pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第98节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
indifference； and your pointed dislike； make it so delightfully
absurd！ Much as I abominate writing； I would not give up Mr。
Collins’s correspondence for any consideration。 Nay； when I read
a letter of his； I cannot help giving him the preference even over
Wickham； much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my
son…in…law。 And pray； Lizzy； what said Lady Catherine about this
report？ Did she call to refuse her consent？’
To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh； and as
it had been asked without the least suspicion； she was not
distressed by his repeating it。 Elizabeth had never been more at a
loss to make her feelings appear what they were not。 It was
necessary to laugh； when she would rather have cried。 Her father
had most cruelly mortified her； by what he said of Mr。 Darcy’s
indifference； and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want
of penetration； or fear that perhaps； instead of his seeing too little；
she might have fancied too much。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 417…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 417
CHAPTER XVI
nstead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend；
as Elizabeth half expected Mr。 Bingley to do； he was able to
I
bring Darcy with him to Longbourn before many days had
passed after Lady Catherine’s visit。 The gentlemen arrived early；
and； before Mrs。 Bennet had time to tell him of their having seen
his aunt； of which her daughter sat in momentary dread； Bingley；
who wanted to be alone with Jane； proposed their all walking out。
It was agreed to。 Mrs。 Bennet was not in the habit of walking；
Mary could never spare time； but the remaining five set off
together。 Bingley and Jane； however； soon allowed the others to
outstrip them。 They lagged behind； while Elizabeth； Kitty； and
Darcy； were to entertain each other。 Very little was said by either；
Kitty was too much afraid of him to talk； Elizabeth was secretly
forming a desperate resolution； and perhaps he might be doing
the same。
They walked towards the Lucases； because Kitty wished to call
upon Maria； and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a
general concern； when Kitty left them； she went boldly on with
him alone。 Now was the moment for her resolution to be executed；
and； while her courage was high； she immediately said；
‘Mr。 Darcy； I am a very selfish creature； and； for the sake of
giving relief to my own feelings； care not how much I may be
wounding your’s。 I can no longer help thanking you for your
unexampled kindness to my poor sister。 Ever since I have known
it； I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 418…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 418
I feel it。 Were it known to the rest of my family； I should not have
merely my own gratitude to express。’
‘I am sorry； exceedingly sorry；’ replied Darcy； in a tone of
surprise and emotion； ‘that you have ever been informed of what
may； in a mistaken light； have given you uneasiness。 I did not
think Mrs。 Gardiner was so little to be trusted。’
‘You must not blame my aunt。 Lydia’s thoughtlessness first
betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter； and； of
course； I could not rest till I knew the particulars。 Let me thank
you again and again； in the name of all my family； for that
generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble；
and bear so many mortifications； for the sake of discovering them。’
‘If you will thank me；’ he replied； ‘let it be for yourself alone。
That the wish of giving happiness to you； might add force to the
other inducements which led me on； I shall not attempt to deny。
But your family owe me nothing。 Much as I respect them； I
believe； I thought only of you。’
Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word。 After a
short pause； her companion added； ‘You are too generous to trifle
with me。 If your feelings are still what they were last April； tell me
so at once。 My affections and wishes are unchanged； but one word
from you will silence me on this subject for ever。’
Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and
anxiety of his situation； now forced herself to speak； and
immediately； though not very fluently； gave him to understand；
that her sentiments had undergone so material a change； since the
period to which he alluded； as to make her receive with gratitude
and pleasure； his present assurances。 The happiness which this
reply produced； was such as he had probably never felt before；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 419…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 419
and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as
warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do。 Had
Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye； she might have seen how
well the expression of heart…felt delight； diffused over his face；
became him； but； though she could not look； she could listen； and
he told her of feelings； which； in proving of what importance she
was to him； made his affection every moment more valuable。
They walked on； without knowing in what direction。 There was
too much to be thought； and felt； and said； for attention to any
other objects。 She soon learnt that they were indebted for their
present good understanding to the efforts of his aunt； who did call
on him in her return through London； and there relate her
journey to Longbourn； its motive； and the substance of her
conversation with Elizabeth； dwelling emphatically on every
expression of the latter； which； in her ladyship’s apprehension；
peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance in the belief
that such a relation must assist her endeavours to obtain that
promise from her nephew； which she had refused to give。 But；
unluckily for her ladyship； its effect had been exactly contrariwise。
‘It taught me to hope；’ said he； ‘as I had scarcely ever allowed
myself to hope before。 I knew enough of your disposition to be
certain； that； had you been absolutely； irrevocably decided against
me； you would have acknowledged it to Lady Catherine； frankly
and openly。’
Elizabeth coloured and laughed as she replied； ‘Yes； you know
enough of my frankness to believe me capable of that。 After
abusing you so abominably to your face； I could have no scruple in
abusing you to all your relations。’
‘What did you say of me； that I did not deserve？ For； though
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 420…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 420
your accusations were ill…founded； formed on mistaken premises；
my behaviour to you at the time； had merited the severest reproof。
It was unpardonable。 I cannot think of it without abhorrence。’
‘We will not quarrel for the greater share of blame annexed to
that evening；’ said Elizabeth。 ‘The conduct of neither； if strictly
examined； will be irreproachable； but since then； we have both； I
hope； improved in civility。’
‘I cannot be so easily reconciled to myself。 The recollection of
what I then said； of my conduct； my manners； my expressions
during the whole of it； is now； and has been many months；
inexpressibly painful to me。 Your reproof； so well applied； I shall
never forget： “had you behaved
