrong, or to make others unhappy, there may be error, and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness, want of attention to other people's feelings, and want of resolution, will do the business,"
"And do you impute it to either of those?"
"Yes; to the last. But if I go on, I shall displease you by saying what I think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can."
"You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him."
"Yes, in conjunction with his friend."
"I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? They can only wish his happiness, and if he is attached to me, no other woman can secure it."
"Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his happiness; they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great connections, and pride."
"Beyond a doubt, they do wish him to chuse Miss Darcy," replied Jane; "but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They have known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love her better. But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely they should have opposed their brother's. What sister would think herself at liberty to do it, unless there were something very objectionable? If they believed him attached to me, they would not try to part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. By supposing such an affection, you make every body acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been mistaken -- or, at least, it is slight, it is nothing in comparison of what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the best light, in the light in which it may be understood."
Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley's name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.
Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more, and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account for it clearly, there seemed little chance of her ever considering it with less perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time, she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet's best comfort was that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer.
Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. "So, Lizzy," said he one day, "your sister is crossed in love I find. I congratulate her. Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably."
"Thank you, Sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We must not all expect Jane's good fortune."
"True," said Mr. Bennet, "but it is a comfort to think that, whatever of that kind may befall you, you have an affectionate mother who will always make the most of it."
Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom, which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn family. They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now added that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and every body was pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known any thing of the matter.
Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown to the society of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes -- but by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.
第二十四章
彬格萊小姐的信來了，疑慮消除了。信上第一句話就說，她們決定在倫敦過冬，結(jié)尾是替他哥哥道歉，說他在臨走以前，沒有來得及向哈�？さ呐笥褌冝o行，很覺遺憾。
希望破滅了，徹底破滅了。吉英繼續(xù)把信讀下去，只覺得除了寫信人那種裝腔作勢的親切之外，就根本找不出可以自慰的地方。滿篇都是贊美達(dá)西小姐的話，絮絮叨叨地談到她的千嬌百媚。珈羅琳又高高興興地說，她們倆之間已經(jīng)一天比一天來得親熱，而且竟大膽地作出預(yù)言，說是她上封信里面提到的那些愿望，一定可以實(shí)現(xiàn)。她還得意非凡地寫道，她哥哥已經(jīng)住到達(dá)西先生家里去，又歡天喜地地提到達(dá)西打算添置新家具。
吉英立刻把這些事大都告訴了伊麗莎白，伊麗莎白聽了，怒而不言。她真?zhèn)耐噶�，一方面是關(guān)懷自己的姐姐，另方面是怨恨那幫人。珈羅琳信上說她哥哥鐘情于達(dá)西小姐，伊麗莎白無論如何也不相信。她仍舊象以往一樣，相信彬格萊先生真正喜歡吉英。伊麗莎白一向很看重他，現(xiàn)在才知道他原來是這樣一個(gè)容易說話而沒有主意的人，以致被他那批詭計(jì)多端的朋友們牽制住了，聽?wèi){他們反復(fù)無常地作弄他，拿他的幸福作犧牲品──想到這些，她就不能不氣憤，甚至不免有些看不起他。要是只有他個(gè)人的幸福遭到犧牲，那他愛怎么胡搞都可以，可是這里面畢竟還牽涉著她姐姐的幸福，她相信他自己也應(yīng)該明白。簡單說來，這問題當(dāng)然反復(fù)考慮過，到頭來一定是沒有辦法。她想不起什么別的了。究竟是彬格萊先生真的變了心呢，還是根本不知道？雖然對她說來，她應(yīng)該辨明其中的是非曲直，然后才能斷定他是好是壞，可是對她姐姐說來，反正都是一樣地傷心難受。
隔了一兩天，吉英才鼓起勇氣，把自己的心事說給伊麗莎白聽。且說那天班納特太太象往常一樣說起尼日斐花園和它的主人，嘮叨了老半天，后來總算走開了，只剩下她們姐妹倆，吉英這才禁不往說道：
“噢，但愿媽媽多控制她自己一些吧！她沒曉得她這樣時(shí)時(shí)刻刻提起他，叫我多么痛苦。不過我決不怨誰。這局面不會(huì)長久的。他馬上就會(huì)給我們忘掉，我們還是會(huì)和往常一樣�！�
伊麗莎白半信半疑而又極其關(guān)切地望著姐姐，一聲不響。
“你不相信我的話嗎？”吉英微微紅著臉嚷道�！澳悄阏媸呛翢o理由。他在我的記憶里可能是個(gè)最可愛的朋友，但也不過如此而已。我既沒有什么奢望，也沒有什么擔(dān)心，更沒有什么要責(zé)備他的地方。多謝上帝，我還沒有那種苦惱。因此稍微過一些時(shí)候，我一定會(huì)就慢慢克服過來的。”
她立刻又用更堅(jiān)強(qiáng)的聲調(diào)說道：“我立刻就可以安慰自己說：這只怪我自己瞎想，好在并沒有損害別人，只損害了我自己�！�
伊麗莎白連忙叫起來了：“親愛的吉英，你太善良了。你那樣好心，那樣處處為別人著想，真象天使一般；我不知道應(yīng)該怎么同你說才好。我覺得我從前待你還不夠好，愛你還不夠深�！�
吉英竭力否認(rèn)這一切言過其實(shí)的夸獎(jiǎng)，反而用這些贊美的話來贊揚(yáng)妹妹的熱情。
“別那么說，”伊麗莎白說，“這樣說不公平的，你總以為天下都是好人。我只要說了誰一句壞話，你就難受。我要把你看作一個(gè)完美無瑕的人，你就來駁斥。請你放心，我決不會(huì)說得過分，你有權(quán)利把四海之內(nèi)的人一視同仁，我也不會(huì)干涉你。你用不著擔(dān)心。至于我，我真正喜歡的人沒有幾個(gè)，我心目中的好人就更少了。世事經(jīng)歷得愈多，我就愈對世事不滿；我一天比一天相信，人性都是見異思遷，我們不能憑著某人表面上一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)長處或見解，就去相信他。最近我碰到了兩件事：其中一件我不愿意說出來，另一件就是夏綠蒂的婚姻問題。這簡直是莫明其妙！任你怎樣看法，都是莫明其妙！”
“親愛的麗萃，不要這樣胡思亂想吧。那會(huì)毀了你的幸福的。你對于各人處境的不同和脾氣的不同，體諒得不夠。你且想一想柯林斯先生的身份地位和夏綠蒂的謹(jǐn)慎穩(wěn)重吧。你得記住，她也算一個(gè)大家閨秀，說起財(cái)產(chǎn)方面，倒是一門挺適當(dāng)?shù)挠H事。你且顧全大家的面子，只當(dāng)她對我們那位表兄確實(shí)有幾分敬愛和器重吧。”
“要是看你的面子，我?guī)缀蹼S便對什么事都愿意以為真，可是這對于任何人都沒有益處；我現(xiàn)在只覺得夏綠蒂根本不懂得愛情，要是再叫我去相信她是當(dāng)真愛上了柯林斯，那我又要覺得她簡直毫無見識(shí)。親愛的吉英，柯林斯先生是個(gè)自高自大、喜愛炫耀、心胸狹窄的蠢漢，這一點(diǎn)你和我懂得一樣清楚，你也會(huì)同我一樣地感覺到，只有頭腦不健全的女人才肯嫁給他。雖說這個(gè)女人就是夏綠蒂·盧卡斯，你也不必為她辯護(hù)。你千萬不能為了某一個(gè)人而改變原則，破格遷就，也不要千方百計(jì)地說服我，或是說服你自己去相信，自私自利就是謹(jǐn)慎，糊涂膽大就等于幸福有了保障�！�
“講到這兩個(gè)人，我以為你的話說得太過火，”吉英說�！暗改闳蘸罂吹剿麄儌z幸福相處的時(shí)候，就會(huì)相信我的話不假。這件事可也談夠了，你且談另外一件吧。你不是舉出了兩件事嗎？我不會(huì)誤解你，可是，親愛的麗萃，我求求你千萬不要以為錯(cuò)是錯(cuò)在那個(gè)人身上，千萬不要說你瞧不起他，免得我感到痛苦。我們決不能隨隨便便就以為人家在有意傷害我們。我們決不可能指望一個(gè)生龍活虎的青年會(huì)始終小心周到。我們往往會(huì)因?yàn)槲覀冏约旱奶摌s心，而給弄迷了心竅。女人們往往會(huì)把愛情這種東西幻想得太不切合實(shí)際�！�
“因此男人們就故意逗她們那么幻想�！�
“如果這樁事當(dāng)真是存心安排好了的，那實(shí)在是他們不應(yīng)該；可是世界上是否真如某些人所想象的那樣，到處都是計(jì)謀，我可不知道�！�
“我決不是說彬格萊先生的行為是事先有了計(jì)謀的，”伊麗莎白說�！翱墒牵词箾]有存心做壞事，或者說，沒有存心叫別人傷心，事實(shí)上仍然會(huì)做錯(cuò)事情，引起不幸的后果。凡是粗心大意、看不出別人的好心好意，而且缺乏果斷，都一樣能害人。”
“你看這樁事也得歸到這類原因嗎？”
“當(dāng)然───應(yīng)該歸于最后一種原因�？墒牵绻形以僬f下去，說出我對于你所器重的那些人是怎么看法，那也會(huì)叫你不高興的。趁著現(xiàn)在我能夠住嘴的時(shí)候，且讓我住嘴吧�！�
“那么說，你斷定是他的姐妹們操縱了他啦。”
“我不相信。她們?yōu)槭裁匆倏v他？她們只有希望他幸福；要是他果真愛我，別的女人便無從使他幸福�！�
“你頭一個(gè)想法就錯(cuò)了。她們除了希望他幸福以外，還有許多別的打算；她們會(huì)希望他更有錢有勢；她們會(huì)希望他跟一個(gè)出身高貴、親朋顯赫的闊女人結(jié)婚。”
“毫無問題，她們希望他選中達(dá)西小姐，”吉英說：“不過，說到這一點(diǎn)，她們也許是出于一片好心，并不如你所想象的那么惡劣。她們認(rèn)識(shí)她比認(rèn)識(shí)我早得多，難怪她們更喜歡她�？墒遣还芩齻冏约涸竿绾�，她們總不至于違背她們兄弟的愿望吧。除非有了什么太看不順眼的地方，哪個(gè)做姐妹的會(huì)這樣冒味？要是她們相信他愛上了我，她們決不會(huì)想要拆散我們；要是他果真愛我，她們要拆散也拆散不成。如果你一定要以為他對我真有感情，那么，她們這樣做法，便是既不近人情，又荒謬絕倫，我也就更傷心了。不要用這種想法來使我痛苦吧。我決不會(huì)因?yàn)橐荒钪疃械叫邜u──即使感到羞恥也極其輕微，倒是一想起他或他的姐妹們無情無義，我真不知道要難受多少倍呢。讓我從最好的方面去想吧，從合乎人情事理的方面去想吧�！�
伊麗莎白無法反對她這種愿望，從此以后，她們就不大提起彬格萊先生的名字。
班納特太太見他一去不回，仍然不斷地納悶，不斷地抱怨，盡管伊麗莎白幾乎沒有哪一天不給她解釋個(gè)清楚明白，然而始終無法使她減少些憂煩。女兒盡力說她，盡說一些連她自己也不相信的話給母親聽，說是彬格萊先生對于吉英的鐘情，只不過是出于一時(shí)高興，根本算不上什么，一旦她不在他眼前，也就置諸度外了。雖然班納特太太當(dāng)時(shí)也相信這些話不假，可是事后她又每天舊事重提，最后只有想出了一個(gè)聊以自慰的辦法，指望彬格萊先生來年夏天一定會(huì)回到這兒來。
班納特先生對這件事可就抱著兩樣的態(tài)度。有一天他對伊麗莎白說：“嘿，麗萃，我發(fā)覺你的姐姐失戀了。我倒要祝賀她。一個(gè)姑娘除了結(jié)婚以外，總喜歡不時(shí)地嘗點(diǎn)兒失戀的滋味。那可以使她們有點(diǎn)兒東西去想想，又可以在朋友們面前露露頭角。幾時(shí)輪到你頭上來呢？你也不愿意讓吉英超前太久吧�，F(xiàn)在你的機(jī)會(huì)來啦。麥里屯的軍官們很多，足夠使這個(gè)村子里的每一個(gè)年輕的姑娘失意。讓韋翰做你的對象吧。他是個(gè)有趣的家伙，他會(huì)用很體面的辦法把你遺棄。”
“多謝您，爸爸，差一些的人也能使我滿意了。我們可不能個(gè)個(gè)都指望上吉英那樣的好運(yùn)氣。”
“不錯(cuò)，”班納特先生說；“不管你交上了哪一種運(yùn)氣，你那位好心的媽媽反正會(huì)盡心竭力來成全你的，你只要想到這一點(diǎn)，就會(huì)感到安慰了�！�
浪搏恩府上因?yàn)榻鼇沓隽藥准豁樌氖�，好些人都悶悶不樂，多虧有韋翰先生跟他們來來往往，把這陣悶氣消除了不少。她們常常看到他，對他贊不絕口，又說他坦白爽直。伊麗莎白所聽到的那一套話───說什么達(dá)西先生有多少地方對他不起，他為達(dá)西先生吃了多少苦頭───大家都公認(rèn)了，而且公開加以談?wù)�。每個(gè)人一想到自己遠(yuǎn)在完全不知道這件事情時(shí)，早就十分討厭達(dá)西先生，便不禁非常得意。
只有班納特小姐以為這件事里面一定有些蹊蹺，還不曾為哈�？さ娜藗兣宄Ｋ莻�(gè)性子柔和、穩(wěn)重公正的人，總是要求人家多多體察實(shí)情，以為事情往往可能給弄錯(cuò)，可惜別人全把達(dá)西先生看作天下再混賬不過的人。
Chapter 25
AFTER a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday. The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his side, by preparations for the reception of his bride, as he had reason to hope that shortly after his next return into Hertfordshire, the day would be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men. He took leave of his relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his fair cousins health and happiness again, and promised their father another letter of thanks.
On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend the Christmas at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister, as well by nature as education. The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well bred and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Philips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. Between the two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a very particular regard. They had frequently been staying with her in town.
The first part of Mrs. Gardiner's business on her arrival, was to distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was done, she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen. Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her girls had been on the point of marriage, and after all there was nothing in it.
"I do not blame Jane," she continued, "for Jane would have got Mr. Bingley, if she could. But, Lizzy! Oh, sister! it is very hard to think that she might have been Mr. Collins's wife by this time, had not it been for her own perverseness. He made her an offer in this very room, and she refused him. The consequence of it is, that Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have, and that Longbourn estate is just as much entailed as ever. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, sister. They are all for what they can get. I am sorry to say it of them, but so it is. It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else. However, your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts, and I am very glad to hear what you tell us, of long sleeves."
Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been given before, in the course of Jane and Elizabeth's correspondence with her, made her sister a slight answer, and, in compassion to her nieces, turned the conversation.
When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on the subject. "It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane," said she. "I am sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her, that these sort of inconstancies are very frequent."
"An excellent consolation in its way," said Elizabeth, "but it will not do for us. We do not suffer by accident. It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl, whom he was violently in love with only a few days before."
"But that expression of "violently in love" is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as often applied to feelings which arise from an half-hour's acquaintance, as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how violent was Mr. Bingley's love?"
"I never saw a more promising inclination. He was growing quite inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance, and I spoke to him twice myself without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?"
"Oh, yes! -- of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get over it immediately. It had better have happened to you, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she would be prevailed on to go back with us? Change of scene might be of service -- and perhaps a little relief from home, may be as useful as anything."
Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded of her sister's ready acquiescence.
"I hope," added Mrs. Gardiner, "that no consideration with regard to this young man will influence her. We live in so different a part of town, all our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go out so little, that it is very improbable they should meet at all, unless he really comes to see her."
"And that is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his friend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such a part of London -- ! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him."
"So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does not Jane correspond with the sister? She will not be able to help calling."
"She will drop the acquaintance entirely."
But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place this point, as well as the still more interesting one of Bingley's being withheld from seeing Jane, she felt a solicitude on the subject which convinced her, on examination, that she did not consider it entirely hopeless. It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that his affection might be re-animated, and the influence of his friends successfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane's attractions.
Miss Bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure; and the Bingleys were no otherwise in her thoughts at the time, than as she hoped that, by Caroline's not living in the same house with her brother, she might occasionally spend a morning with her, without any danger of seeing him.
The Gardiners staid a week at Longbourn; and what with the Philipses, the Lucases, and the officers, there was not a day without its engagement. Mrs. Bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment of her brother and sister, that they did not once sit down to a family dinner. When the engagement was for home, some of the officers always made part of it, of which officers Mr. Wickham was sure to be one; and on these occasions, Mrs. Gardiner, rendered suspicious by Elizabeth's warm commendation of him, narrowly observed them both. Without supposing them, from what she saw, to be very seriously in love, their preference of each other was plain enough to make her a little uneasy; and she resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the subject before she left Hertfordshire, and represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such an attachment.
To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had one means of affording pleasure, unconnected with his general powers. About ten or a dozen years ago, before her marriage, she had spent a considerable time in that very part of Derbyshire to which he belonged. They had, therefore, many acquaintance in common; and, though Wickham had been little there since the death of Darcy's father, five years before, it was yet in his power to give her fresher intelligence of her former friends, than she had been in the way of procuring.
Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and known the late Mr. Darcy by character perfectly well. Here, consequently, was an inexhaustible subject of discourse. In comparing her recollection of Pemberley with the minute description which Wickham could give, and in bestowing her tribute of praise on the character of its late possessor, she was delighting both him and herself. On being made acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy's treatment of him, she tried to remember something of that gentleman's reputed disposition, when quite a lad, which might agree with it, and was confident at last that she recollected having heard Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud, ill-natured boy.
MISS Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for the winter, and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the country.
Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy's praise occupied the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on, and Caroline boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter. She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an inmate of Mr. Darcy's house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of the latter with regard to new furniture. Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this, heard it in silent indignation. Her heart was divided between concern for her sister, and resentment against all the others. To Caroline's assertion of her brother's being partial to Miss Darcy she paid no credit. That he was really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him, she could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness of temper, that want of proper resolution which now made him the slave of his designing friends, and led him to sacrifice his own happiness to the caprice of their inclinations. Had his own happiness, however, been the only sacrifice, he might have been allowed to sport with it in what ever manner he thought best; but her sister's was involved in it, as, she thought, he must be sensible himself. It was a subject, in short, on which reflection would be long indulged, and must be unavailing. She could think of nothing else, and yet whether Bingley's regard had really died away, or were suppressed by his friends' interference; whether he had been aware of Jane's attachment, or whether it had escaped his observation; whichever were the case, though her opinion of him must be materially affected by the difference, her sister's situation remained the same, her peace equally wounded.
A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; but at last on Mrs. Bennet's leaving them together, after a longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master, she could not help saying,
"Oh! that my dear mother had more command over herself; she can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot, and we shall all be as we were before."
Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude, but said nothing.
"You doubt me," cried Jane, slightly colouring; "indeed you have no reason. He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I have not that pain. A little time therefore. -- I shall certainly try to get the better."
With a stronger voice she soon added, "I have this comfort immediately, that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side, and that it has done no harm to any one but myself."
"My dear Jane!" exclaimed Elizabeth, "you are too good. Your sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say to you. I feel as if I had never done you justice, or loved you as you deserve."
Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back the praise on her sister's warm affection.
"Nay," said Elizabeth, "this is not fair. You wish to think all the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of any body. I only want to think you perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good will. You need not. There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense. I have met with two instances lately; one I will not mention; the other is Charlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable! in every view it is unaccountable!"
"My dear Lizzy, do not give way to such feelings as these. They will ruin your happiness. You do not make allowance enough for difference of situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability, and Charlotte's prudent, steady character. Remember that she is one of a large family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be ready to believe, for every body's sake, that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our cousin."
"To oblige you, I would try to believe almost any thing, but no one else could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her understanding, than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, as well as I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who marries him, cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though it is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger, security for happiness."
"I must think your language too strong in speaking of both," replied Jane, "and I hope you will be convinced of it, by seeing them happy together. But enough of this. You alluded to something else. You mentioned two instances. I cannot misunderstand you, but I intreat you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking that person to blame, and saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does."
"And men take care that they should."
"If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine."
"I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley's conduct to design," said Elizabeth; "but without scheming to do wrong, or to make others unhappy, there may be error, and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness, want of attention to other people's feelings, and want of resolution, will do the business,"
"And do you impute it to either of those?"
"Yes; to the last. But if I go on, I shall displease you by saying what I think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can."
"You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him."
"Yes, in conjunction with his friend."
"I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? They can only wish his happiness, and if he is attached to me, no other woman can secure it."
"Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his happiness; they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great connections, and pride."
"Beyond a doubt, they do wish him to chuse Miss Darcy," replied Jane; "but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They have known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love her better. But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely they should have opposed their brother's. What sister would think herself at liberty to do it, unless there were something very objectionable? If they believed him attached to me, they would not try to part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. By supposing such an affection, you make every body acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been mistaken -- or, at least, it is slight, it is nothing in comparison of what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the best light, in the light in which it may be understood."
Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley's name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.
Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more, and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account for it clearly, there seemed little chance of her ever considering it with less perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time, she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet's best comfort was that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer.
Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. "So, Lizzy," said he one day, "your sister is crossed in love I find. I congratulate her. Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably."
"Thank you, Sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We must not all expect Jane's good fortune."
"True," said Mr. Bennet, "but it is a comfort to think that, whatever of that kind may befall you, you have an affectionate mother who will always make the most of it."
Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom, which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn family. They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now added that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and every body was pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known any thing of the matter.
Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown to the society of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes -- but by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.
第二十五章
談情說愛，籌劃好事，就這樣度過了一星期，終于到了星期六，柯林斯先生不得不和心愛的夏綠蒂告別。不過，他既已作好接新娘的準(zhǔn)備，離別的愁苦也就因此減輕了，他只等下次再來哈福郡，訂出佳期，使他成為天下最幸福的男子。他象上次一樣隆重其事地告別了浪搏恩的親戚們，祝賀姐妹們健康幸福，又答應(yīng)給他們的父親再來一封謝函。
下星期一，班納特太太的弟弟和弟婦照例到浪搏恩來過圣誕節(jié)，班納特太太很是欣喜。嘉丁納先生是個(gè)通情達(dá)理、頗有紳士風(fēng)度的人物，無論在個(gè)性方面，在所受的教育方面，都高出他姐姐很多。他原是出身商界，見聞不出貨房堆棧之外，竟會(huì)這般有教養(yǎng)，這般討人喜愛，要是叫尼日斐花園的太太小姐們看見了，實(shí)在難以相信。嘉丁納太太比班納特太太以及腓力普太太，都要小好幾歲年紀(jì)，也是個(gè)和藹聰慧、而又很文雅的女人，浪搏恩的外甥女兒跟她特別親切。她們常常進(jìn)城去在她那兒待一陣子。
嘉丁納太太剛到這里，第一件事就是分發(fā)禮物，講述最時(shí)新的服裝式樣。這件事做過以后，她便坐在一旁，靜聽班納特太太跟她說話。班納特太太有多少牢騷要發(fā)，又有多少苦要訴。自從上年她弟婦走了以后，她家里受了人家欺負(fù)。兩個(gè)女兒本來快要出嫁了，到頭來只落得一場空。
“我并不怪吉英，”她接下去說，“因?yàn)榧⒁悄軌蚣藿o彬格萊先生，她早就嫁了�？墒躯愝桐ぉぐ�，弟婦呀！要不是她自己那么拗性子，說不定她已做了柯林斯先生的夫人了。他就在這間房子里向她求婚的，她卻把他拒絕了。結(jié)果倒讓盧卡斯太太有個(gè)女兒比我的女兒先嫁出去，浪搏恩的財(cái)產(chǎn)從此就得讓人家來繼承。的確，盧卡斯一家手腕才高明呢，弟婦。他們都是為了要撈進(jìn)這一筆財(cái)產(chǎn)。我本來也不忍心就這樣編派他們，不過事實(shí)的確如此。我在家里既然過得這樣不稱心，又偏偏碰到這些只顧自己不顧別人的鄰舍，真弄得我神經(jīng)也壞了，人也病了。你可來得正是時(shí)候，給了我極大的安慰，我非常喜歡聽你講的那些……長袖子的事情�！�
嘉丁納太太遠(yuǎn)在跟吉英以及伊麗莎白通信的時(shí)候，大體上就已經(jīng)知道了她們家里最近發(fā)生的這些事情，又為了體貼外甥女兒們起見，只稍微敷衍了班納特太太幾句，便把這個(gè)話題岔開了。
后來伊麗莎白跟她兩人在一起的時(shí)候，又談到了這件事。她說：“這倒也許是吉英的一門美滿親事，只可惜吹了�？墒沁@種情形往往是難免！象你所說的彬格萊先生這樣的青年，往往不消幾個(gè)星期的工夫，就會(huì)愛上一位美麗的姑娘，等到有一件偶然的事故把他們分開了，他也就很容易把她忘了，這種見異思遷的事情多的是�！�
“你這樣的安慰完全是出于一片好心，”伊麗莎白說�！翱上О参坎涣宋覀�。我們吃虧并不是吃在偶然的事情上面。一個(gè)獨(dú)立自主的青年，幾天以前剛剛跟一位姑娘打得火熱，現(xiàn)在遭到了他自己朋友們的干涉，就把她丟了，這事情倒不多見�！�
“不過，所謂‘打得火熱’這種話未免太陳腐，太籠統(tǒng)，太不切合實(shí)際，我簡直抓不住一點(diǎn)兒概念。這種話通�？偸怯脕硇稳菽信灰婄娗榈膱雒�，也用來形容一種真正的熱烈感情。請問，彬格萊先生的愛情火熱到什么程度？”
“我從來沒有看見過象他那樣的一往情深；他越來越不去理會(huì)別人，把整個(gè)的心都放在她身上。他們倆每見一次面，事情就愈顯得明朗，愈顯得露骨。在他自己所開的一次跳舞會(huì)上，他得罪了兩三位年輕的小姐，沒有邀請她們跳舞；我找他說過兩次話，他也沒有理我。這還不能算是盡心盡意嗎？寧可為了一個(gè)人而得罪大家，這難道不是戀愛場上最可貴的地方？”
“噢，原來如此！這樣看來，他的確對她情深意切。可憐的吉英！我真替她難受，照她的性子看來，決不會(huì)一下子就把這件事情淡忘。麗萃，要是換了你，倒要好些，你自會(huì)一笑置之，要不了多少時(shí)候就會(huì)淡忘。不過，你看我們能不能勸她到我們那里去稍往一陣？換換環(huán)境也許會(huì)有好處；再說，離開了家，松口氣，也許比什么都好�！�
伊麗莎白非常贊成這個(gè)建議，而且相信姐姐也會(huì)贊成。
嘉丁納太太又說：“我希望她不要因?yàn)榕乱姷竭@位青年小伙子而拿不定主意。我們雖然和彬格萊先生同住在一個(gè)城里，可不住在同一個(gè)地區(qū)，來往的親友也不一樣，而且，你知道得很清楚，我們很少外出，因此，除非他上門來看她，他們倆就不大可能見到面�！�
“那是絕對不可能的，因?yàn)樗F(xiàn)在被朋友們軟禁著，達(dá)西先生也不能容忍他到倫敦的這樣一個(gè)地區(qū)去看吉英！親愛的舅母，你怎么會(huì)想到這上面去了？達(dá)西先生也許聽到過天恩寺街這樣一個(gè)地方，可是，如果他當(dāng)真到那兒去一次，他會(huì)覺得花上一個(gè)月的工夫也洗不凈他身上所染來的污垢；請你放心好了，他絕不會(huì)讓彬格萊先生單獨(dú)行動(dòng)。”
“那就更好。我希望他們倆再也不要見面�？墒羌⒉贿�在跟他妹妹通信嗎？彬格萊小姐也許難免要來拜望呢。”
“她絕不會(huì)跟她再來往了。”
伊麗莎白雖然嘴上說得這么果斷，認(rèn)為彬格萊先生一定被他的姐妹朋友挾住了，不會(huì)讓他見到吉英，這事情實(shí)在可笑，可是她心里想來想去，還是覺得事情未必已經(jīng)完全絕望。她有時(shí)候甚至認(rèn)為彬格萊先生非�？赡軐⑴f情重燃，他朋友們的影響也許敵不過吉英的感情所加給他身上的天然影響。
班納特小姐樂意地接受了舅母的邀請，她心里并沒有怎么想到彬格萊一家人，只希望珈羅琳不和他哥哥同住一宅，那么她就可以偶而到珈羅琳那兒去玩上一個(gè)上午，而不至于撞見他哥哥。
嘉丁納夫婦在浪搏恩待了一個(gè)星期，沒有哪一天不赴宴會(huì)，有時(shí)候在腓力普府上，有時(shí)候在盧卡斯府上，有時(shí)候又在軍官那兒。班納特太太小心周到地為她的弟弟和弟婦安排得十分熱鬧，以致他們夫婦不曾在她家里吃過一頓便飯。家里有宴會(huì)的日子，必定就有幾位軍官到場，每次總是少不了韋翰。在這種場合下，伊麗莎白總是熱烈地贊揚(yáng)韋翰先生，使利嘉丁納太太起了疑心，仔細(xì)注意起他們兩人來，從她親眼看到的情形來說，她并不以為他們倆真正地愛上了，不過相互之間顯然已經(jīng)發(fā)生了好感，這叫她很是不安，她決定在離開哈福郡以前，要把這件事和伊麗莎白談個(gè)明白，并且要解釋給她聽，讓這樣的關(guān)系發(fā)展下去，實(shí)在太莽撞。
可是韋翰討好起嘉丁納太太來，另有一套辦法，這和他吸引別人的本領(lǐng)完全不同。遠(yuǎn)在十多年以前嘉丁納太太還沒有結(jié)婚的時(shí)候，曾在德比郡他所出生的那個(gè)地區(qū)住過好些時(shí)候，因此她跟他有許多共同的朋友，雖說自從五年前達(dá)西先生的父親去世以后，韋翰就不大到那地方去，可是他卻能報(bào)道給嘉丁納太太一些有關(guān)她從前的朋友們的消息，比她自己打聽得來的還要新鮮。
嘉丁納太太曾經(jīng)親眼看到過彭伯里，對于老達(dá)西先生也是久聞大名，光是這件事，就是個(gè)談不完的話題。她把韋翰先生所詳盡描寫的彭伯里和她自己記憶中的彭伯里比較了一下，又把彭伯里主人的德行稱贊了一番，談的人和聽的人都各得其樂。她聽到他談起現(xiàn)在這位達(dá)西先生對他的虧待，便竭力去回想那位先生小時(shí)候的個(gè)性如何，是否和現(xiàn)在相符，她終于有自信地記起了從前確實(shí)聽人說過，費(fèi)茨威廉·達(dá)西先生是個(gè)脾氣很壞又很高傲的孩子。
Chapter 26
MRS. Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punctually and kindly given on the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone; after honestly telling her what she thought, she thus went on:
"You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself, or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against him; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is -- you must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it. Your father would depend on your resolution and good conduct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your father."
"My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed."
"Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise."
"Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will take care of myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall not be in love with me, if I can prevent it."
"Elizabeth, you are not serious now."
"I beg your pardon. I will try again. At present I am not in love with Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But he is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I ever saw -- and if he becomes really attached to me -- I believe it will be better that he should not. I see the imprudence of it. -- Oh! that abominable Mr. Darcy! -- My father's opinion of me does me the greatest honor; and I should be miserable to forfeit it. My father, however, is partial to Mr. Wickham. In short, my dear aunt, I should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy; but since we see every day that where there is affection, young people are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into engagements with each other, how can I promise to be wiser than so many of my fellow creatures if I am tempted, or how am I even to know that it would be wisdom to resist? All that I can promise you, therefore, is not to be in a hurry. I will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first object. When I am in company with him, I will not be wishing. In short, I will do my best."
"Perhaps it will be as well, if you discourage his coming here so very often. At least, you should not remind your mother of inviting him."
"As I did the other day," said Elizabeth, with a conscious smile; "very true, it will be wise in me to refrain from that. But do not imagine that he is always here so often. It is on your account that he has been so frequently invited this week. You know my mother's ideas as to the necessity of constant company for her friends. But really, and upon my honour, I will try to do what I think to be wisest; and now, I hope you are satisfied."
Her aunt assured her that she was; and Elizabeth having thanked her for the kindness of her hints, they parted; a wonderful instance of advice being given on such a point without being resented.
Mr. Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted by the Gardiners and Jane; but as he took up his abode with the Lucases, his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs. Bennet. His marriage was now fast approaching, and she was at length so far resigned as to think it inevitable, and even repeatedly to say in an ill-natured tone that she "wished they might be happy." Thursday was to be the wedding day, and on Wednesday Miss Lucas paid her farewell visit; and when she rose to take leave, Elizabeth, ashamed of her mother's ungracious and reluctant good wishes, and sincerely affected herself, accompanied her out of the room. As they went down stairs together, Charlotte said,
"I shall depend on hearing from you very often, Eliza."
"That you certainly shall."
"And I have another favour to ask. Will you come and see me?"
"We shall often meet, I hope, in Hertfordshire."
"I am not likely to leave Kent for some time. Promise me, therefore, to come to Hunsford."
Elizabeth could not refuse, though she foresaw little pleasure in the visit.
"My father and Maria are to come to me in March," added Charlotte, "and I hope you will consent to be of the party. Indeed, Eliza, you will be as welcome to me as either of them."
The wedding took place; the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from the church door, and every body had as much to say or to hear on the subject as usual. Elizabeth soon heard from her friend; and their correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had ever been; that it should be equally unreserved was impossible. Elizabeth could never address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over, and, though determined not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the sake of what had been, rather than what was. Charlotte's first letters were received with a good deal of eagerness; there could not but be curiosity to know how she would speak of her new home, how she would like Lady Catherine, and how happy she would dare pronounce herself to be; though, when the letters were read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte expressed herself on every point exactly as she might have foreseen. She wrote cheerfully, seemed surrounded with comforts, and mentioned nothing which she could not praise. The house, furniture, neighbourhood, and roads, were all to her taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour was most friendly and obliging. It was Mr. Collins's picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally softened; and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait for her own visit there, to know the rest.
Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their safe arrival in London; and when she wrote again, Elizabeth hoped it would be in her power to say something of the Bingleys.
Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience generally is. Jane had been a week in town, without either seeing or hearing from Caroline. She accounted for it, however, by supposing that her last letter to her friend from Longbourn had by some accident been lost.
"My aunt," she continued, "is going to-morrow into that part of the town, and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor-street."
She wrote again when the visit was paid, and she had seen Miss Bingley. "I did not think Caroline in spirits," were her words, "but she was very glad to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming to London. I was right, therefore; my last letter had never reached her. I enquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much engaged with Mr. Darcy, that they scarcely ever saw him. I found that Miss Darcy was expected to dinner. I wish I could see her. My visit was not long, as Caroline and Mrs. Hurst were going out. I dare say I shall soon see them here."
Elizabeth shook her head over this letter. It convinced her that accident only could discover to Mr. Bingley her sister's being in town.
Four weeks passed away, and Jane saw nothing of him. She endeavoured to persuade herself that she did not regret it; but she could no longer be blind to Miss Bingley's inattention. After waiting at home every morning for a fortnight, and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her, the visitor did at last appear; but the shortness of her stay, and yet more, the alteration of her manner, would allow Jane to deceive herself no longer. The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister, will prove what she felt.
"My dearest Lizzy will, I am sure, be incapable of triumphing in her better judgment, at my expence, when I confess myself to have been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard for me. But, my dear sister, though the event has proved you right, do not think me obstinate if I still assert that, considering what her behaviour was, my confidence was as natural as your suspicion. I do not at all comprehend her reason for wishing to be intimate with me, but if the same circumstances were to happen again, I am sure I should be deceived again. Caroline did not return my visit till yesterday; and not a note, not a line, did I receive in the mean time. When she did come, it was very evident that she had no pleasure in it; she made a slight, formal, apology for not calling before, said not a word of wishing to see me again, and was in every respect so altered a creature, that when she went away I was perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer. I pity, though I cannot help blaming her. She was very wrong in singling me out as she did; I can safely say, that every advance to intimacy began on her side. But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it, I need not explain myself farther; and though we know this anxiety to be quite needless, yet if she feels it, it will easily account for her behaviour to me; and so deservedly dear as he is to his sister, whatever anxiety she may feel on his behalf is natural and amiable. I cannot but wonder, however, at her having any such fears now, because, if he had at all cared about me, we must have met long, long ago. He knows of my being in town, I am certain, from something she said herself; and yet it should seem by her manner of talking, as if she wanted to persuade herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy. I cannot understand it. If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this. But I will endeavour to banish every painful thought, and think only of what will make me happy: your affection, and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt. Let me hear from you very soon. Miss Bingley said something of his never returning to Netherfield again, of giving up the house, but not with any certainty. We had better not mention it. I am extremely glad that you have such pleasant accounts from our friends at Hunsford. Pray go to see them, with Sir William and Maria. I am sure you will be very comfortable there.
Your's, &c."
This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned as she considered that Jane would no longer be duped, by the sister at least. All expectation from the brother was now absolutely over. She would not even wish for any renewal of his attentions. His character sunk on every review of it; and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible advantage to Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. Darcy's sister, as, by Wickham's account, she would make him abundantly regret what he had thrown away.
Mrs. Gardiner about this time reminded Elizabeth of her promise concerning that gentleman, and required information; and Elizabeth had such to send as might rather give contentment to her aunt than to herself. His apparent partiality had subsided, his attentions were over, he was the admirer of some one else. Elizabeth was watchful enough to see it all, but she could see it and write of it without material pain. Her heart had been but slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied with believing that she would have been his only choice, had fortune permitted it. The sudden acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most remarkable charm of the young lady to whom he was now rendering himself agreeable; but Elizabeth, less clear-sighted perhaps in his case than in Charlotte's, did not quarrel with him for his wish of independence. Nothing, on the contrary, could be more natural; and while able to suppose that it cost him a few struggles to relinquish her, she was ready to allow it a wise and desirable measure for both, and could very sincerely wish him happy.
All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and after relating the circumstances, she thus went on: -- "I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial towards him; they are even impartial towards Miss King. I cannot find out that I hate her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to think her a very good sort of girl. There can be no love in all this. My watchfulness has been effectual; and though I should certainly be a more interesting object to all my acquaintance, were I distractedly in love with him, I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance. Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly. Kitty and Lydia take his defection much more to heart than I do. They are young in the ways of the world, and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something to live on, as well as the plain."
第二十六章
嘉丁納太太一碰到有適當(dāng)?shù)臋C(jī)會(huì)和伊麗莎白單獨(dú)談話，總是善意地對外甥女進(jìn)行忠告，把心里的話老老實(shí)實(shí)講了出來，然后又接下去說：
“你是個(gè)非常懂事的孩子，麗萃，你不至于因?yàn)槿思覄衲阏剳賽垡?dāng)心，你就偏偏要談；因此我才敢向你說個(gè)明白。說正經(jīng)話，你千萬要小心。跟這種沒有財(cái)產(chǎn)作為基礎(chǔ)的人談戀愛，實(shí)在非常莽撞，你千萬別讓自己墮上情網(wǎng)，也不要費(fèi)盡心機(jī)使他墮入情網(wǎng)。我并不是說他的壞話──他倒是個(gè)再有趣不過的青年；要是他得到了他應(yīng)當(dāng)?shù)玫降哪欠葚?cái)產(chǎn)，那我就會(huì)覺得你這門親事再好也沒有了。事實(shí)既是如此，你大可不必再對他想入非非。你很聰明，我們都希望你不要辜負(fù)了自己的聰明。我知道你父親信任你品行好，又有決斷，你切不可叫他失望。”
“親愛的舅母，你真是鄭重其事�！�
“是呀，我希望你也能夠鄭重其事。”
“唔，你用不著急。我自己會(huì)當(dāng)心，也會(huì)當(dāng)心韋翰先生。只要我避免得了，我決不會(huì)叫他跟我戀愛�！�
“伊麗莎白，你這話可就不鄭重其事啦�！�
“請?jiān)�。讓我重新講講看。目前我可并沒有愛上韋翰先生；我的確沒有。不過在我所看見的人當(dāng)中，他的確是最可愛的一個(gè)，任誰也比不上他；如果他真會(huì)愛上我──我相信他還是不要愛上我的好。我看出了這件事很莽撞。噢！達(dá)西先生那么可惡！父親這樣器重我，真是我最大的榮幸，我要是辜負(fù)了他，一定會(huì)覺得遺憾�？墒俏腋赣H對韋翰也有成見。親愛的舅母，總而言之，我決不愿意叫你們?nèi)魏稳藶榱宋叶豢旎�；不過，青年人一旦愛上了什么人，決不會(huì)因?yàn)闀簳r(shí)沒有錢就肯撒手。要是我也給人家打動(dòng)了心，我又怎能免俗？甚至我又怎么知道拒絕他是不是上策？因此，我只能答應(yīng)你不倉忙從事就是了。我決不會(huì)一下子就認(rèn)為我自己是他最中意的人。我雖然和他來往，可是決不會(huì)存這種心思�？偠灾�，我一定盡力而為。”
“假如你不讓他來得這么勤，也許會(huì)好些；至少你不必提醒你母親邀他來�！�
伊麗莎白羞怯地笑笑說：“就象我那天做法一樣，的確，最好是不要那樣�？墒悄阋膊灰詾樗且恢眮淼眠@么勤。這個(gè)星期倒是為了你才常常請他來的。你知道媽的主意，她總以為想出最聰明的辦法去應(yīng)付的；我希望這一下你總該滿意了吧。”
舅母告訴她說，這一下滿意了；伊麗莎白謝謝她好心的指示，于是二人就分別了──在這種問題上給人家出主意而沒受抱怨，這次倒可算一個(gè)稀罕的例子。嘉丁納夫婦和吉英剛剛離開了哈德�？ぃ铝炙瓜壬突氐焦５驴と�。他住在盧卡斯府上，因此班納特太太不但終于死了心，認(rèn)為這門親事是免不了的，甚至還幾次三番惡意地說：“但愿他們會(huì)幸福吧。”星期四就是佳期，盧卡斯小姐星期三到班府上來辭行。當(dāng)夏綠蒂起身告別的時(shí)候，伊麗莎白一方面由于母親那些死樣怪氣的吉利話，使她聽得不好意思，另一方面自己也委實(shí)有動(dòng)無衷，便不由得送她走出房門。下樓梯的時(shí)候，夏綠蒂說：
“我相信你一定會(huì)常常給我寫信的，伊麗莎�！�
“這你放心好啦�！�
“我還要你賞個(gè)臉。你愿意來看看我嗎？”
“我希望我們能夠常常在哈福德郡見面�！�
“我可能暫時(shí)不會(huì)離開肯特郡。還是答應(yīng)我上漢斯福來吧�！�
伊麗莎白雖然預(yù)料到這種拜望不會(huì)有什么樂趣，可又沒法推辭。
夏綠蒂又說：“我的父母三月里要到我那兒去，我希望你跟他們一塊兒來。真的，伊麗莎，我一定象歡迎他們一樣地歡迎你�！�
結(jié)好了婚，新郎新娘從教堂門口直接動(dòng)身往肯特郡去，大家總是照例你一句我一句的要說上多少話。伊麗莎白不久就收到了她朋友的來信，從此她們倆的通信便極其正常，極其頻繁！不過，要象從前一樣地暢所欲言，毫無顧忌，那可辦不到了。伊麗莎白每逢寫信給她，都免不了感覺到過去那種推心置腹的快慰已經(jīng)成為陳跡；雖說她也下定決心，不要把通信疏懶下來，不過，那與其說是為了目前的友誼，倒不如說是為了過去的交情。她對于夏綠蒂開頭的幾封信都盼望得很迫切，那完全是出于一種好奇心，想要知道夏綠蒂所說的話，處處都和她自己所預(yù)料的完全一樣。她的信寫得充滿了愉快的情調(diào)，講到一件事總要贊美一句，好象她真有說不盡的快慰。凡是住宅、家具、鄰居、道路，樣樣都叫她稱心，咖苔琳夫人待人接物又是那么友善，那么親切。她只不過把柯林斯先生所夸耀的漢斯福和羅新斯的面貌，稍許說得委婉一些罷了；伊麗莎白覺得，一定要等到親自去那兒拜訪，才能了解底蘊(yùn)。
吉英早已來了一封短簡給伊麗莎白，信上說，她已經(jīng)平安抵達(dá)倫敦；伊麗莎白希望她下次來信能夠講一些有關(guān)彬格萊家的事。
第二封信真等得她焦急，可是總算沒有白等。信上說，她已經(jīng)進(jìn)城一個(gè)星期，既沒有看見珈羅琳，也沒有收到珈羅琳的信。她只得認(rèn)為她上次從浪搏恩給珈羅琳的那封信，一定是在路上失落了。
她接下去寫：“明天舅母要上那個(gè)地區(qū)去，我想趁這個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)到格魯斯汶納街去登門拜訪一下。”
吉英拜訪過彬格萊小姐并且和她見過面以后，又寫了一封信來。她寫道：“我覺得珈羅琳精神不大好，可是她見到我卻很高興，而且怪我這次到倫敦來為什么事先不通知她一下。我果然沒有猜錯(cuò)，我上次給她那封信，她真的沒有收到。我當(dāng)然問起她們的兄弟。據(jù)說他近況很好，不過同達(dá)西先生過從太密，以致姐妹兄弟很少機(jī)會(huì)見面。我這一次拜望的時(shí)間并不太久，因?yàn)殓炝_琳和赫斯脫太太都要出去。也許她們馬上就會(huì)上我這兒來看我�！�
伊麗莎白讀著這封信，不由得搖頭。她相信除非有什么偶然的機(jī)會(huì)，彬格萊先生決不會(huì)知道吉英來到了倫敦。
四個(gè)星期過去了，吉英還沒有見到彬格萊先生的影子。她竭力寬慰自己說，她并沒有因此而覺得難受；可是彬格萊小姐的冷淡無情，她到底看明白了。她每天上午都在家里等彬格萊小姐，一直白等了兩個(gè)星期，每天晚上都替彬格萊小姐編造一個(gè)借口，最后那位貴客才算上門來了，可是只待了片刻工夫便告辭而去，而且她的態(tài)度也前后判若兩人，吉英覺得再不能自己騙自己了。她把這一次的情形寫了封信告訴她妹妹，從這封信里可以看出她當(dāng)時(shí)的心情：──
我最最親愛的麗萃妹妹：現(xiàn)在我不得不承認(rèn)，彬格萊小姐對我的關(guān)注完全是騙我的。我相信你的見解比我高明，而且你看到我傷心，還會(huì)引為得意。親愛的妹妹，雖然如今事實(shí)已經(jīng)證明你的看法是對的，可是，我如果從她過去的態(tài)度來看，我依舊認(rèn)為，我對她的信任以及你對她的懷疑，同樣都是合情合理，請你不要以為我固執(zhí)。我到現(xiàn)在還不明白她從前為什么要跟我要好；如果再有同樣的情況發(fā)生，我相信我還會(huì)受到欺騙。珈羅琳一直到昨天才來看我，她未來以前不曾給我片紙只字的訊息，既來之后又顯出十分不樂意的樣子。她只是照例敷衍了我一句，說是沒有早日來看我，很是抱歉，此外根本就沒有提起她想要再見見我的話。她在種種方面都前后判若兩人，因此，當(dāng)她臨走的時(shí)候，我就下定決心和她斷絕來往，雖說我禁不住要怪她，可是我又可憐她。只怪她當(dāng)初不該對我另眼看待；我可以問心無愧地說，我和她交情都是由她主動(dòng)一步一步進(jìn)展起來的。可是我可憐她，因?yàn)樗欢〞?huì)感覺到自己做錯(cuò)了，我斷定她所以采取這種態(tài)度，完全是由于為她哥哥擔(dān)心的緣故。我用不著為自己再解釋下去了。雖然我們知道這種擔(dān)心完全不必要，不過，倘若她當(dāng)真這樣擔(dān)心，那就足以說明她為什么要這樣對待我了。既然他確實(shí)值得他妹妹珍惜，那么，不管她替他擔(dān)的是什么憂，那也是合情合理，親切可喜。不過，我簡直不懂她現(xiàn)在還要有什么顧慮，要是他當(dāng)真有心于我，我們早就會(huì)見面了。聽她口氣，我肯定他是知道我在倫敦的；然而從她談話的態(tài)度看來，就好象她拿穩(wěn)他是真的傾心于達(dá)西小姐似的。這真使我弄不明白。要是我大膽地下一句刻薄的斷語，我真忍不住要說，其中一定大有蹊蹺�？墒俏乙欢〞�(huì)竭力打消一切苦痛的念頭，只去想一些能使我高興的事───譬如想想你的親切以及親愛的舅父母對我始終如一的關(guān)切。希望很快就收到你的信。彬格萊小姐說起他再也不會(huì)回到尼日斐花園來，說他打算放棄那幢房子，可是說得并不怎么肯定。我們最好不必再提起這件事。你從漢斯福我們那些朋友那兒聽到了許多令人愉快的事，這使我很高興。請你跟威廉爵士和瑪麗亞一塊兒去看看他們吧。我相信你在那里一定會(huì)過得很舒適的。──你的……
這封信使伊麗莎白感到有些難受；不過，一想到吉英從此不會(huì)再受到他們的欺蒙，至少不會(huì)再受到那個(gè)妹妹的欺蒙，她又高興起來了。她現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)放棄了對那位兄弟的一切期望。她甚至根本不希望他再來重修舊好。她越想越看不起他；她倒真的希望他早日跟達(dá)西先生的妹妹結(jié)婚，因?yàn)檎枕f翰說來，那位小姐往后一定會(huì)叫他后悔，悔當(dāng)初不該把本來的意中人丟了，這一方面算是給他一種懲罰，另方面也可能有利于吉英。
大約就在這時(shí)候，嘉丁納太太把上次伊麗莎白答應(yīng)過怎樣對待韋翰的事，又向伊麗莎白提醒了一下，并且問起最近的情況如何；伊麗莎白回信上所說的話，雖然自己頗不滿意，可是舅母聽了卻很滿意。原來他對她顯著的好感已經(jīng)消失，他對她的殷勤也已經(jīng)過去──他愛上了別人了。伊麗莎白很留心地看出了這一切，可是她雖然看出了這一切，在信上也寫到這一切，卻并沒有感到什么痛苦，她只不過稍許有些感觸。她想，如果她有些財(cái)產(chǎn)，早就成為他唯一的意中人了──想到這里，她的虛榮心也就得到了滿足。拿他現(xiàn)在所傾倒的那位姑娘來說，她的最顯著的魅力就是使他可以獲得一萬金鎊的意外巨款；可是伊麗莎白對自己這件事，也許不如上次對夏綠蒂的事那么看得清楚，因此并沒有因?yàn)樗非笪镔|(zhì)享受而怨怪他。她反而以為這是再自然不過的事；她也想象到他遺棄她一定頗費(fèi)躊躇，可又覺得這對于雙方都是一種既聰明而又理想的辦法，并且誠心誠意地祝他幸福。她把這一切都對嘉丁納太太說了。敘述了這些事以后，她接下去這樣寫道：“親愛的舅母，我現(xiàn)在深深相信，我根本沒有怎樣愛他，假如我當(dāng)真有了這種純潔而崇高的感情，那我現(xiàn)在一聽到他的名字都會(huì)覺得討厭，而且巴不得他倒盡了霉�？墒俏仪榫w上不僅對他沒有一些芥蒂，甚至對金小姐也毫無成見。我根本不覺得恨她，并且極其愿意把她看作一個(gè)很好的姑娘。這樁事完全算不上戀愛。我的小心提防并不是枉然的；要是我狂戀著他，親友們就一定會(huì)把我看作一個(gè)更有趣的話柄了，我決不因?yàn)槿思也皇制髦匚叶箷?huì)感到遺憾。太受人器重有時(shí)候需要付出很大的代價(jià)。吉蒂和麗迪雅對他的缺點(diǎn)計(jì)較得比我厲害。她們在人情世故方面還幼稚得很，還不懂得這樣一個(gè)有失體統(tǒng)的信條：美少年和凡夫俗子一樣，也得不飯吃，有衣穿。”
Chapter 27
WITH no greater events than these in the Longbourn family, and otherwise diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and sometimes cold, did January and February pass away. March was to take Elizabeth to Hunsford. She had not at first thought very seriously of going thither; but Charlotte, she soon found, was depending on the plan, and she gradually learned to consider it herself with greater pleasure as well as greater certainty. Absence had increased her desire of seeing Charlotte again, and weakened her disgust of Mr. Collins. There was novelty in the scheme; and as, with such a mother and such uncompanionable sisters, home could not be faultless, a little change was not unwelcome for its own sake. The journey would moreover give her a peep at Jane; and, in short, as the time drew near, she would have been very sorry for any delay. Every thing, however, went on smoothly, and was finally settled according to Charlotte's first sketch. She was to accompany Sir William and his second daughter. The improvement of spending a night in London was added in time, and the plan became perfect as plan could be.
The only pain was in leaving her father, who would certainly miss her, and who, when it came to the point, so little liked her going that he told her to write to him, and almost promised to answer her letter.
The farewell between herself and Mr. Wickham was perfectly friendly; on his side even more. His present pursuit could not make him forget that Elizabeth had been the first to excite and to deserve his attention, the first to listen and to pity, the first to be admired; and in his manner of bidding her adieu, wishing her every enjoyment, reminding her of what she was to expect in Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and trusting their opinion of her -- their opinion of every body -- would always coincide, there was a solicitude, an interest which she felt must ever attach her to him with a most sincere regard; and she parted from him convinced that, whether married or single, he must always be her model of the amiable and pleasing.
Her fellow-travellers the next day were not of a kind to make her think him less agreeable. Sir William Lucas and his daughter Maria, a good humoured girl, but as empty-headed as himself, had nothing to say that could be worth hearing, and were listened to with about as much delight as the rattle of the chaise. Elizabeth loved absurdities, but she had known Sir William's too long. He could tell her nothing new of the wonders of his presentation and knighthood; and his civilities were worn out like his information.
It was a journey of only twenty-four miles, and they began it so early as to be in Gracechurch-street by noon. As they drove to Mr. Gardiner's door, Jane was at a drawing-room window watching their arrival; when they entered the passage she was there to welcome them, and Elizabeth, looking earnestly in her face, was pleased to see it healthful and lovely as ever. On the stairs were a troop of little boys and girls, whose eagerness for their cousin's appearance would not allow them to wait in the drawing-room, and whose shyness, as they had not seen her for a twelvemonth, prevented their coming lower. All was joy and kindness. The day passed most pleasantly away; the morning in bustle and shopping, and the evening at one of the theatres.
Elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt. Their first subject was her sister; and she was more grieved than astonished to hear, in reply to her minute enquiries, that though Jane always struggled to support her spirits, there were periods of dejection. It was reasonable, however, to hope that they would not continue long. Mrs. Gardiner gave her the particulars also of Miss Bingley's visit in Gracechurch-street, and repeated conversations occurring at different times between Jane and herself, which proved that the former had, from her heart, given up the acquaintance.
Mrs. Gardiner then rallied her niece on Wickham's desertion, and complimented her on bearing it so well.
"But, my dear Elizabeth," she added, "what sort of girl is Miss King? I should be sorry to think our friend mercenary."
"Pray, my dear aunt, what is the difference in matrimonial affairs, between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does discretion end, and avarice begin? Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want to find out that he is mercenary."
"If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is, I shall know what to think."
"She is a very good kind of girl, I believe. I know no harm of her."
"But he paid her not the smallest attention, till her grandfather's death made her mistress of this fortune."
"No -- why should he? If it was not allowable for him to gain my affections, because I had no money, what occasion could there be for making love to a girl whom he did not care about, and who was equally poor?"
"But there seems indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her, so soon after this event."
"A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant decorums which other people may observe. If she does not object to it, why should we?"
"Her not objecting, does not justify him. It only shews her being deficient in something herself -- sense or feeling."
"Well," cried Elizabeth, "have it as you choose. He shall be mercenary, and she shall be foolish."
"No, Lizzy, that is what I do not choose. I should be sorry, you know, to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in Derbyshire."
"Oh! if that is all, I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in Derbyshire; and their intimate friends who live in Hertfordshire are not much better. I am sick of them all. Thank Heaven! I am going to-morrow where I shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality, who has neither manner nor sense to recommend him. Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing, after all."
"Take care, Lizzy; that speech savours strongly of disappointment."
Before they were separated by the conclusion of the play, she had the unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany her uncle and aunt in a tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in the summer.
"We have not quite determined how far it shall carry us," said Mrs. Gardiner, "but perhaps to the Lakes."
No scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and her acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful. "My dear, dear aunt," she rapturously cried, "what delight! what felicity! You give me fresh life and vigour. Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What are men to rocks and mountains? Oh! what hours of transport we shall spend! And when we do return, it shall not be like other travellers, without being able to give one accurate idea of any thing. We will know where we have gone -- we will recollect what we have seen. Lakes, mountains, and rivers shall not be jumbled together in our imaginations; nor, when we attempt to describe any particular scene, will we begin quarrelling about its relative situation. Let our first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality of travellers."
第二十七章
浪搏恩這家人家除了這些事以外，再?zèng)]有別的大事；除了到麥里屯去散散步以外，再?zèng)]有別的消遣。時(shí)而雨水濘途、時(shí)而風(fēng)寒刺骨的正月和二月，就這樣過去了。三月里伊麗莎白要上漢斯福去。開頭她并不是真想去；可是她立刻想到夏綠蒂對于原來的約定寄予了很大的期望，于是她也就帶著比較樂意和比較肯定的心情來考慮這個(gè)問題了。離別促進(jìn)了她想夏綠蒂重逢的愿望，也消除了她對柯林斯先生的厭惡。這個(gè)計(jì)劃多少總有它新奇的地方；再說，家里有了這樣的母親和這樣幾位不能融洽的妹妹，自難完美無缺，換換環(huán)境也好。趁著旅行的機(jī)會(huì)也可去看看吉英；總之，時(shí)日迫近了，她反而有些等不及了。她在一切都進(jìn)行得很順利，最后依舊照了夏綠蒂原先的意思，跟威廉爵士和他的第二個(gè)女兒一塊兒去作一次客。以后這計(jì)劃又補(bǔ)充了一下，決定在倫敦住一夜，這一來可真是個(gè)十全十美的計(jì)劃了。
只有和父親離別使她感到痛苦，父親一定會(huì)記掛她。說起來，他根本就不愿意讓她去，既是事情已經(jīng)決定，只得叫她常常寫信給他，而且?guī)缀醮饝?yīng)親自給她回信。
她跟韋翰先生告別時(shí)，雙方都十分客氣，韋翰比她還要客氣。他目前雖然在追求別人，卻并沒有因此就忘了伊麗莎白是第一個(gè)引起他注目的人，第一個(gè)值得他注目的人，第一個(gè)聽他傾訴衷情，第一個(gè)可憐他，第一個(gè)搏得了他愛慕的人；他向她告別，祝她萬事如意，又對她說了一遍德·包爾夫人是很好的一個(gè)人，他相信他們倆對那位老夫人的評(píng)價(jià)，對每一個(gè)人的評(píng)價(jià)，一定完全吻合。他說這話的時(shí)候，顯得很是熱誠，很是關(guān)切，這種盛情一定會(huì)使她對他永遠(yuǎn)懷著極其深摯的好感。他們分手以后，她更相信不管他結(jié)婚也罷，單身也罷，他在她的心目中將會(huì)始終是一個(gè)極其和藹可親而又討人喜歡的人。
第二天和她同路的那些人，也并沒有使韋翰在她心目中相形見絀。威廉爵士簡直說不出一句中聽的話，他那位女兒瑪麗亞雖然脾氣很好，腦子卻象她父親一樣空洞，也說不出一句中聽的話。聽他們父女倆說話，就好象聽到車輛的轆轆聲一樣無聊。伊麗莎白本來愛聽無稽之談，不過威廉爵士那一套她實(shí)在聽得膩了。他談來談去總不外乎覲見皇上以及榮膺爵士頭銜之類的奇聞，翻不出什么新花樣來；他那一套禮貌舉止，也象他的出言吐語一樣，已經(jīng)陳腐不堪。
這段旅程不過二十四英里路，他們啟程很早，為的是要在正午趕到天恩寺街。他們走近嘉丁納先生的大門時(shí)，吉英正在會(huì)客室的窗口望著他們。他們走近過道時(shí)，吉英正等在那兒接他們，伊麗莎白真摯地仔細(xì)望了望吉英的臉，只見那張臉蛋兒還是象往常一樣地健康美麗，她覺得很高興。男男女女的孩子們?yōu)榱思庇谝姷奖砟�，在客廳里等不及，又因?yàn)橐荒隂]見面，不好意思下樓去，便都待在樓梯口。到處是一片歡樂與和善的氣氛。這一天真過得極其愉快；上午亂哄哄地忙做一團(tuán)，又要出去買東西；晚上上戲院去看戲。
伊麗莎白在舅母身旁坐下來。她們倆首先就談到她姐姐。她仔仔細(xì)細(xì)問了許多話，舅母回答她說，吉英雖然竭力提著精神，還免不了有意氣消沉的時(shí)候，她聽了并不十分詫異，卻很憂郁。她在這種意氣消沉的現(xiàn)象還會(huì)繼續(xù)多久。嘉丁納太太也跟伊麗莎白談起彬格萊小姐過訪天恩寺街的一切情形，又把吉英跟她好幾次的談話重述了一遍給她聽，這些話足以說明吉英的確打算再不和彬格萊小姐來往了。
嘉丁納太太然后又談起韋翰遺棄伊麗莎白的話，把她外甥女笑話了一番，同時(shí)又贊美她的忍耐功夫。
她接著又說：“可是，親愛的伊麗莎白，金小姐是怎么樣的一個(gè)姑娘？我可不愿意把我們的朋友看作是一個(gè)見不得錢的人啊�！�
“請問你，親愛的舅母，拿婚姻問題來講，見錢眼紅與動(dòng)機(jī)正當(dāng)究竟有什么不同？做到什么地步為止就算知禮，打哪兒起就要算是貪心？去年圣誕節(jié)你還生怕我跟他結(jié)婚，怕的是不鄭重其事，而現(xiàn)在呢，他要去跟一個(gè)只不過有一萬鎊財(cái)產(chǎn)的姑娘結(jié)婚，你就要說他見不得錢啦�！�
“只要你告訴我，金小姐是怎么樣一個(gè)姑娘，我就知道該怎么說話了�！�
“我相信她是個(gè)好姑娘。我說不出她有什么壞處�！�
“可是韋翰本來完全不把她放在眼睛里，為什么她祖父一去世，她做了這筆家產(chǎn)的主人，他就會(huì)看上了她呢？：”
“沒有的事，他為什么要那樣？要是說，他不愿意跟我相愛，就是因?yàn)槲覜]有錢，那么，他一向不關(guān)心的一個(gè)姑娘，一個(gè)同樣窮的姑娘，他又有什么理由要去跟她談戀愛呢？”
“不過，她家里一發(fā)生這件變故，他就去向她獻(xiàn)殷勤，這未免不象話吧�！�
“一個(gè)處境困難的人，不會(huì)象一般人那樣有閑，去注意這些繁文縟節(jié)。只要她不反對，我們?yōu)槭裁匆磳�？�?BR>“她不反對，并不說明他就做得對。那只不過說明了她本身有什么缺陷，不是見識(shí)方面有缺陷，就是感覺方面有缺陷�！�
“哦，”伊麗莎白叫道：“你愛怎么說就怎么說吧，說他貪財(cái)也好，說她傻也好�！�
“不麗萃，我才不這么說呢。你知道，在德比郡住了這么久的一個(gè)青年，我是不忍心說他壞話的�！�
“噢，要是光光就憑這點(diǎn)理由，我才看不起那些住在德比郡的青年人呢，他們住在哈福德郡的那批知已朋友們，也好不了多少。他們?nèi)冀形矣憛�。謝謝老天爺！明天我就要到一個(gè)地方去，我將要在那兒見到一個(gè)一無可取的人，他無論在風(fēng)度方面，在見解方面，都不見長。說到頭來，只有那些傻瓜值得你去跟他們來來往往。”
“當(dāng)心些，麗萃；這種話未免說得太消沉了些�！�
她們看完了戲，剛要分手的時(shí)候，舅父母又邀請她參加他們的夏季旅行，這真是一種意外的快樂。
嘉丁納太太說：“至于究竟到什么地方去，我們還沒有十分決定，也許到湖區(qū)去�！�
對伊麗莎白說來，隨便什么計(jì)劃也不會(huì)比這個(gè)計(jì)劃更中她的意了，她毫不猶豫地接受了這個(gè)邀請，而且非常感激�！拔业暮镁四福H舅母，”她歡天喜地叫了起來，“多高興，多幸福！你給了我新的生命和活力。我再也不沮喪和憂郁了。人比起高山大石來，算得了什么？我們將要度過一些多么快樂的時(shí)日�。〉鹊轿覀兓貋淼臅r(shí)候，一定不會(huì)象一般游人那樣，什么都是浮光驚影。我們一定會(huì)知道到過什么地方───我們看見過的東西一定會(huì)記得住。湖泊山川決不會(huì)在我們腦子里亂七八糟地混做一團(tuán)；我們要談到某一處風(fēng)景的時(shí)候，決不會(huì)連位置也弄不明白，彼此爭論不休。但愿我們一回來敘述起游蹤浪跡的時(shí)候，不要象一般旅客那樣陳腔濫調(diào)，叫人聽不入耳�！�
Chapter 28
EVERY object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth; and her spirits were in a state for enjoyment; for she had seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight.
When they left the high-road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants.
At length the Parsonage was discernable. The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales and the laurel hedge, everything declared that they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at a small gate, which led by a short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing at the sight of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the liveliest pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with coming, when she found herself so affectionately received. She saw instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; his formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained her some minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his enquiries after all her family. They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as they were in the parlour, he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his wife's offers of refreshment.
Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But though every thing seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to gratify him by any sigh of repentance; and rather looked with wonder at her friend that she could have so cheerful an air, with such a companion. When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in his garden was one of his most respectable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the excercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which the country, or the kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the prospect of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome modern building, well situated on rising ground.
From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them round his two meadows, but the ladies, not having shoes to encounter the remains of a white frost, turned back; and while Sir William accompanied him, Charlotte took her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased, probably, to have the opportunity of shewing it without her husband's help. It was rather small, but well built and convenient; and everything was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which Elizabeth gave Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was really a great air of comfort throughout, and by Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten. She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining in, observed,
"Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say, one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several."
"Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed," added Charlotte, "and a most attentive neighbour."
"Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference."
The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, and telling again what had been already written; and when it closed, Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon Charlotte's degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding, and composure in bearing with her husband, and to acknowledge that it was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled it all. About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in confusion; and after listening a moment, she heard somebody running up stairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened the door, and met Maria in the landing place, who, breathless with agitation, cried out,
"Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment."
Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing more, and down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane, in quest of this wonder; it was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the garden gate.
"And is this all?" cried Elizabeth. "I expected at least that the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter!"
"La! my dear," said Maria quite shocked at the mistake, "it is not Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them. The other is Miss De Bourgh. Only look at her. She is quite a little creature. Who would have thought she could be so thin and small!"
"She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind. Why does she not come in?"
"Oh! Charlotte says, she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favours when Miss De Bourgh comes in."
"I like her appearance," said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. "She looks sickly and cross. -- Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make him a very proper wife."
Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's high diversion, was stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness before him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss De Bourgh looked that way.
At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove on, and the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked to dine at Rosings the next day.
第二十八章
第二天旅途上的每一樣事物，伊麗莎白都感到新鮮有趣；她精神很愉快，因?yàn)榭吹浇憬銡馍敲春茫梢圆挥迷贋樗慕】祿?dān)心，加上一想到去北方的旅行，她就越發(fā)高興。當(dāng)他們離開了大路，走上一條通往漢斯福的小徑時(shí)，每一只眼睛都在尋找著那幢牧師住宅；每拐一個(gè)彎，都以為就要看到那幢房子。他們沿著羅新斯花園的柵欄往前走。伊麗莎白一想到外界所傳聞的那家人家和種種情形，不禁好笑。
終于看到那幢牧師住宅了。大路斜對面的花園、花園里的房子、綠的柵欄、以及桂樹圍籬───每一樣?xùn)|西好象都在宣布他們的來到�？铝炙瓜壬拖木G蒂走到門口來了。在賓主頻頻點(diǎn)頭脈脈微笑中，客人們在一道小門跟前停下了車，從這里穿過一條短短的鵝卵石鋪道，便能直達(dá)正屋。一剎眼工夫，他們都下了車，賓主相見，無限歡欣�？铝炙购喼笔治枳愕傅貧g迎自己的朋友，伊麗莎白受到這么親切的歡迎，就越發(fā)滿意于這次的作客了。她立刻看到她表兄并沒有因?yàn)榻Y(jié)了婚而改變態(tài)度，他還是完全和以往一樣地拘泥禮節(jié)，在門口耽擱了她好幾分鐘，問候她全家大小的起居安好。聽到她一一回答了之后，他才滿意。于是他就沒有再耽擱他們，只指給他們看看門口是多么整潔，便把客人們帶進(jìn)了屋子；等到客人一走進(jìn)客廳，他又對他們作了第二次的歡迎，極其客氣地說，這次承蒙諸位光臨寒舍，真是不勝榮幸，并且刻不容緩地把他太太送上來的點(diǎn)心重新奉獻(xiàn)了一次。
伊麗莎白早就料到他會(huì)那樣得意非凡，因此當(dāng)他夸耀那屋子的優(yōu)美結(jié)構(gòu)、式樣、以及一切陳設(shè)的時(shí)候，她禁不住想到他是特地講給她聽的，好象要叫她明白，她當(dāng)初拒絕了他，是多么大的一個(gè)損失。雖說樣樣?xùn)|西的確都那么整潔和舒適，她可千萬不能流露出一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)后悔的痕跡來叫他得意；她甚至帶著詫異的目光看看夏綠蒂，她弄不明白夏綠蒂和這樣的一位伴侶相處，為什么還會(huì)那么高興�？铝炙瓜壬袝r(shí)竟會(huì)說些很不得體的話，叫他自己的太太聽了也不免難為情，而且這類話又說得并不太少，每逢這種場合，伊麗莎白就不由自主地要向夏綠蒂望一眼。夏綠蒂有一兩次被她看得微微臉紅了，不過一般總是很聰明地裝作沒有聽見。大家在屋里坐了好一會(huì)兒，欣賞著每一件家具，從食器櫥一直欣賞到壁爐架，又談了談一路上的情況以及倫敦的一切情形，然后柯林斯先生就請他們到花園里去散散步�；▓@很大，布置得也很好，一切都是由他親手料理的。他的最高尚的娛樂就是收拾花園。夏綠蒂說，這種操作有益于健康，她盡可能鼓勵(lì)他這樣做；她講起這件事的時(shí)候，非常鎮(zhèn)定自若，真叫伊麗莎白佩服。他領(lǐng)著他們走遍了花園里的曲徑小道，看遍了每一處景物，每看一處都得瑣瑣碎碎地講一陣，美不美倒完全不在他心上，看的人即使想要贊美幾句也插不上嘴。他數(shù)得出每一個(gè)方向有多少田園，連最遠(yuǎn)的樹叢里有多少棵樹他也講得出來，可是，不論是他自己花園里的景物也好，或者是這整個(gè)鄉(xiāng)村甚至全國的名勝古跡也好，都萬萬比不上羅新斯花園的景色。羅新斯花園差不多就在他住宅的正對面，四面是樹，從樹林的空隙處可以望見里面。那是一幢漂亮的控建筑，聳立在一片高地上。
柯林斯先生本來想把他們從花園里帶去看看兩塊草地，但是太太小姐們的鞋子抵擋不住那殘余的白霜，于是全都走回去了，只剩下威廉爵士陪伴著他。夏綠蒂陪著自己的妹妹和朋友參觀住宅，這一下她能夠撇開丈夫的幫忙，有機(jī)會(huì)讓她自己顯顯身手，真是高興極了。房子很小，但是建筑結(jié)實(shí)，使用也很方便；一切都布置得很精巧，安排得很調(diào)和，伊麗莎白對夏綠蒂夸獎(jiǎng)備至。只要不想起柯林斯先生，便真正有了一種非常美好的氣氛。伊麗莎白看見夏綠蒂那樣得意，便不由得想到她平常一定不把柯林斯先生放在心上。
伊麗莎白已經(jīng)打聽到咖苔琳夫人還在鄉(xiāng)下。吃飯的時(shí)候又談起了這樁事，當(dāng)時(shí)柯林斯先生立即插嘴說：
“正是，伊麗莎白小姐，星期日晚上你就可以有榮幸在教學(xué)里見到咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人，你一定會(huì)喜歡她的。她為人極其謙和，絲毫沒有架子，我相信那天做完禮拜之后，你就會(huì)很榮幸地受到她的注目。我可以毫無猶豫地說，只要你待在這兒，每逢她賞臉請我們作客的時(shí)候，總少不了要請你和我的小姨子瑪麗亞。她對待我親愛的夏綠蒂真是好極了。我們每星期去羅新斯吃兩次飯，她老人家從來沒有哪一次讓我們步行回家，總是打發(fā)自己的馬車送我們──我應(yīng)該說，是打發(fā)她老人家的某一部馬車，因?yàn)樗泻脦撞寇囎幽��！?BR>夏綠蒂又說：“咖苔琳夫人的確是個(gè)道貌岸然、通達(dá)情理的女人，而且是位極其殷勤的鄰居�！�
“說得很對，親愛的，你真說到我心上去了。象她這樣一位夫人，你無論對她怎樣尊敬，依舊會(huì)感到有些欠缺。”
這一晚主要就談?wù)摴５驴さ男侣�，又把以前信上所說的話重新再提一遍。大家散了以后，伊麗莎白孤單單地在房間里，不由得默默想起了夏綠蒂對于現(xiàn)狀究竟?jié)M意到什么程度，駕御丈夫的手腕巧妙到什么程度，容忍丈夫的肚量又大到什么程度。她不由得承認(rèn)，一切都安排得非常好。她又去想象著這次作客的時(shí)間將如何度過，無非是：平淡安靜的日常起居，柯林斯先生那種惹人討厭的插嘴打貧，再加上跟羅新斯的應(yīng)酬來往等。她那豐富的想象力馬上解決了整個(gè)問題。
大約在第二天響午的時(shí)候，她正在房間里準(zhǔn)備出去散散步，忽聽得樓下一陣喧嘩，馬上這整個(gè)住宅里的人好象都慌亂了起來；一會(huì)兒工夫，只聽得有人急急忙忙奔上樓來，大聲叫她。她開了門，在樓梯口遇見了瑪麗亞，只見她激動(dòng)得氣都喘不過來，嚷道：
“噢，親愛的伊麗莎呀，請你趕快到餐室里去，那兒有了不起的場面值得看呢！我可不告訴你是怎么回事。趕快呀，馬上下樓來。”
伊麗莎白一遍遍問，也問不出一個(gè)究竟來；瑪麗亞多一句也不肯跟她說；于是她們倆便奔進(jìn)那間面臨著大路的餐室，去探奇尋勝。原來來了兩位女客，乘著一輛低低的四輪馬車，停在花園門口。
伊麗莎白連忙嚷道：“就是這么回事嗎？我還以為是豬玀闖進(jìn)了花園呢，原來只不過是咖苔琳夫人母女倆�！�
瑪麗亞聽她說錯(cuò)了，不禁大吃一驚：“噍你，親愛的，那不是咖苔琳夫人。那位老夫人是姜金生太太，她跟她們住在一起的；另外一位是德·包爾小姐。你且瞧瞧她那副模樣兒吧。她真是個(gè)非常纖小的人兒。誰會(huì)想到她會(huì)這么單薄，這么��！”
“她真是太沒有禮貌，風(fēng)這樣大，卻讓夏綠蒂待在門外。她為什么不進(jìn)來？”
“噢，夏綠蒂說，她真難得進(jìn)來。德·包爾小姐要是進(jìn)來一次，那可真是天大的面子�！�
“她那副模樣兒真夠人瞧的，”伊麗莎白一面說，一面又突然起了別的種種念頭。
“她看上去身體不好，脾氣又壞。她配他真是再好不過呢。她做他的太太極其相稱�！�
柯林斯先生和夏綠蒂都站在門口跟那位女客談話。伊麗莎白覺得最好笑的是，威廉爵士正必恭必敬地站在門口，虔誠地瞻仰著面前的蔚然大觀，每當(dāng)?shù)隆ぐ鼱栃〗愠@邊望的時(shí)候，他總是一鞠躬。
后來他們的話全說完了，兩位女客驅(qū)車而去，別人都回到屋里�？铝炙挂豢吹絻晌恍〗�，就恭賀她們走了鴻運(yùn)；夏綠蒂把他的意思解釋給她們聽，原來羅新斯明天又要請他們?nèi)w去吃飯了。
Chapter 29
MR. Collins's triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he knew not how to admire enough.
"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation moreover including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!"
"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, "from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the Court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon."
Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day, or next morning, but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them.
When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth,
"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for any thing more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."
While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. -- Such formidable accounts of her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas, who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension, as her father had done to his presentation at St. James's.
As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park. -- Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh.
When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. -- Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation.
From the entrance hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and finished ornaments, they followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. -- Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should be her's, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary.
In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. -- Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented.
When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her being so thin, and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between the ladies. Miss De Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a low voice to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes.
After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking at in the summer.
The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants, and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh -- the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss De Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.
When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted. She enquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all; told her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as her's, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the least, and who, she observed to Mrs. Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her at different times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? -- Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions, but answered them very composedly. -- Lady Catherine then observed,
"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. -- It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. -- Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?"
"A little."
"Oh! then -- some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to -- You shall try it some day. -- Do your sisters play and sing?"
"One of them does."
"Why did not you all learn? -- You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as your's. -- Do you draw?"
"No, not at all."
"What, none of you?"
"Not one."
"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters."
"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London."
"Has your governess left you?"
"We never had any governess."
"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! -- I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education."
Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her that had not been the case.
"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess you must have been neglected."
"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might."
"Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe's calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. "Lady Catherine," said she, "you have given me a treasure." Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?"
"Yes, Ma'am, all."
"All! -- What, all five out at once? Very odd! -- And you only the second. -- The younger ones out before the elder are married! -- Your younger sisters must be very young?"
"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, Ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. -- The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind."
"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. -- Pray, what is your age?"
"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth smiling, "your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it."
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence!
"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, -- therefore you need not conceal your age."
"I am not one and twenty."
When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille; and as Miss De Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss De Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the other table, Lady Catherine was generally speaking -- stating the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to every thing her Ladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noble names.
When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the tables were broke up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted, and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival of the coach, and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. Collins's side, and as many bows on Sir William's, they departed. As soon as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise into his own hands.
第二十九章
羅新斯這一次請客，真使得柯林斯先生感到百分之百地得意。他本來一心要讓這些好奇的賓客們?nèi)ワL(fēng)光一下他那女施主的堂皇氣派，看看老夫人對待他們夫婦倆多么禮貌周全。他竟會(huì)這么快就得到了如愿以償?shù)臋C(jī)會(huì)，這件事大足以說明咖苔琳夫人的禮賢下士，使得他不知如何景仰是好。
“說老實(shí)話，”他說，“她老人家邀請我們星期日去吃茶點(diǎn)，在羅新斯消磨一個(gè)下午，我一點(diǎn)兒也不覺得意外。她一貫為人殷勤，我倒以為她真要這樣招待一番的，可是誰料想到會(huì)象這次這樣情意隆重？誰會(huì)想到你們剛剛到這里在，就被請到那邊去吃飯（而且全體都請到了）？”
威廉爵士說：“剛才的事我倒不怎么覺得稀奇，大人物的為人處世實(shí)在都是如此，象我這樣有身份的人，就見識(shí)得很多。在顯宦貴族們當(dāng)中，這類風(fēng)雅好客的事不足為奇。”
這一整天和第二天上午，簡直只談到去羅新斯的事。柯林斯先生預(yù)先仔仔細(xì)細(xì)地一樣樣告訴他們，到那邊去將要看到什么東西，免得他們看到了那樣宏偉的屋子，那樣眾多的仆從，那樣豐盛的菜肴，會(huì)造成臨時(shí)慌亂，手足失措。
當(dāng)娘兒們正要各自去打扮的時(shí)候，他又對伊麗莎白說：
“不要為衣裝擔(dān)心思，親愛的表妹。咖苔琳夫人才不會(huì)要我們穿得華麗呢，這只有她自己和她的女兒才配。我勸你只要在你自己的衣服里面，揀一件出色的穿上就行，不必過于講究。珈苔琳夫人決不會(huì)因?yàn)槟阋卵b樸素就瞧你不起。她喜歡各人守著自己的本份，分得出一個(gè)高低�！�
娘兒們整裝的時(shí)候，他又到各個(gè)人的房門口去了兩三次，勸她們快一點(diǎn)，因?yàn)榭α辗蛉苏埲顺燥堊詈蘅腿诉t到�，旣悂啞けR卡斯聽說她老人家的為人處事這樣可怕，不由得嚇了一跳，因?yàn)樗幌虿淮髸?huì)應(yīng)酬。她一想起要到羅新斯去拜望，就誠惶誠恐，正如她父親當(dāng)年進(jìn)宮覲見一樣。
天朗氣清，他們穿過花園，作了一次差不多半英里的愉快的散步。一家家的花園都各有美妙，伊麗莎白縱目觀賞，心曠神怡，可是并不如柯林斯先生所預(yù)期的那樣，會(huì)被眼前的景色陶醉得樂而忘形。盡管他數(shù)著屋前一扇扇窗戶說，光是這些玻璃，當(dāng)初曾一共花了劉威斯·德·包爾爵士多大一筆錢，她可并不為這些話動(dòng)心。
他們踏上臺(tái)階走進(jìn)穿堂的時(shí)候，瑪麗亞一分鐘比一分鐘來得惶恐，連威廉爵士也不能完全保持鎮(zhèn)定。倒是伊麗莎白不畏縮。無論是論才論德，她都沒有聽到咖苔琳夫人有什么了不起的地方足以引起她敬畏，光憑著有錢有勢，還不會(huì)叫她見到了就膽戰(zhàn)心驚。
進(jìn)了穿堂，柯林斯先生就帶著一副喜極欲狂的神氣，指出這屋子的堂皇富麗，然后由傭人們帶著客人走過前廳，來到咖苔琳夫人母女和姜金生太太的起坐間。夫人極其謙和地站起身來迎接他們。根據(jù)柯林斯太太事先跟她丈夫商量好的辦法，當(dāng)場由太太出面替賓主介紹，因此介紹得很得體，凡是柯林斯先生認(rèn)為必不可少的那些道歉和感激的話，都一概免了。
威廉爵士雖說當(dāng)年也曾進(jìn)宮覲見過皇上，可是看到四周圍這般的富貴氣派，也不禁完全給嚇住了，只得彎腰一躬，一聲不響，坐了下來；再說他的女兒，簡直嚇得喪魂失魄一般，兀自坐在椅子邊上，眼睛也不知道往哪里看才好。伊麗莎白倒是完全安然自若，而且從容不迫地細(xì)細(xì)瞧著那三位女主人�？α辗蛉耸俏桓叽蟮膵D人，五官清楚，也許年輕時(shí)很好看。她的樣子并不十分客氣，接待賓客的態(tài)度也不能使賓客忘卻自己身份的低微。她嚇人的地方倒不是默不作聲，而是她出言吐語時(shí)聲調(diào)總是那么高高在上，自命不凡，這叫伊麗莎白立刻想起了韋翰先生的話。經(jīng)過這一整天的察言觀色之后，她覺得咖苔琳夫人的為人，果然和韋翰所形容的完全一樣。
她仔細(xì)打量了她一眼，立刻就發(fā)覺她的容貌有些象達(dá)西先生，然后她就把目光轉(zhuǎn)到她的女兒身上，見她女兒長得那么單薄，那么瘦小，這使她幾乎和瑪麗亞一樣感到驚奇。母女二人無論體態(tài)面貌，都沒有相似之處。德·包爾小姐臉色蒼白、滿面病容，五官雖然長得不算難看，可是并不起眼；她不大說話，除非是低聲跟姜金生太太嘀咕幾句。姜金生太太的相貌沒有一點(diǎn)特出的地方，她只是全神貫注地聽著小姐說話，并且擋在她面前，不讓人家把她看得太清楚。
坐了幾分鐘以后，客人們都被打發(fā)到窗口去欣賞外面的風(fēng)景�？铝炙瓜壬阒麄�，一處處指給他們看，咖苔琳夫人和善地告訴他們說，到了夏天還要好看。酒席果然特別體面，待候的仆從以及盛酒菜的器皿，也跟柯林斯先生所形容過的一模一樣，而且正如他事先所料到的那樣，夫人果然吩咐他坐在末席，看他那副神氣，好象人生沒有比這更得意的事了。他邊切邊吃，又興致淋漓地贊不絕口；每一道菜都由他先來夸獎(jiǎng)，然后由威廉爵士加以吹噓，原來威廉爵士現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)完全消除了驚恐，可以做他女婿的應(yīng)聲蟲了。伊麗莎白看到那種樣子，不禁擔(dān)心咖苔琳夫人怎么受得了�？墒强α辗蛉藢@些過分的贊揚(yáng)好象倒非常滿意，總是顯露出仁慈的微笑，尤其是端上一道客人們沒見過的菜到桌上來的時(shí)候，她便格外得意。賓主們都沒有什么可談的，伊麗莎白卻只要?jiǎng)e人開個(gè)頭，總還有話可說，可惜她坐的地方不對頭，一邊是夏綠蒂，她正在用心聽咖苔琳夫人談話；另一邊是德·包爾小姐，整個(gè)吃飯時(shí)間不跟她說一句話。姜金生太太主要在注意德·包爾小姐，她看到小姐東西吃得太少，便逼著她吃了這樣再吃那樣，又怕她不受用�，旣悂喐静幌胫v話，男客們只顧一邊吃一邊贊美。
女客們回到會(huì)客室以后，只是聽咖苔琳夫人談話。夫人滔滔不絕地一直談到咖啡端上來為止，隨便談到哪一樁事，她總是那么斬釘截鐵、不許別人反對的樣子。她毫不客氣地仔細(xì)問著夏綠蒂的家常，又給她提供了一大堆關(guān)于料理家務(wù)的意見。她告訴夏綠蒂說，象她這樣的一個(gè)小家庭，一切事情都應(yīng)該精密安排，又指教她如何照料母牛和家禽。伊麗莎白發(fā)覺這位貴婦人只要有機(jī)會(huì)支配別人，隨便怎么小的事情也決不肯輕易放過。夫人同柯林斯太太談話的時(shí)候，也間或向瑪麗亞和伊麗莎白問幾句話，特別向伊麗莎白問得多。她不大清楚伊麗莎白和她們是什么關(guān)系，不過她對柯林斯太太說，她是個(gè)很斯文、很標(biāo)致的姑娘。她好幾次問伊麗莎白有幾個(gè)姐妹，她們比她大還是比她小，她們中間有沒有哪一個(gè)已經(jīng)結(jié)婚，她們長得好看不好看，在哪里讀書，她們的父親有什么樣的馬車，她母親的娘家姓什么。伊麗莎白覺得她這些話問得唐突，不過還是心平氣和地回答了她。于是咖苔琳夫人說：
“你父親的財(cái)產(chǎn)得由柯林斯先生繼承吧，我想？”──說到這里，她又掉過頭來對夏綠蒂說：“為你著想，我倒覺得高興；否則我實(shí)在看不出有什么理由不讓自己的女兒們來繼承財(cái)產(chǎn)，卻要給別人。劉威斯·德·包爾家里就覺得沒有這樣做的必要。──你會(huì)彈琴唱歌嗎，班納特小姐？”
“略知一二�！�
“噢，幾時(shí)我們倒想要聽一聽。我們的琴非常好，說不定比──你哪一天來試一試看吧。你的姐妹們會(huì)彈琴唱歌嗎？”
“有一個(gè)會(huì)�！�
“為什么不大家都學(xué)呢？你們應(yīng)該個(gè)個(gè)都學(xué)。魏伯家的小姐們就個(gè)個(gè)都會(huì)，她們父親的收入還比不上你們父親呢。你們會(huì)畫嗎？”
“不，一點(diǎn)兒不會(huì)。”
“怎么說，一個(gè)也不會(huì)嗎？”
“沒有一個(gè)會(huì)�！�
“這倒很稀奇。我猜想你們是沒有機(jī)會(huì)學(xué)吧。你們的母親應(yīng)該每年春天帶你們上城里來投投名師才對。”
“我媽是不會(huì)反對的，可是我父親厭惡倫敦。”
“你們的女家庭教師走了嗎？”
“我們從來就沒有請過女家庭教師�！�
“沒有女家庭教師！那怎么行？家里教養(yǎng)著五個(gè)姑娘，卻不請個(gè)女家庭教師！我從來沒聽到過這樣的事！你媽簡直是做奴隸似的教育你們啦�！�
伊麗莎白禁不住笑起來了，一面告訴她說，事實(shí)并不是那樣。
“那么誰教導(dǎo)你們呢？誰服待你們呢？沒有一個(gè)女家庭老師，你們不就是沒人照管了嗎？”
“同別的一些人家比較起來，我們家里待我們算是比較懈�。豢墒墙忝脗冎虚g，凡是好學(xué)的，決不會(huì)沒有辦法。家里經(jīng)常鼓勵(lì)我們好好讀書，必要的教師我們都有。誰要是存心偷懶，當(dāng)然也可以�！�
“那是毫無疑問的；不過，女家庭教師的任務(wù)也就是為了防止這種事情；要是我認(rèn)識(shí)你們的母親，我一定要竭力勸她請一位。我總以為缺少了按部就班的指導(dǎo)，教育就不會(huì)有任何成績，而按部就班的指導(dǎo)就只有女家庭教師辦得到。說起來也怪有意思，多少人家都是由我介紹女家庭教師的。我一貫喜歡讓一個(gè)年輕人得到很好的安插。姜金生太太的四個(gè)侄女兒都由我給她們介紹了稱心如意的位置；就在前幾天，我又推薦了一個(gè)姑娘，她不過是人家偶然在我面前提起的，那家人家對她非常滿意。──柯林斯太太，我有沒有告訴過你，麥特卡爾夫人昨天來謝我？她覺得蒲白小姐真是件珍寶呢。她跟我說：‘咖苔琳夫人，你給了我一件珍寶�！ぉつ愕拿妹脗冇袥]有哪一個(gè)已經(jīng)出來交際了，班納特小姐？”
“有，太太，全都出來交際了�！�
“全都出來交際了！什么，五個(gè)姐妹同時(shí)出來交際？真奇怪！你不過是第二個(gè)！姐姐還沒有嫁人，妹妹就出來交際了！你的妹妹們一定還很小吧？”
“是的；最小的一個(gè)才十六歲�；蛟S她還太小，不適宜多交朋友。不過，太太，要是因?yàn)榻憬銈儫o法早嫁，或是不想早嫁，做妹妹的就不能有社交和娛樂，那實(shí)在太苦了她們。最小的和最大的同樣有消受青春的權(quán)利。怎么能為了這樣的原由，就叫她們死守在家里！我以為那樣做就不可能促進(jìn)姐妹之間的情感，也不可能養(yǎng)成溫柔的性格�！�
“真想不到，”夫人說，“你這么小的一個(gè)人，倒這樣有主見。請問你幾歲啦？”
“我已經(jīng)有了三個(gè)成人的妹妹，”伊麗莎白笑著說。“你老人家總不會(huì)再要我招出年紀(jì)來了吧�！�
咖苔琳夫人沒有得到直截了當(dāng)?shù)幕卮�，顯得很驚奇；伊麗莎白覺得敢于和這種沒有禮貌的富貴太太開玩笑，恐怕要推她自己為第一個(gè)人。
“你不會(huì)超過二十歲，所以你也不必瞞年紀(jì)�！�
“我不到二十一歲�！�
等到喝過茶，男客們都到她們這邊來了，便擺起牌桌來。咖苔琳夫人、威廉爵士和柯林斯夫婦坐下來打“夸錐”；德·包爾小姐要玩“卡西諾”，因此兩位姑娘就很榮幸地幫著姜金生太太給她湊足了人數(shù)。她們這一桌真是枯燥無味，除了姜金生太太問問德·包爾小姐是否覺得太冷或太熱，是否感到燈光太強(qiáng)或太弱以外，就沒有一句話不是說到打牌方面的。另外一桌可就有聲有色得多了�？α辗蛉瞬畈欢嘁恢倍荚谥v話，不是指出另外三個(gè)人的錯(cuò)處，就是講些自己的趣聞軼事。她老人家說一句，柯林斯先生就附和一句，他贏一次要謝她一次，如果贏得太多，還得向她道歉。威廉爵士不大說話，只顧把一樁樁軼事和一個(gè)個(gè)高貴的名字裝進(jìn)腦子里去。
等到咖苔琳夫人母女倆玩得不想再玩的時(shí)候，兩桌牌桌就散場了，打發(fā)馬車送柯林斯太太回去，柯林斯太太很感激地接受了，于是馬上叫人去套車。大家又圍著火爐，聽咖苔琳夫人斷定明天的天氣怎么樣。等到馬車來了，叫他們上車，他們方始停止受訓(xùn)�？铝炙瓜壬f了多少感激的話，威廉爵士鞠了多少躬，大家方才告別。馬車一走出門口，柯林斯就要求伊麗莎白發(fā)表她對于羅新斯的感想，她看在夏綠蒂面上，便勉強(qiáng)敷衍了他幾句。她雖然勉為其難地說出了一大篇好話，卻完全不能叫柯林斯先生滿意，柯林斯沒有辦法，只得立刻親自開口，把老夫人大大重新贊揚(yáng)了一番。
Chapter 30
SIR WILLIAM staid only a week at Hunsford; but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often met with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving him out in his gig and shewing him the country; but when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden, or in reading and writing, and looking out of window in his own book room, which fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a pleasanter aspect; but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.
From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss De Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed on to get out.
Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then, they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture, or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family.
Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in the commission of the peace for the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.
The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few; as the style of living of the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Collinses' reach. This, however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably enough; there were half hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year, that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.
In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. Elizabeth had heard, soon after her arrival, that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of her acquaintance whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine; who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.
His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage, for Mr. Collins was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it; and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle, Lord ----; and to the great surprise of all the party, when Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte had seen them, from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, adding,
"I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me."
Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Collins; and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtseyed to him, without saying a word.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to any body. At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and after a moment's pause, added,
"My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?"
She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane; and she thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.
第三十章
威廉爵士在漢斯福只待了一個(gè)星期，可是經(jīng)過了這一次短短的拜訪，他大可以為了：女兒嫁得極其稱心如意，而且有了這樣不可多得的丈夫和難能可貴的鄰居。威謙爵士在這兒作客的時(shí)候，柯林斯先生總是每天上午同他乘著雙輪馬車，帶他到郊野去漫游；他走了以后，家里又恢復(fù)了日常生活。伊麗莎白真要謝天謝地。因?yàn)檫@一次作客，跟她表兄柯林斯朝夕相見的次數(shù)并不多。原來他從吃早飯到吃午飯那一段時(shí)間里，不是在收拾花園，就是在自己那間面臨著大路的書房里看書寫字，憑窗遠(yuǎn)眺，而女客的起坐間又在后面那一間。伊麗莎白開頭很奇怪：這里的餐廳比較大，地位光線也比較好，為什么夏綠蒂不愿意把餐廳兼作起居室？可是她立刻看出了她朋友所以要這樣做，的確非常有理由，因?yàn)椋杭偃缗鸵苍谝婚g同樣舒適的起坐間里，那么柯林斯先生待在自己房間里的時(shí)間就要比較少了；她很贊賞夏綠蒂這樣的按排。
她們從會(huì)客室里根本看不見外面大路的情形，幸虧每逢有什么車輛駛過，柯林斯先生總是要告訴她們；特別是德·包爾小姐常常乘著小馬車駛過，差不多天天駛過，他沒有哪一次不告訴她們的。小姐常在牧師的門前停下車來，跟夏綠蒂閑談幾分鐘，可是主人從來不請她下車。
柯林斯先生差不多每天要到羅新斯去一趟，他的太太也是隔不了幾天就要去一次。伊麗莎白總以為他們還有些別的應(yīng)得的俸祿要去處理一下，否則她就不懂得為什么要犧牲那么多的時(shí)間。有時(shí)候夫人也會(huì)光臨他們的住宅，來了以后就把屋子里無論什么事都看在眼里。她查問他們的日常生活，察看他們的家務(wù)，勸他們換個(gè)方式處置；又吹毛求疵地說，他們的家具擺得不對，或者是他們的傭人在偷懶；要是她肯在這里吃點(diǎn)東西，那好象只是為了要看看柯林斯太太是否持家節(jié)儉，不濫吃濫用。
伊麗莎白立刻就發(fā)覺，這位貴婦人雖然沒有擔(dān)任郡里的司法職使，可是事實(shí)上她等于是她自己這個(gè)教區(qū)里最積極的法官，一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)芝麻大的事都由柯林斯先生報(bào)告給她；只要哪一個(gè)窮苦人在吵架，鬧意氣，或是窮得活不下去，她問題親自到村里去調(diào)解處理，鎮(zhèn)壓制服，又罵得他們一個(gè)個(gè)相安無事，不再叫苦嘆窮。
羅新斯大約每星期要請她們吃一兩次飯；盡管缺少了威廉爵士，而且只有一桌牌，不過每有一次這樣的宴會(huì)，都依照第一次如法炮制。他們簡直沒有別的宴會(huì)，因?yàn)楦浇话闳思业哪欠N生活派頭，柯林斯還高攀不上。不過伊麗莎白并不覺得遺憾，因?yàn)樗谶@里大體上是過得夠舒服了：經(jīng)常和夏綠蒂作半個(gè)鐘點(diǎn)的交談，加上這個(gè)季節(jié)里又是天氣睛朗，可以常常到戶外去舒暢一下。別人去拜訪咖苔琳夫人的時(shí)候，她總是愛到花園旁邊那座小林子里去散散步，那兒有一條很美的綠蔭小徑，她覺得那地方只有她一人懂得欣賞，而且到了那兒，也就可以免得惹起咖苔琳夫人的好奇心。
她開頭兩個(gè)星期的作客生涯，就這樣安靜地過去了。復(fù)活節(jié)快到了，節(jié)前一星期，羅新斯府上要添一個(gè)客人。在這么一個(gè)小圈子里，這當(dāng)然是件大事。伊麗莎白一到那兒，便聽說達(dá)西先生最近幾個(gè)星期里就要到來，雖然她覺得在她所認(rèn)識(shí)的人里面，差不多沒有一個(gè)象達(dá)西這樣討厭，不過他來了卻能給羅新斯的宴會(huì)上添一個(gè)面貌比較新鮮的人，同時(shí)可以從他對他表妹的態(tài)度看出彬格萊小姐在他身上的打算要完全落空，那更有趣極了�？α辗蛉孙@然已經(jīng)把他安排給他的表妹，一談到他要來，就得意非凡，對他贊美備至，可是一聽說盧卡斯小姐和伊麗莎白早就跟他認(rèn)識(shí)，又時(shí)常見面，就幾乎好象生起氣來。
不久，柯林斯家里就知道達(dá)西來了；因?yàn)槟翈熛壬翘煺麄�(gè)上午都在漢斯福旁的門房附近走動(dòng)，以便盡早獲得確鑿的消息；等到馬車駛進(jìn)花園，他就一鞠躬，連忙跑進(jìn)屋去報(bào)告這重大的新聞。第二天上午，他趕快到羅新斯去拜會(huì)。他一共要拜會(huì)咖苔琳夫人的兩位姨侄，因?yàn)檫_(dá)西先生還帶來了一位費(fèi)茨威廉上校，是達(dá)西舅父（某某爵士）的小兒子�？铝炙瓜壬丶襾淼臅r(shí)候，把那兩位貴賓也帶來了，大家很是吃驚。夏綠蒂從她丈夫的房間里看到他們一行三人從大路那邊走過來，便立刻奔進(jìn)另外一個(gè)房間，告訴小姐們說，她們馬上就會(huì)有貴客降臨，接著又說：
“伊麗莎，這次貴客光臨，我得感謝你呀。否則達(dá)西先生才不會(huì)一下子就來拜訪我呢�！�
伊麗莎白聽到這番恭維話，還沒有來得及申辯，門鈴就響了，宣布貴賓光臨。不大一會(huì)兒工夫，賓主三人一同走進(jìn)屋來。帶頭的是費(fèi)茨威廉上校，大約三十歲左右，人長得不漂亮，可是從儀表和談吐看來，倒是個(gè)地道的紳士。達(dá)西先生完全是當(dāng)初在哈福德郡的那副老樣子，用他往常一貫的矜持態(tài)度，向柯林斯太太問好。盡管他對她的朋友伊麗莎白可能另有一種感情，然而見到她的時(shí)候，神色卻極其鎮(zhèn)定。伊麗莎白只對他行了個(gè)屈膝禮，一句話也沒說。
費(fèi)茨威廉上校立刻就跟大家攀談起來，口齒伶俐，象個(gè)有教養(yǎng)的人，并且談得頗有風(fēng)趣；可是他那位表兄，卻只跟柯林斯太太把房子和花園稍許評(píng)賞了幾句，就坐那兒沒有跟任何人說話。過了一會(huì)兒，他重新想到了禮貌問題，便向伊麗莎白問候她和她全家人的安好。伊麗莎白照例敷衍了他幾句，停了片刻，她又說：
“我姐姐最近三個(gè)月來一直在城里。你從來沒有碰到過她嗎？”
其實(shí)她明明知道他從來沒有碰到過吉英，只不過為了想要探探他的口氣，看看他是否知道彬格萊一家人和吉英之間的關(guān)系。他回答說，不幸從來未曾碰到過班納特小姐，她覺得他回答這話時(shí)神色有點(diǎn)慌張。這件事沒有再談下去，兩位貴賓立刻就告辭了。
