pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第97节
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enumerating the miseries of a marriage with one； whose
immediate connections were so unequal to his own； his aunt
would address him on his weakest side。 With his notions of
dignity； he would probably feel that the arguments； which to
Elizabeth had appeared weak and ridiculous； contained much
good sense and solid reasoning。
If he had been wavering before； as to what he should do； which
had often seemed likely； the advice and intreaty of so near a
relation might settle every doubt； and determine him at once to be
as happy； as dignity unblemished could make him。 In that case he
would return no more。 Lady Catherine might see him in her way
through town； and his engagement to Bingley of coming again to
Netherfield must give way。
‘If； therefore； an excuse for not keeping his promise； should
come to his friend within a few days；’ she added； ‘I shall know how
to understand it。 I shall then give over every expectation； every
wish of his constancy。 If he is satisfied with only regretting me；
when he might have obtained my affections and hand； I shall soon
cease to regret him at all。’
———————
The surprise of the rest of the family； on hearing who their
visitor had been； was very great； but they obligingly satisfied it；
with the same kind of supposition； which had appeased Mrs。
Bennet’s curiosity； and Elizabeth was spared from much teazing
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on the subject。
The next morning； as she was going down stairs； she was met
by her father； who came out of his library with a letter in his hand。
‘Lizzy；’ said he； ‘I was going to look for you； come into my
room。’
She followed him thither； and her curiosity to know what he
had to tell her； was heightened by the supposition of its being in
some manner connected with the letter he held。 It suddenly struck
her that it might be from Lady Catherine； and she anticipated with
dismay all the consequent explanations。
She followed her father to the fire place； and they both sat
down。 He then said；
‘I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me
exceedingly。 As it principally concerns yourself； you ought to know
its contents。 I did not know before； that I had two daughters on the
brink of matrimony。 Let me congratulate you； on a very important
conquest。’
The colour now rushed into Elizabeth’s cheeks in the
instantaneous conviction of its being a letter from the nephew；
instead of the aunt； and she was undetermined whether most to be
pleased that he explained himself at all； or offended that his letter
was not rather addressed to herself； when her father continued；
‘You look conscious。 Young ladies have great penetration in
such matters as these； but I think I may defy even your sagacity； to
discover the name of your admirer。 This letter is from Mr。 Collins。’
‘From Mr。 Collins！ and what can he have to say？’
‘Something very much to the purpose of course。 He begins with
congratulations on the approaching nuptials of my eldest
daughter； of which it seems he has been told； by some of the good…
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natured； gossiping Lucases。 I shall not sport with your impatience；
by reading what he says on that point。 What relates to yourself； is
as follows。 ‘Having thus offered you the sincere congratulations of
Mrs。 Collins and myself on this happy event； let me now add a
short hint on the subject of another； of which we have been
advertised by the same authority。 Your daughter Elizabeth； it is
presumed； will not long bear the name of Bennet； after her elder
sister has resigned it； and the chosen partner of her fate； may be
reasonably looked up to； as one of the most illustrious personages
in this land。’
‘Can you possibly guess； Lizzy； who is meant by this？’ ‘This
young gentleman is blessed in a peculiar way； with every thing the
heart of mortal can most desire；—splendid property； noble
kindred； and extensive patronage。 Yet in spite of all these
temptations； let me warn my cousin Elizabeth； and yourself； of
what evils you may incur； by a precipitate closure with this
gentleman’s proposals； which； of course； you will be inclined to
take immediate advantage of。’
‘Have you any idea； Lizzy； who this gentleman is？ But now it
comes out。’
‘My motive for cautioning you； is as follows。 We have reason to
imagine that his aunt； Lady Catherine de Bourgh； does not look on
the match with a friendly eye。’
‘Mr。 Darcy； you see； is the man！ Now； Lizzy； I think I have
surprised you。 Could he； or the Lucases； have pitched on any man；
within the circle of our acquaintance； whose name would have
given the lie more effectually to what they related？ Mr。 Darcy； who
never looks at any woman but to see a blemish； and who probably
never looked at you in his life！ It is admirable！’
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Elizabeth tried to join in her father’s pleasantry； but could only
force one most reluctant smile。 Never had his wit been directed in
a manner so little agreeable to her。
‘Are you not diverted？’
‘Oh！ yes。 Pray read on。’
‘After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship
last night； she immediately； with her usual condescension；
expressed what she felt on the occasion； when it become apparent；
that on the score of some family objections on the part of my
cousin； she would never give her consent to what she termed so
disgraceful a match。 I thought it my duty to give the speediest
intelligence of this to my cousin； that she and her noble admirer
may be aware of what they are about； and not run hastily into a
marriage which has not been properly sanctioned。’ ‘Mr。 Collins
moreover adds；’ ‘I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia’s sad
business has been so well hushed up； and am only concerned that
their living together before the marriage took place； should be so
generally known。 I must not； however； neglect the duties of my
station； or refrain from declaring my amazement； at hearing that
you received the young couple into your house as soon as they
were married。 It was an encouragement of vice； and had I been
the rector of Longbourn； I should very strenuously have opposed
it。 You ought certainly to forgive them as a christian； but never to
admit them in your sight； or allow their names to be mentioned in
your hearing。’ ‘That is his notion of christian forgiveness！ The rest
of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte’s situation； and his
expectation of a young olive…branch。 But； Lizzy； you look as if you
did not enjoy it。 You are not going to be Missish； I hope； and
pretend to be affronted at an idle report。 For what do we live； but
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to make sport for our neighbours； and laugh at them in our turn？’
‘Oh！’ cried Elizabeth； ‘I am excessively diverted。 But it is so
strange！’
‘Yes—that is what makes it amusing。 Had they fixed on any
other man it would have been nothing； but his perfect
indifference； and your pointed dislike； make it so delightfully
