《傲慢與偏見》 簡．奧斯汀 (中英對照)

Chapter 55

A FEW days after this visit, Mr. Bingley called again, and alone. His friend had left him that morning for London, but was to return home in ten days time. He sat with them above an hour, and was in remarkably good spirits. Mrs. Bennet invited him to dine with them; but, with many expressions of concern, he confessed himself engaged elsewhere.
"Next time you call," said she, "I hope we shall be more lucky."
He should be particularly happy at any time, &c. &c.; and if she would give him leave, would take an early opportunity of waiting on them.
"Can you come to-morrow?"
Yes, he had no engagement at all for to-morrow; and her invitation was accepted with alacrity.
He came, and in such very good time that the ladies were none of them dressed. In ran Mrs. Bennet to her daughter's room, in her dressing gown, and with her hair half finished, crying out,
"My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down. He is come -- Mr. Bingley is come. -- He is, indeed. Make haste, make haste. Here, Sarah, come to Miss Bennet this moment, and help her on with her gown. Never mind Miss Lizzy's hair."
"We will be down as soon as we can," said Jane; "but I dare say Kitty is forwarder than either of us, for she went up stairs half an hour ago."
"Oh! hang Kitty! what has she to do with it? Come be quick, be quick! Where is your sash, my dear?"
But when her mother was gone, Jane would not be prevailed on to go down without one of her sisters.
The same anxiety to get them by themselves was visible again in the evening. After tea, Mr. Bennet retired to the library, as was his custom, and Mary went up stairs to her instrument. Two obstacles of the five being thus removed, Mrs. Bennet sat looking and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time, without making any impression on them. Elizabeth would not observe her; and when at last Kitty did, she very innocently said, "What is the matter mamma? What do you keep winking at me for? What am I to do?"
"Nothing child, nothing. I did not wink at you." She then sat still five minutes longer; but unable to waste such a precious occasion, she suddenly got up, and saying to Kitty, "Come here, my love, I want to speak to you," took her out of the room. Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth which spoke her distress at such premeditation, and her intreaty that she would not give in to it. In a few minutes, Mrs. Bennet half-opened the door and called out,
"Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you."
Elizabeth was forced to go.
"We may as well leave them by themselves you know;'!c?

　　第55章
　　
　　這次拜訪以後，沒有過幾天，彬格萊先生又來了，而且只有他一個人來。他的朋友已經在當天早上動身上倫敦去，不過十天以內就要回來。他在班府上坐了一個多鐘頭，顯然非常高興。班納特太太留他吃飯，他一再道歉，說是別處已經先有了約會。

　　班納特太太只得說："希望你下次來的時候，能夠賞賞我們的臉。"

　　他說他隨時都樂意來，只要她不嫌麻煩，他一有機會就來看她們。

　　"明天能來嗎？"

　　能來，他明天沒有約會；於是他爽爽快快地接受了她的邀請。

　　第二天他果然來了，來得非常早，太太小姐們都還沒有打扮好。班納特太太身穿晨衣，頭髮才梳好一半，連忙跑進女兒房間里去大聲嚷道：

　　"親愛的吉英，快些下樓去。他來了。彬格萊先生來了。他真來了。趕快，趕快。我說，莎蕾，趕快上大小姐這兒來，幫她穿衣服。你別去管麗萃小姐的頭髮啦。"

　　吉英說："我們馬上就下去，也許吉蒂比我們兩個都快，因為她上樓有半個鐘頭了。"

　　"哦，別去管吉蒂吧！關她什麼事？快些，快些！好孩子，你的腰帶在哪兒？"母親走了以後，吉英再三要一個妹妹陪著她下樓去。

　　到了下午，顯見得班納特太太又一心要成全他們兩人在一起。喝過了茶，班納特先生照著他平常的習慣，到書房裡去了，曼麗上樓彈琴去了。班太太看見五個障礙去了兩個，便立刻對伊莉莎白和咖苔琳擠眉弄眼，吉蒂終於很天真地說："怎麼啦，媽媽？你為什麼老是對我眨眼？你要我做什麼呀？"

　　"沒什麼，孩子，沒什麼。我沒有對你眨眼。"於是她又多坐了五分鐘，實在不願意再錯過這大好的機會，她便突然站起來，對吉蒂說：

　　"來，寶貝，我跟你說句話，"說過這話，她便把吉蒂拉了出去。吉英立刻對伊莉莎白望了一眼，意思說，她受不住這樣的擺布，請求伊莉莎白不要也這樣做。一眨眼工夫，只見班納特太太打開了半邊門，喊道：

　　"麗萃，親愛的，我要跟你說句話。"

　　伊莉莎白只得走出去。

　　一走進穿堂，她母親就對她說："我們最好不要去打擾他們，吉蒂和我都上樓到我化妝室里去了。"

　　伊莉莎白沒有跟她爭辯，靜靜地留在穿堂里，等母親和吉蒂走得看不見了，才又回到會客室來。

　　班納特太太這一天的打算沒有如願。彬格萊樣樣都討人喜愛，只可惜沒有公然以她女兒的情人自居。他安然自若，神情愉快，在她們晚間的家庭聚會上，人人都喜歡他。雖然班納特太太不知分寸，多管閑事，他卻竭力忍受；儘管她講出多少蠢話，他也一些不動聲色，很有耐性地聽著，這特別叫那女兒滿意。

　　他幾乎用不到主人家邀請，便自己留下來吃飯；他還沒有告辭，便又順應著班納特太太的意思，將計就計，約定明天來跟她丈夫打鳥。

　　自從這一天以後，吉英再也不說對他無所謂了。姐妹兩人事後一句也沒有談起彬格萊，可是伊莉莎白上床的時候，心裡很是快活，覺得只要達西先生不準時趕回來，這件事很快便會有眉目。不過她又認為事到如今，達西先生一定早已表示同意。

　　第二天彬格萊準時赴約，依照事先約定，跟班納特先生在一起消磨了整個上午。班納特先生和藹可親，實在遠遠出乎彬格萊先生的意料。這是因為，彬格萊沒有什麼傲慢或愚蠢的地方惹他嘲笑，或是叫他討厭得不肯理睬他。比起彬格萊上次跟他見面的情形來，他這次更加健談。也不象以前那樣古怪。不用說，彬格萊跟他一同回來吃了中飯，晚上班納特太太又設法把別人都遣開，讓他跟她女兒在一起。伊莉莎白今晚有一封信要寫吃，過茶以後，便到起坐間去寫信，因為她看到別人都坐下打牌，不便再和她母親作對。

　　等她寫好了信回到客廳里來的時候，一看那種情景，不由得觸目驚心，認為母親果然比她聰明得多。且說她一走進門，只見姐姐和彬格萊一起站在壁爐跟前，看來正在談話談得起勁，如果這情形還沒有什麼可疑，那麼，只消看看他們倆那般的臉色，那般慌慌張張轉過身去，立即分開，你心裡便有數了。他們窘態畢露，可是她自己卻更窘。他們坐了下來，一言不發；伊莉莎白正待走開，只見彬格萊突然站起身來，跟她姐姐悄悄地說了幾句話，便跑出去了。

　　吉英心裡有了快活的事情，向來不隱瞞伊莉莎白，於是她馬上抱住妹妹，極其熱情地承認她自己是天下最幸福的人。

　　她又說："太幸福了！實在太幸福了。我不配。哎喲，為什麼不能人人都象我這樣幸福呢？"

　　伊莉莎白連忙向她道喜，真誠熱烈，歡欣異常，實在非筆墨所能形容。她每說一句親切的話，就增加吉英一分幸福的感覺。可是吉英不能跟妹妹多糾纏了，她要說的話還沒有說到一半，可不能再說下去了。

　　吉英說："我得馬上上媽媽那兒去，我千萬不能辜負她一片好心好意，我要親自去把這件事說給她聽，不要別人轉言。他已經去告訴爸爸了。噢，麗萃，你知道，家裡聽到這件事，一個個會覺得多麼高興啊！我怎麼受得了這樣的幸福！"

　　於是她連忙到母親那兒去，只見母親已經特地散了牌場，跟吉蒂坐在椅上。

　　伊莉莎白一個人留在那兒，心想：家裡人為了這件事，幾個月來一直在煩神擔心，如今卻一下子便得到了解決，她想到這裡，不禁一笑。

　　她說："這就是他那位朋友處心積慮的結局！是他自己的姐妹自欺欺人的下場！這個結果真是太幸福、太圓滿、太有意思了！"

　　沒過幾分鐘，彬格萊就到她這兒來了，因為他跟她父親談得很簡捷扼要。

　　他一打開門，便連忙問道："你姐姐在哪兒？"

　　"在樓上我媽那兒，馬上就會下來。"

　　他於是關上了門，走到她跟前，讓她親切地祝賀姐夫。伊莉莎白真心誠意地說，她為他們倆未來的美滿姻緣感到欣喜。兩人親切地握了握手。她只聽得他講他自己的幸福，講吉英的十全十美，一直講到吉英下樓為止。雖然這些話是出於一個情人之口，可是她深信他那幸福的願望一定可以實現，因為吉英絕頂聰明，脾氣更是好得不能再好，這便是幸福的基礎，而且他們彼此的性格和趣味也十分相近。

　　這一晚大家都非常高興，班納特小姐因為心裡得意，臉上也顯得鮮艷嬌美，光彩煥發，比平常更加漂亮。吉蒂笑笑忍忍，忍忍笑笑，一心只希望這樣的幸運趕快輪到自己頭上。班納特太太同彬格萊足足談了半個鐘頭之久，她滿口嘉許，極端讚美，可總覺得不能夠把滿腔的熱情充分表達出來；班納特先生跟大家一塊兒吃晚飯的時候，但看他的談吐舉止，便可以看出他也快活到極點。

　　不過他當時對這件事卻一字不提，等到貴客一走，他又連忙轉過身來對大女兒說：

　　"吉英，我恭喜你。你可成了一個極幸福的姑娘啦。"

　　吉英立刻走上前去吻他，多謝他的好意。

　　他說："你是個好孩子；想到你這樣幸福地解決了終身大事，我真高興。我相信你們一定能夠和好相處。你們的性格很相近。你們遇事都肯遷就，結果會弄得樣樣事都拿不定主張，你們那麼好講話，結果會弄得個個傭人都欺負你們；你們都那麼慷慨，到頭來一定會入不敷出。"

　　"但願不會如此。我要是在銀錢問題上粗心大意，那是不可原諒的。"

　　他的太太叫道："入不敷出！我的好老爺，你這是什麼話？他每年有四五千鎊收入，可能還不止呢。"她又對大女兒說："我的好吉英親吉英，我太高興了！我今天晚上休想睡得著覺。我早就知道會這樣，我平常老是說，總有一天會這樣。我一向認為你不會白白地生得這樣好看。他去年初到哈福德郡的時候，我一看到他，就覺得你們兩人一定會成雙配對。天哪！我一輩子也沒有見過象他這樣漂亮的男人！"

　　她早把韋翰和麗迪雅忘了。吉英原是她最寵愛的女兒，現在更是誰也不在她心上了。妹妹們馬上都簇擁著吉英，要她答應將來給她們多少好處。

　　曼麗請求使用尼日斐花園的藏書室，吉蒂硬要她每年冬天在那兒開幾次跳舞會。

　　從此以後，彬格萊自然就成了浪搏恩家每天必來的客人。他總是早飯也沒吃就趕來，一直要待到吃過晚飯才走……─除非有哪一家不識大體、不怕人討厭的鄰居，再三請他吃飯，他才不得不去應酬一下。

　　伊莉莎白簡直沒有機會跟她姐姐談話，因為只要彬格萊一來，吉英的心就想不到別人身上去。不過他們倆總還是有時候不得不分開一下。吉英不在的時候，彬格萊老愛跟伊莉莎白談話；彬格萊回家去了，吉英也總是找她一塊兒來消遺，因此她對於他們倆還是大有用處。

　　有一個晚上，吉英對她說："他說今年春天完全不知道我也在城裡，這話叫我聽了真高興。我以前的確不相信會有這種事。"

　　伊莉莎白答道："我以前也疑心到這一點，他有沒有說明是什麼緣故？"

　　"那一定是他的姐妹們布置好了的，她們當然不贊成他和我要好，我也不奇怪，因為他大可以選中一個樣樣都比我強的人。可是，我相信她們總有一天會明白，她們的兄弟跟我在一起是多麼幸福，那時候她們一定又會慢慢地回心轉意，跟我恢復原來的交情，不過決不可能象從前那樣知已了。"

　　"我生平只聽到你講一句氣量小的話。你真是個好心的姑娘！老實說，要是又看到你去受那假仁假義的彬格萊小姐的騙，那可真要氣死我了！"

　　"麗萃，我希望你相信，他去年十一月里到城裡去的時候，的確很愛我，他要不是信了別人的話，以為我真的不愛他，那他無論如何早就回來了！"

　　"他實在也有些不是，不過那都是因為他太謙虛。"

　　吉英聽了這話，自然又讚美起他的虛心來，讚美他雖然具有了許多優美的品質，可並不自以為了不起。

　　伊莉莎白高興的是，彬格萊並沒有把他朋友阻擋這件事的經過泄露出來，因為吉英雖然寬宏大量，不記讎隙，可是這件事如果讓她知道了，她一定會對達西有成見。

　　吉英又大聲說道："我的確是古往今來最幸福的一個人！哦，麗萃，家裡這麼多人，怎麼偏偏是我最幸福？但願你也會同樣的幸福！但願你也能找到這樣一個人！"

　　"你即使給我幾十個這樣的人，我也決不會象你這樣幸福。除非我脾氣也象你這樣好，人也象你這樣好，我是無論如何也不會象你這樣幸福的。不會，決不會，還是讓我來自求多福吧，如果我運氣好，到時候我也許又會碰到另外一個柯林斯。"

　　浪搏恩這家人家的事瞞也瞞不了多久。先是班納特太太得到了特許，偷偷地講給了腓力普太太聽，腓力普太太沒有得到任何人的許可，就大膽地把它傳遍了麥里屯的街坊四鄰。記得就在幾星期以前，麗迪雅剛剛私奔，那時大家都認為班納特府上倒盡了霉，如今這樣一來，班家竟在頃刻之間成了天下最有福氣的一家人家了。

Chapter 56

ONE morning, about a week after Bingley's engagement with Jane had been formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the dining room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window, by the sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery. They both set off, and the conjectures of the remaining three continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown open and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.
She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship's entrance, though no request of introduction had been made.
Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, she said very stiffly to Elizabeth,
"I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother."
Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.
"And that I suppose is one of your sisters."
"Yes, madam," said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to a Lady Catherine. "She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, and my eldest is somewhere about the grounds, walking with a young man who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family."
"You have a very small park here," returned Lady Catherine after a short silence.
"It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say; but I assure you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas's."
"This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in summer; the windows are full west."
Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner, and then added,
"May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well."
"Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last."
Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled.
Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating any thing; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth,
"Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company."
"Go, my dear," cried her mother, "and shew her ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage."
Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her parasol, attended her noble guest down stairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked on.
Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.
"How could I ever think her like her nephew?" said she, as she looked in her face.
As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner: --
"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come."
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.
"Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here."
"Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you."
"If you believed it impossible to be true," said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and disdain, "I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?"
"At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted."
"Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family," said Elizabeth coolly, "will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is in existence."
"If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad?"
"I never heard that it was."
"And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?"
"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer."
"This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?"
"Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible."
"It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in."
"If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it."
"Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns."
"But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, ever induce me to be explicit."
"Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?"
"Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me."
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied,
"The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of her's. While in their cradles, we planned the union: and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement with Miss De Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?"
"Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss De Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?"
"Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by every one connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us."
"These are heavy misfortunes," replied Elizabeth. "But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine."
"Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment."
"That will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me."
"I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line; and, on the father's, from respectable, honourable, and ancient -- though untitled -- families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them? The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up."
"In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal."
"True. You are a gentleman's daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition."
"Whatever my connections may be," said Elizabeth, "if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you."
"Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?"
Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a moment's deliberation,
"I am not."
Lady Catherine seemed pleased.
"And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?"
"I will make no promise of the kind."
"Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require."
"And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject."
"Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous elopement. I know it all; that the young man's marrying her was a patched-up business, at the expence of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to be my nephew's sister? Is her husband, is the son of his late father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth! -- of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?"
"You can now have nothing farther to say," she resentfully answered. "You have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house."
And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and they turned back. Her ladyship was highly incensed.
"You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?"
"Lady Catherine, I have nothing farther to say. You know my sentiments."
"You are then resolved to have him?"
"I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me."
"It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world."
"Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude," replied Elizabeth, "have any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern -- and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn."
"And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point."
In this manner Lady Catherine talked on, till they were at the door of the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added, "I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased."
Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her ladyship to return into the house, walked quietly into it herself. She heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs. Her mother impatiently met her at the door of the dressing-room, to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest herself.
"She did not choose it," said her daughter, "she would go."
"She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was prodigiously civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the Collinses were well. She is on her road somewhere, I dare say, and so, passing through Meryton, thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you, Lizzy?"
Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible.
(

　　第 56 章

　　有一天上午，大約是彬格萊和吉英訂婚之後的一個星期，彬格萊正和女眷們坐在飯廳里，忽然聽到一陣馬車聲，大家都走到窗口去看，只見一輛四馬大轎車駛進園裡來。這麼一大早，理當不會有客人來，再看看那輛馬車的配備，便知道這位訪客決不是他們的街坊四鄰。馬是驛站上的馬，至於馬車本身，車前待從所穿的號服，他們也不熟悉。彬格萊既然斷定有人來訪，便馬上勸班納特小姐跟他避開，免得被這不速之客纏住，於是吉英跟他走到矮樹林里去了。他們倆走了以後，另外三個人依舊在那兒猜測，可惜猜不出這位來客是誰。最後門開了，客人走進屋來，原來是咖苔琳德包爾夫人。

　　大家當然都十分詫異，萬萬想不到會有這樣出奇的事。班納特太太和吉蒂跟她素昧生平，可是反而比伊莉莎白更其感到寵幸。

　　客人走進屋來的那副神氣非常沒有禮貌。伊莉莎白招呼她，她只稍微側了一下頭，便一屁股坐下來，一句話也不說。她走進來的時候，雖然沒有要求人家介紹，伊莉莎白還是把她的名字告訴了她母親。

　　班納特太太大為驚異，不過，這樣一位了不起的貴客前來登門拜訪，可又使她得意非凡，因此她便極其有禮貌地加以招待。咖苔琳夫人不聲不響地坐了一會兒工夫，便冷冰冰地對伊莉莎白說：

　　"我想，你一定過得很好吧，班納特小姐。那位太太大概是你母親？"

　　伊莉莎白簡簡單單地回答了一聲正是。

　　"那一位大概就是你妹妹吧？"

　　班納特太太連忙應聲回答："正是，夫人，"她能夠跟這樣一位貴夫人攀談，真是得意。"這是我第四個女兒。我最小的一個女兒最近出嫁了，大女兒正和她的好朋友在附近散步，那個小夥子不久也要變成我們自己人了。"

　　咖苔琳夫人沒有理睬她，過了片刻才說："你們這兒還有個小花園呢。"

　　"哪能比得上羅新斯，夫人，可是我敢說，比威廉盧卡斯爵士的花園卻要大得多。"

　　"到了夏天，這間屋子做起居室一定很不適宜，窗子都朝西。"

　　班納特太太告訴她說，她們每天吃過中飯以後，從來不坐在那兒，接著又說：

　　"我是否可以冒昧請問你夫人一聲，柯林斯夫婦都好嗎？"

　　"他們都很好，前天晚上我還看見他們的。"

　　這時伊莉莎白滿以為她會拿出一封夏綠蒂的信來；她認為咖苔琳夫人這次到這裡來，決不可能為了別的原因。可是並不見夫人拿信出來，這真叫她完全不明白是怎麼回事了。班納特太太恭恭敬敬地請貴夫人隨意用些點心，可是咖苔琳夫人什麼也不肯吃，謝絕非常堅決，非常沒有禮貌，接著又站起來跟伊莉莎白說：

　　"班納特小姐，你們這塊草地的那一頭，好象頗有幾分荒野的景色，倒很好看。我很想到那兒去逛逛，可否請你陪我一走？"

　　只聽得她母親連忙大聲對她說："你去吧，乖孩子，陪著夫人到各條小徑上去逛逛。我想，她一定會喜歡我們這個幽靜的小地方。"

　　伊莉莎白聽從了母親的話，先到自己房間里去拿了一把陽傘，然後下樓來侍候這位貴客。兩人走過穿堂，咖苔琳夫人打開了那扇通到飯廳和客廳的門，稍稍打量了一下，說是這屋子還算過得去，然後繼續向前走。

　　她的馬車停在門口，伊莉莎白看見了車子裡面坐著她的待女。兩人默默無聲地沿著一條通到小樹林的鵝卵石鋪道往前走。伊莉莎白只覺得這個老婦人比往常更傲慢，更其令人討厭，因此拿定主張，決不先開口跟她說話。

　　她仔細瞧了一下老婦人的臉，不禁想道："她哪一點地方象她姨侄？"

　　一走進小樹林，咖苔琳夫人便用這樣的方式跟她談話：

　　"班納特小姐，我這次上這兒來，你一定知道我是為了什麼原因。你心裡一定有數，你的良心一定會告訴你，我這次為什麼要來。"

　　伊莉莎白大為驚訝。

　　"夫人，你實在想錯了，我完全不明白你這次怎麼這樣看得起我們，會到這種地方來。"

　　夫人一聽此話，很是生氣："班納特小姐，你要知道，我是決不肯讓人家來跟我開玩笑的。儘管你怎樣不老實，我可不是那樣。我是個有名的老實坦白的人，何況遇到現在這樁事，我當然更要老實坦白。兩天以前，我聽到一個極其驚人的消息。我聽說不光是你姐姐將要攀上一門高親，連你，伊莉莎白班納特小姐，也快要攀上我的姨侄，我的親姨侄達西先生。雖然我明知這是無稽的流言，雖然我不會那樣看不起他，相信他真會有這種事情，我還是當機立斷，決定上這兒來一次，把我的意思說給你聽。"

　　伊莉莎白又是詫異，又是厭惡，滿臉漲得通紅。"我真奇怪，你既然認為不會有這種事情，何必還要自找麻煩，跑到這麼遠的地方來？請問你老人家究竟有何見教？"

　　"我一定要你立刻向大家去闢謠。"

　　伊莉莎白冷冷地說："要是外界真有這種傳說，那麼你趕到浪搏恩來看我和我家裡人，反而會弄假成真。"

　　"要是真有這種傳說！你難道存心要假痴假呆不成？這不全是你自己拚命傳出去的嗎？難道你不知道這個消息已經鬧得滿城風雨了嗎？"

　　"我從來沒有聽見過。"

　　"你能不能說一聲這是毫無根據？"

　　"我並不冒充我也像你老人家一樣坦白。你儘管問好了，我可不想回答。"

　　"豈有此理！班納特小姐，我非要你說個明白不可。我姨侄向你求過婚沒有？"

　　"你老人家自己剛剛還說過，決不會有這種事情。"

　　"不應該有這種事情；只要他還有頭腦，那就一定不會有這種事情。可是你千方百計地誘惑他，他也許會一時痴迷忘了他應該對得起自己，對得起家裡人。你可能已經把他迷住了。"

　　"即使我真的把他迷住了，我也決不會說給你聽。"

　　"班納特小姐，你知道我是誰嗎？你這種話真講得不成體統。我差不多是他最親近的長輩，我有權利過問他一切的切身大事。"

　　"你可沒有權利過問我的事，而且你這種態度也休想把我逼供出來。"

　　"好好兒聽我把話說明白。你好大膽子，妄想攀這門親，那是絕對不會成功……一輩子也不會成功的。達西先生早跟我的女兒訂過婚了。好吧，你還有什麼話要說？"

　　"只有一句話要說……如果他當真如此，那你就沒有理由認為他會向我求婚。"

　　咖苔琳夫人遲疑了一會兒，然後回答道：

　　"他們的訂婚，跟一般情形兩樣。他們從小就配好了對，雙方的母親兩相情願。他們在搖籃里的時候，我們就打算把他們配成一對；眼見他們小倆口子就要結婚，老姐妹倆的願望就要達到，卻忽然來了個出身卑賤、門戶低微的小妮子從中作梗，何況這個小妮子跟他家裡非親非眷！難道你絲毫也不顧全他親人的願望？絲毫也不顧全他跟德包爾小姐默認的婚姻？難道你一點兒沒有分寸，一點兒也不知廉恥嗎？難道你沒有聽見我說過，他一生下來，就註定了要跟他表妹成親的嗎？"

　　"我以前確實聽到過。可是我管它做什麼？如果你沒有別的理由反對我跟你姨侄結婚，我也決不會因此卻步。你們姐妹倆費盡了心思籌畫這段婚姻，成功不成功可要看別人。如果達西先生既沒有責任跟他表妹結婚，也不願意跟她結婚，那他為什麼不能另外挑一個？要是他挑中了我，我又為什麼不能答應他？"

　　"無論從面子上講，從禮節規矩上講……不，從利害關係來講，都不允許這麼做。不錯，班納特小姐，確是為了你的利害關係著想。要是你有意跟大家都過不去，你就休想他家裡人或是他的親友們看得起你。凡是和他有關的人，都會斥責你，輕視你，厭惡你。你們的結合是一種恥辱；甚至我們連你的名字都不肯提起。"

　　"這倒真是大大的不幸，"伊莉莎白說。"可是做了達西先生的太太必然會享受到莫大的幸福，因此，歸根結底，完全用不到懊喪。"

　　"好一個不識好歹的小丫頭！我都為你害臊！今年春天我待你那麼殷勤，你就這樣報答我嗎？難道你也沒有一點兒感恩之心？讓我們坐下來詳談。你應該明白，班納特小姐，我既然上這兒來了，就非達到目的不可；誰也阻不住我。任何人玩什麼花巧，我都不會屈服。我從來不肯讓我自己失望。"

　　"那只有更加使你自己難堪，可是對我毫無影響。"

　　"我說話不許人家插嘴！好好兒聽我說。我的女兒和我的姨侄是天造天設的一對。他們的母系都是高貴的出身，父系雖然沒有爵位，可也都是極有地位的名門世家。兩家都是豪富。兩家親戚都一致認為，他們倆系前生註定的姻緣；有誰能把他們拆散？你這樣一個小妮子，無論家世、親戚、財產，都談不上，難道光憑著你的痴心妄想，就可以把他們拆散嗎？這象什麼話！這真是太豈有此理！假如你腦子明白點，為你自己的利益想一想，你就不會忘你自己的出身啦。"

　　"我決不會為了要跟你姨侄結婚，就忘了我自己的出身。你姨侄是個紳士，我是紳士的女兒，我們正是旗鼓相當。"

　　"真說得對。你的確是個紳士的女兒。可是你媽是個什麼樣的人？你的姨父母和舅父母又是什麼樣的人？別以為我不知道他們底細。"

　　"不管我親戚是怎麼樣的人，"伊莉莎白說。"只要你姨侄不計較，便與你毫不相干。"

　　"爽爽快快告訴我，你究竟跟他訂婚了沒有？"

　　伊莉莎白本來不打算買咖苔琳夫人的情面來回答這個問題，可是仔細考慮了一會兒以後，她不得不說了一聲：

　　"沒有。"

　　咖苔琳夫人顯得很高興。

　　"你願意答應我，永遠不跟他訂婚嗎？"

　　"我不能答應這種事。"

　　"班納特小姐，我真是又驚駭又詫異。我沒有料到你是這樣一個不講理的小妮子。可是你千萬把頭腦放清楚一些，別以為我會讓步。非等到你答應了我的要求，我就不走。"

　　"我當然決不會答應你的。這種荒唐到極點的事，你休想嚇得我答應。你只是一心想要達西先生跟你女兒結婚；可是，就算我如了你的意，答應了你，你以為他們倆的婚姻就靠得住了嗎？要是他看中了我，就算我拒絕他，難道他因此就會去向他表妹求婚嗎？說句你別見怪的話，咖苔琳夫人，你這種異想天開的要求真是不近情理，你說的許多話又是淺薄無聊。要是你以為你這些話能夠說得我屈服，那你未免太看錯人啦。你姨侄會讓你把他的事干涉到什麼地步，我不知道，可是你無論如何沒有權利干涉我的事。因此我請求你不要再為這件事來勉強我了。"

　　"請你不必這樣性急。我的話根本沒有講完。除了我已經說過的你那許多缺陷以外，我還要加上一件。別以為我不知道你那個小妹妹不要臉私奔的事。我完全曉得。那個年輕小夥子跟她結婚，完全是你爸爸和舅舅花了錢買來的。這樣一個臭丫頭，也配做我姨侄的小姨嗎？她丈夫是他父親生前的帳房的兒子，也配和他做連襟嗎？上有天下有地！你究竟是打是什麼主意？彭伯里的門第能夠這樣給人糟蹋嗎？"

　　伊莉莎白恨恨地回答道："現在你該講完了，你也把我侮辱得夠了。我可要回家去啦。"

　　她一面說，一面便站起身來。咖苔琳夫人也站了起來，兩人一同回到屋子裡去。老夫人真給氣壞了。

　　"那麼，你完全不顧全我姨侄的身份和面子啦！好一個沒有心肝、自私自利的小丫頭！你難道不知道，他跟你結了婚，大家都要看不起他嗎？"

　　"咖苔琳夫人，我不想再講了。你已經明白了我的意思。"

　　"那麼，你非要把他弄到手不可嗎？"

　　"我並沒有說這種話。我自有主張，怎麼樣做會幸福，我就決定怎麼樣做，你管不了，任何象你這樣的局外人也都管不了。"

　　"好啊。你堅決不肯依我。你完全喪盡天良，不知廉恥，忘恩負義。你決心要叫他的朋友們看不起他，讓天下人都恥笑他。"

　　伊莉莎白說："目前這件事情談不到什麼天良、廉恥、恩義。我跟達西先生結婚，並不觸犯這些原則。要是他跟我結了婚，他家裡人就厭惡他，那我毫不在乎；至於說天下人都會生他的氣，我認為世界上多的是知義明理的人，不見得個個都會恥笑他。"

　　"這就是你的真心話！這就是你堅定不移的主張！好啊。現在我可知道該怎麼應付了。班納特小姐，別以為你的痴心妄想會達到目的。我不過是來試探試探你，沒想到你竟不可理喻。等著瞧吧，我說得到一定做得到。"

　　咖苔琳夫人就這樣一直講下去，走到馬車跟前，她又急急忙忙掉過頭來說道：

　　"我不向你告辭，班納特小姐。我也不問候你的母親。你們都不識抬舉。我真是十二萬分不高興。"

　　伊莉莎白不去理她，也沒有請她回到屋子裡去坐坐，只管自己不聲不響地往屋裡走。她上樓的時候，聽到馬車駛走的聲音。她母親在化妝室門口等她等得心急了，這會兒一見到她，便連忙問她為什麼咖苔琳夫人不回到屋子裡來休息一會兒再走。

　　女兒說："她不願意進來，她要走。"

　　"她是個多麼好看的女人啊！她真太客氣，竟會到我們這種地方來！我想，她這次來，不過是為了要告訴我們一聲，柯林斯夫婦過得很好。她或許是到別的什麼地方去，路過麥里屯，順便進來看看你。我想，她沒有特別跟你說什麼話吧？"

　　伊莉莎白不得不撒了個小謊，因為她實在沒有辦法把這場談話的內容說出來。

Chapter 57

THE discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she, for many hours, learn to think of it less than incessantly. Lady Catherine, it appeared, had actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings, for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. Darcy. It was a rational scheme, to be sure! but from what the report of their engagement could originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; till she recollected that his being the intimate friend of Bingley, and her being the sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the expectation of one wedding made every body eager for another, to supply the idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her sister must bring them more frequently together. And her neighbours at Lucas lodge, therefore (for through their communication with the Collinses, the report, she concluded, had reached Lady Catherine), had only set that down as almost certain and immediate, which she had looked forward to as possible at some future time.
In revolving Lady Catherine's expressions, however, she could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting in this interference. From what she had said of her resolution to prevent their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate an application to her nephew; and how he might take a similar representation of the evils attached to a connection with her, she dared not pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affection for his aunt, or his dependence on her judgment, but it was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of her ladyship than she could do; and it was certain that, in 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."

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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 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-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!"
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 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 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.

　　第 57 章

　　這不速之客去了以後，伊莉莎白很是心神不安，而且很不容易恢復寧靜。她接連好幾個鐘頭不斷地思索著這件事。咖苔琳夫人這次居然不怕麻煩，遠從羅新斯趕來，原來是她自己異想天開，認為伊莉莎白和達西先生已經訂了婚，所以特地趕來要把他們拆散。這個辦法倒的確很好；可是，關於他們訂婚的謠傳，究竟有什麼根據呢？這真叫伊莉莎白無從想像，後來她才想起了達西舊彬格萊的好朋友，她自己是吉英的妹妹，而目前大家往往會因為一重婚姻而連帶想到再結一重婚姻，那麼，人們自然要生出這種念頭來了。她自己也早就想到，姐姐結婚以後，她和達西先生見面的機會也就更多了。因此盧家莊的鄰居們（她認為只有他們和柯林斯夫婦通信的時候會說起這件事，因此才會傳到咖苔琳夫人那裡去）竟把這件事看成十拿九穩，而且好事就在眼前，可是她自己只不過覺得這件事將來有點希望而已。

　　不過，一想起咖苔琳夫人那番話，她就禁不住有些感到不安；如果她硬要干涉，誰也說不出會造成怎樣的後果。她說她堅決要阻檔這一門親事，從這些話看來，伊莉莎白想到夫人準會去找她的姨侄；至於達西是不是也同樣認為跟她結婚有那麼多害處，那她就不敢說了。她不知道他跟他姨母之間感情如何，也不知道他是否完全聽他姨母的主張，可是按情理來說，他一定會比伊莉莎白看得起那位老夫人。只要他姨媽在他面前說明他們兩家門第不相當，跟這樣出身的女人結婚有多少害處，那就會擊中他的弱點。咖苔琳夫人說了那麼一大堆理由，伊莉莎白當然覺得荒唐可笑，不值一駁，可是有他那樣一個死要面子的人看來，也許會覺得見解高明，理由充足。

　　如果他本來就心裡動搖不定（他好象時常如此），那麼，只要這位至親去規勸他一下，央求他一下，他自會立刻打消猶豫，下定決心，再不要為了追求幸福而眨低自己的身份。如果真是這樣，那他一定再也不會回來。咖苔琳夫人路過城裡，也許會去找他，他雖然和彬格萊先生有約在先，答應立即回到尼日斐花園來，這一下恐怕只能作罷了。

　　她心裡又想："要是彬格萊先生這幾天里就接到他的信，託辭不能踐約，我便一切都明白了，不必再去對他存什麼指望，不必去希求他始終如一。當我現在快要愛上他、答應他求婚的時候，如果他並不真心愛我，而只是惋惜我一下，那麼，我便馬上連惋惜他的心腸也不會有。"

　　且說她家裡人聽到這位貴客是誰，都驚奇不已；可是她們也同樣用班納特太太那樣的假想，滿足了自己的好奇心，因此伊莉莎白才沒有被她們問長問短。

　　第二天早上，她下樓的時候，遇見父親正從書房裡走出來，手裡拿著一封信。

　　父親連忙叫她："麗萃，我正要找你；你馬上到我房間里來一下。"

　　她跟著他去了，可是不明白父親究竟要跟她講些什麼。她想，父親所以要找她談話，多少和他手上那封信有關，因此越發覺得好奇。她突然想到，那封信可能是咖苔琳夫人寫來的，免不了又要向父親解釋一番，說來真是煩悶。

　　她跟她父親走到壁爐邊，兩個人一同坐下。父親說：

　　"今天早上我收到一封信，使我大吃一驚。這封信上講的都是你的事，因此你應該知道裡面寫些什麼。我一直不知道我同時有兩個女兒都有結婚的希望。讓我恭喜你的情場得意。"

　　伊莉莎白立刻斷定這封信是那個姨侄寫來的，而不是姨媽寫來的，於是漲紅了臉。她不知道應該為了他寫信來解釋而感到高興呢，還是應該怪他沒有直接把信寫給她而生氣，這時只聽得父親接下去說；

　　"你好象心裡有數似的。年輕的姑娘們對這些事情總是非常精明；可是即使以你這樣的機靈，我看你還是猜不出你那位愛人姓甚名誰。告訴你，這封信是柯林斯先生寄來的。"

　　"柯林斯先生寄來的！他有什麼話可說？"

　　"當然說得很徹底。他開頭恭喜我的大女兒快要出嫁，這消息大概是那愛管閑事的好心的盧家說給他聽的。這件事姑且不念出來，免得你不耐煩。與你有關的部分是這樣寫的"──'愚夫婦既為尊府此次喜事竭誠道賀以後，容再就另一事略申數言。此事消息來源同上。據去尊府一俟大小姐出閣以後，二小姐伊莉莎白也即將出閣。且聞二小姐此次所選如意夫君，確系天下大富大貴之人。'"

　　"麗萃，你猜得出這位貴人是誰嗎？……'貴人年輕福宏，舉凡人間最珍貴之事物，莫不件件具有。非但家勢雄厚，門第高貴，抑且布施提拔，權力無邊。唯彼雖屬條件優越，處處足以打動人心，然則彼若向尊府求婚，切不可遽而應承，否則難免輕率從事，後患無窮，此不佞不得不先以奉勸先生與表妹伊莉莎白者也。'"

　　"麗萃，你想得到這位貴人是誰嗎？下面就要提到了。"

　　'不佞之所以不揣冒昧，戇直陳詞，實因慮及貴人之姨母咖苔琳德包爾夫人對此次聯姻之事，萬難贊同故耳。'

　　"你明白了吧，這個人就是達西先生！喂麗萃，我已經叫你感到詫異了吧。無論是柯林斯也好，是盧卡斯一家人也好，他們偏偏在我們的熟人中挑出這麼一個人來撒謊，這不是太容易給人家揭穿了嗎？達西先生見到女人就覺得晦氣，也許他看都沒有看過你一眼呢！我真佩服他們！"

　　伊莉莎白盡量湊著父親打趣，可是她的笑容顯得極其勉強。父親的俏皮幽默，從來沒有象今天這樣不討她喜歡。

　　"你不覺得滑稽嗎？"

　　"啊，當然請你再讀下去。"

　　"'昨夜不佞曾與夫人提及此次聯姻可能成為事實，深蒙夫人本其平日推愛之忱，以其隱衷見告。彼謂此事千萬不能贊同，蓋以令嬡門戶低微，缺陷太多，若竟而與之聯姻實在有失體統。故不佞自覺責無旁貸，應將此事及早奉告表妹，冀表妹及其所愛幕之貴人皆能深明大體，以免肆無忌憚，私訂終身！'…………柯林斯先生還說：'麗迪雅表妹之不貞事件得心圓滿解決，殊為欣慰。唯不佞每念及其婚前即與人同居，穢聞遠揚，仍不免有所痛心。不佞尤不能已於言者，厥為彼等一經確定夫婦名份，先生即迎之入尊府，誠令人不勝駭異，蓋先生此舉實系助長傷風敗俗之惡習耳。設以不佞為浪搏恩牧師，必然堅決反對。先生身為基督教徒，固當寬恕為懷，然則以先生之本份而言，唯有拒見其人，拒聞其名耳。'這就是他所謂的基督寬恕精神！下面寫的都是關於他親愛的夏綠蒂的一些情形，他們快要生小孩了。怎麼，麗萃，你好象不樂意聽似的。我想，你不見得也有那種小姐腔，假裝正經，聽到這種廢話就要生氣吧。人生在世，要不是讓人家開開玩笑，回頭來又取笑別人，那還有什麼意思？"

　　伊莉莎白大聲叫道："噢，我聽得非常有趣。不過這事情實在古怪！"

　　"的確古怪……有趣的也正是這一點。如果他們講的是另外一個人，那倒還說得過去。最可笑的是，那位貴人完全沒有把你放在眼裡，你對他又是厭惡透頂！我平常雖然最討厭寫信，可是我無論如何也不願和柯林斯斷絕書信往來。唔，我每次讀到他的信，總覺得他比韋翰還要討我喜歡。我那位女婿雖然又冒失又虛偽，還是及不上他。請問你，麗萃，咖苔琳夫人對這事是怎麼說的？她是不是特地趕來表示反對？"

　　女兒聽到父親問這句話，只是笑了一笑。其實父親這一問完全沒有一點猜疑的意思，因此他問了又問，也沒有使她感覺到痛苦。伊莉莎白從來沒有象今天這樣為難：心裡想的是一套，表面上卻要裝出另一套。她真想哭，可是又不得不強顏為笑。父親說達西先生沒有把她放在眼裡，這句話未免太使她傷心。她只有怪她父親為什麼這樣糊塗，或者說，她現在心裡又添了一重顧慮：這件事也許倒不能怪父親看見得太少，而應該怪她自己幻想得太多呢。

.

Chapter 58

INSTEAD of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend, as Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do, he was able to 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 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; 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 heartfelt 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 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 in a more gentleman-like manner." Those were your words. You know not, you can scarcely conceive, how they have tortured me; -- though it was some time, I confess, before I was reasonable enough to allow their justice."
"I was certainly very far from expecting them to make so strong an impression. I had not the smallest idea of their being ever felt in such a way."
"I can easily believe it. You thought me then devoid of every proper feeling, I am sure you did. The turn of your countenance I shall never forget, as you said that I could not have addressed you in any possible way that would induce you to accept me."
"Oh! do not repeat what I then said. These recollections will not do at all. I assure you that I have long been most heartily ashamed of it."
Darcy mentioned his letter. "Did it," said he, "did it soon make you think better of me? Did you, on reading it, give any credit to its contents?"
She explained what its effect on her had been, and how gradually all her former prejudices had been removed.
"I knew," said he, "that what I wrote must give you pain, but it was necessary. I hope you have destroyed the letter. There was one part especially, the opening of it, which I should dread your having the power of reading again. I can remember some expressions which might justly make you hate me."
"The letter shall certainly be burnt, if you believe it essential to the preservation of my regard; but, though we have both reason to think my opinions not entirely unalterable, they are not, I hope, quite so easily changed as that implies."
"When I wrote that letter," replied Darcy, "I believed myself perfectly calm and cool, but I am since convinced that it was written in a dreadful bitterness of spirit."
"The letter, perhaps, began in bitterness, but it did not end so. The adieu is charity itself. But think no more of the letter. The feelings of the person who wrote, and the person who received it, are now so widely different from what they were then, that every unpleasant circumstance attending it ought to be forgotten. You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure."
"I cannot give you credit for any philosophy of the kind. Your retrospections must be so totally void of reproach, that the contentment arising from them is not of philosophy, but, what is much better, of innocence. But with me, it is not so. Painful recollections will intrude which cannot, which ought not, to be repelled. I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle. As a child I was taught what was right, but I was not taught to correct my temper. I was given good principles, but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only son (for many years an only child), I was spoilt by my parents, who, though good themselves (my father, particularly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, encouraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing; to care for none beyond my own family circle; to think meanly of all the rest of the world; to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own. Such I was, from eight to eight and twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You shewed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased."
"Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?"
"Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed you to be wishing, expecting my addresses."
"My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally, I assure you. I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits might often lead me wrong. How you must have hated me after that evening?"
"Hate you! I was angry perhaps at first, but my anger soon began to take a proper direction."
"I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me, when we met at Pemberley. You blamed me for coming?"
"No indeed; I felt nothing but surprise."
"Your surprise could not be greater than mine in being noticed by you. My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary politeness, and I confess that I did not expect to receive more than my due."
"My object then," replied Darcy, "was to shew you, by every civility in my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion, by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to. How soon any other wishes introduced themselves I can hardly tell, but I believe in about half an hour after I had seen you."
He then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance, and of her disappointment at its sudden interruption; which naturally leading to the cause of that interruption, she soon learnt that his resolution of following her from Derbyshire in quest of her sister had been formed before he quitted the inn, and that his gravity and thoughtfulness there had arisen from no other struggles than what such a purpose must comprehend.
She expressed her gratitude again, but it was too painful a subject to each, to be dwelt on farther.
After walking several miles in a leisurely manner, and too busy to know any thing about it, they found at last, on examining their watches, that it was time to be at home.
"What could become of Mr. Bingley and Jane!" was a wonder which introduced the discussion of their affairs. Darcy was delighted with their engagement; his friend had given him the earliest information of it.
"I must ask whether you were surprised?" said Elizabeth.
"Not at all. When I went away, I felt that it would soon happen."
"That is to say, you had given your permission. I guessed as much." And though he exclaimed at the term, she found that it had been pretty much the case.
"On the evening before my going to London," said he, "I made a confession to him, which I believe I ought to have made long ago. I told him of all that had occurred to make my former interference in his affairs absurd and impertinent. His surprise was great. He had never had the slightest suspicion. I told him, moreover, that I believed myself mistaken in supposing, as I had done, that your sister was indifferent to him; and as I could easily perceive that his attachment to her was unabated, I felt no doubt of their happiness together."
Elizabeth could not help smiling at his easy manner of directing his friend.
"Did you speak from your own observation," said she, "when you told him that my sister loved him, or merely from my information last spring?"
"From the former. I had narrowly observed her during the two visits which I had lately made here; and I was convinced of her affection."
"And your assurance of it, I suppose, carried immediate conviction to him."
"It did. Bingley is most unaffectedly modest. His diffidence had prevented his depending on his own judgment in so anxious a case, but his reliance on mine made every thing easy. I was obliged to confess one thing, which for a time, and not unjustly, offended him. I could not allow myself to conceal that your sister had been in town three months last winter, that I had known it, and purposely kept it from him. He was angry. But his anger, I am persuaded, lasted no longer than he remained in any doubt of your sister's sentiments. He has heartily forgiven me now."
Elizabeth longed to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful friend; so easily guided that his worth was invaluable; but she checked herself. She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it was rather too early to begin. In anticipating the happiness of Bingley, which of course was to be inferior only to his own, he continued the conversation till they reached the house. In the hall they parted.

第 58 章

　　彬格萊先生非但沒有如伊莉莎白所料，接到他朋友不能履約的道歉信，而且有咖苔琳夫人來過以後沒有幾天，就帶著達西一同來到浪搏恩。兩位貴客來得很早。吉英坐在那兒時時刻刻擔心，唯恐母親把達西的姨母來訪的消息當面告訴達西，好在班納特太太還沒有來得及說這件事，彬格萊就提議出去散步，因為他要和吉英單獨待在一塊兒。大家都同意。班納特太太沒有散步的習慣，曼麗又從來不肯浪費時間，於是一同出去的只有五個人。彬格萊和吉英以馬上就讓別人走在前頭，自己在後邊走，讓伊莉莎白、吉蒂和達西三個人去相應酬。三個人都不大說話：吉蒂很怕達西，因此不敢說話；伊莉莎白正在暗地裡下最大的決心；達西或許也是一樣。

　　他們向盧卡斯家裡走去，因為吉蒂想要去看看瑪麗亞；伊莉莎白覺得用不著大家都去，於是等吉蒂離開了他們以後，她就大著膽子跟他繼續往前走。現在是她拿出決心來的時候了；她便立刻鼓起勇氣跟他說；

　　"達西先生，我是個自私自利的人，我只想叫自己心裡痛快，也不管是否會傷害你的情感。你對我那位可憐的妹妹情義太重，我再也不能不感激你了。我自從知道了這件事情以後，一心就想對你表示謝忱；要是我家裡人全都知道了，那麼就不止我一個要感激你了。"

　　"我很抱歉，我真抱歉，"達西先生又是驚奇又是激動。"這件事要是以錯誤的眼光去看，也許會使你覺得不好受，想不到竟會讓你知道。我沒有料到嘉丁納太太這樣不可靠。"

　　"你不應該怪我舅母。只因為麗迪雅自己不留神，先露出了口風，我才知道你牽涉在這件事情裡面；那麼我不打聽個清楚明白，當然不肯甘休。讓我代表我全家人謝謝你，多謝你本著一片同情心，不怕麻煩，受盡委屈，去找他們。"

　　達西說："如果你當真要謝我，你只消表明你自己的謝忱。無用否認，我所以做得那麼起勁，除了別的原因以外，也為了想要使你高興。你家裡人不用感謝我。我雖然尊敬他們，可是當時我心裡只想到你一個人。"

　　伊莉莎白窘得一句話也說不出來。過了片刻工夫，只聽得她的朋友又說："你是個爽快人，決不會開我的玩笑。請你老實告訴我，你的心情是否還是和四月里一樣。我的心愿和情感依然如舊，只要你說一句話，我便再也不提起這樁事。"

　　伊莉莎白聽他這樣表明心跡，越發為他感到不安和焦急，便不得不開口說話。她立刻吞吞吐吐地告訴他說，自從他剛剛提起的那個時期到現在，她的心情已經起了很大的變化，現在她願意以愉快和感激的心情來接受他這一番盛情美意。這個回答簡直使他感到從來沒有過的快樂，他正象一個狂戀熱愛的人一樣，立刻抓住這個機會，無限乖巧、無限熱烈地向她傾訴衷曲。要是伊莉莎白能夠抬起頭來看看他那雙眼睛，她就可以看出，他那滿臉喜氣洋洋的神氣，使他變得多麼漂亮；她雖然不敢看他的臉色，卻敢聽他的聲音；只聽得他把千絲萬縷的感情都告訴了她，說她在他心目中是多麼重要，使她越聽越覺得他情感的寶貴。

　　他們只顧往前走，連方向也不辨別一下。他們有多少心思要想，多少情感要去體會，多少話要談。實在無心去注意別的事情，她馬上就認識到，這次雙方所以會取得這樣的諒解，還得歸功於他姨母的一番力量，原來他姨母回去的時候，路過倫敦果真去找過他一次，把她自己到浪搏恩來的經過、動機，以及和伊莉莎白談話的內容，都一一告訴了他，特別把伊莉莎白的一言一語談得十分詳細，凡是她老人家認為囂張乖癖、厚顏無恥的地方，都著重地說了又說，認為這樣一來，縱使伊莉莎白不肯答應打消這門親事，她姨侄倒一定會親口承諾。不過，也是老夫人該倒楣，效果恰恰相反。

　　他說："以前我幾乎不敢奢望，這一次倒覺得事情有了希望。我完全了解你的脾氣，我想，假若你當真恨我入骨，再也沒有挽回的餘地，那你一定會在咖苔琳夫人面前照直招認出來。"

　　伊莉莎白漲紅了臉，一面笑，一面說："這話不假，你知道我為人直爽，因此才相信我會做到那種地步。我既然能夠當著你自己的面，深惡痛絕地罵你，自然也會在你任何親戚面前罵你。"

　　"你罵我的話，哪一句不是活該？雖然你的指斥都沒有根據，都是聽到人家以訛傳訛，可是我那次對你的態度，實在應該受到最嚴厲的責備。那是不可原諒的。我想起這件事來，就免不了痛恨自己。"

　　伊莉莎白說："那天下午的事，究竟應該誰多負責任，我們也用不著爭論了，嚴格說來，雙方的態度都不好，不過從那次以後，我覺得我們雙方都比較有禮貌些了。"

　　"我心裡實在過意不去。幾個月以來，一想起我當時說的那些話，表現出的那種行為，那種態度，那種表情，我就覺得說不出地難過。你罵我的話，確實罵得好，叫我一輩子也忘不了。你說：'假如你表現得有禮貌一些就好了。'你不知道你這句話使我多麼的痛苦，你簡直無從想像；不過，說老實話，我也還是過了好久才明白過來，承認你那句話罵得對。"

　　"我萬萬想不到那句話對你有那樣大的影響。我完全沒有料到那句話竟會叫你難受。"

　　"你這話我倒很容易相信。你當時認為我沒有一絲一毫真正的感情，我相信你當時一定是那樣想法。我永遠也忘不了，當時你竟翻了臉，你說，不管我怎樣向你求婚，都不能打動你的心，叫你答應我。"

　　"哎喲，我那些話你也不必再提，提起來未免不象話。告訴你，我自己也早已為那件事覺得難為情。"

　　達西又提起那封信。他說："那封信……你接到我那封信以後，是否立刻對我有好感一些？信上所說的那些事，你相信不相信？"

　　她說，那封信對她影響很大，從此以後，她對他的偏見都慢慢地消除了。

　　他說："我當時就想到，你看了那封信，一定非常難受，可是我實在萬不得已。但願你早把那封信毀了。其中有些話，特別是開頭那些話，我實在不願意你再去看它。我記得有些話一定會使你恨透了我。"

　　"如果你認為一定要燒掉那封信，才能保持我的愛情，那我當然一定把它燒掉；不過話說回來，即使我怎樣容易變心，也不會看了那封信就和你翻臉。"

　　達西說："當初寫那封信的時候，我自以為完全心平氣和，頭腦冷靜；可是事後我才明白，當時確確實實是出於一般怨氣。"

　　"那封信開頭也許有幾分怨氣，結尾卻並不是這樣。結尾那句話完全是一片大慈大悲。還是不要再去想那封信吧。無論是寫信人也好，受信人也好，心情都已和當初大不相同，因此，一切不愉快的事，都應該把它忘掉。你得學學我的人生觀。你要回憶過去，也只應當去回憶那些使你愉快的事情。"

　　"我並不認為你有這種人生觀。對你來說，過去的事情，沒有哪一件應該受到指責，因此你回憶起過去的事情來，便覺得件件滿意，這與其說，是因為你人生觀的關係，倒不如說，是因為你天真無邪。可是我的情形卻是兩樣。我腦子裡總免不了想起一些苦痛的事情，實在不能不想，也不應該不想。我雖然並不主張自私，可是事實上卻自私了一輩子。從小時候起，大人就教我，為人處世應該如此這般，卻不教我要把脾氣改好。他們教我要學這個規矩那個規矩，又讓我學會了他們的傲慢自大。不幸我是一個獨生子（有好幾年，家裡只有我一個孩子），從小給父母親寵壞了。雖然父母本身都是善良人（特別是父親，完全是一片慈善心腸，和藹可親），卻縱容我自私自利，傲慢自大，甚至還鼓勵我如此，教我如此。他們教我，除了自己家裡人以外，不要把任何人放在眼裡，教我看不起天下人，至少希望我去鄙薄別人的見識，鄙薄別人的長處，把天下人都看得不如我。從八歲到二十八歲，我都是受的這種教養，好伊莉莎白，親伊莉莎白，要不是虧了你，我可能到現在還是如此！我哪一點不都是虧了你！你給了我一頓教訓，開頭我當然受不了，可是我實在受益非淺。你羞辱得我好有道理。當初我向你求婚，以為你一定會答應。多虧你使我明白過來，我既然認定一位小姐值得我去博她歡心，我又一味對她自命不凡，那是萬萬辦不到的。"

　　"當初你真以為會博得我的歡心嗎？"

　　"我的確是那樣想的。你一定會笑我太自負吧？我當時還以為你在指望著我、等待著我來求婚呢。"

　　"那一定是因為我態度不好，可是我告訴你，我並不是故意要那樣。我決不是有意欺騙你，可是我往往憑著一時的興緻，以致造成大錯，從那天下午起，你一定是非常恨我。"

　　"恨你！開頭我也許很氣你，可是過了不久，我便知道究竟應該氣誰了。"

　　"我簡直不敢問你，那次我們在彭伯里見面，你對我怎麼看法。你怪我不該來嗎？"

　　"不，哪兒的話；我只是覺得驚奇。"

　　"你固然驚奇，可是我蒙你那樣抬舉，恐怕比你還要驚奇。我的良心告訴我說，我不配受到你的殷勤款待，老實說，這當時的確沒有料到會受到份外的待遇。"

　　達西說："我當時的用意，是要盡量做到禮貌周全，讓你看出我氣量頗大，不計舊怨，希望你知道我已經重視了你的責備，誠心改過，能夠原諒我，沖淡你對我的惡感。至於我從什麼時候又起了別的念頭，實在很難說，大概是看到你以後的半個鐘頭之內。"

　　然後他又說，那次喬治安娜非常樂意跟她做朋友，不料交情突然中斷，使她十分掃興；接著自然又談到交情中斷的原因，伊莉莎白這才明白，當初他還沒有離開那家旅館以前，就已下定決心，要跟著她從德比郡出發，去找她的妹妹，至於他當時所以沉悶憂鬱，並不是為了別的事操心，而是為了這件事在轉念頭。

　　她又感謝了他一次，但是提起這樁事，雙方都非常痛苦，所以沒有再談下去。

　　他們這樣悠閑自在地溜達了好幾英里路，也無心再去注意這種事，最後看看錶，才發覺應該回家了。

　　"彬格萊和吉英上哪兒去了？"他們倆從這句話又談到那另外一對的事情上去。達西早已知道他朋友已經和吉英訂婚，覺得很高興。

　　伊莉莎白說："我得問問你，你是否覺得事出意外？"

　　"完全不覺得意外。我臨走的時候，便覺得事情馬上會成功。"

　　"那麼說，你早就允許了他啦。真讓我猜著了。"雖然他意圖聲辨，說她這種說法不對，她卻認為事實確實如此。

　　他說："我到倫敦去的前一個晚上，便把這事情向他坦白了，其實早就應該坦白的。我把過去的事都對他說了，使他明白我當初阻擋他那件事，真是又荒謬又冒失。他大吃一驚。他從來沒有想到會有這種事。我還告訴他說，我從前以為你姐姐對他平平淡淡，現在才明白是我自己想錯了；我立刻看出他對吉英依舊一往情深，因此我十分相信他們倆的結合一定會幸福。"

　　伊莉莎白聽到他能夠這樣輕而易舉地指揮他的朋友，不禁一笑。

　　她問道："你跟他說，我姐姐愛他，你這話是自己體驗出來的呢，還是春天裡聽我說的？"

　　"是我自己體驗出來的。最近我到你家裡去過兩次，仔細觀察了她一下，便看出她對他感情很深切。"

　　"我想，一經你說明，他也立刻明白了吧。"

　　"的確如此。彬格萊為人極其誠懇謙虛。他因為膽怯，所以遇到這種迫切問題，自己便拿不定主張，總是相信我的話，因此這次一切都做得很順利。我不得不向他招認了一件事，我估計他在短時期里當然難免要為這件事生氣。我老實對他說，去年冬天你姐姐進城去待了三個月，當時我知道這件事，卻故意瞞住了他。他果然很生氣。可是我相信，他只要明白了你姐姐對他有情感，他的氣憤自然會消除。他現在已經真心誠意地寬恕了我。"

　　伊莉莎白覺得，彬格萊這樣容易聽信別人的話，真是難得；她禁不往要說，彬格萊真是個太可愛的人，可是她畢竟沒有把這句話說出口。她想起了目前還不便跟達西開玩笑，現在就開他的玩笑未免太早。他繼續跟她談下去，預言著彬格萊的幸福……這種幸福當然抵不上他自己的幸福。兩人一直塊談到走進家門，步入穿堂，方才分開。

..

Chapter 59

"MY dear Lizzy, where can you have been walking to?" was a question which Elizabeth received from Jane as soon as she entered their room, and from all the others when they sat down to table. She had only to say in reply, that they had wandered about, till she was beyond her own knowledge. She coloured as she spoke; but neither that, nor any thing else, awakened a suspicion of the truth.
The evening passed quietly, unmarked by any thing extraordinary. The acknowledged lovers talked and laughed, the unacknowledged were silent. Darcy was not of a disposition in which happiness overflows in mirth; and Elizabeth, agitated and confused, rather knew that she was happy than felt herself to be so; for, besides the immediate embarrassment, there were other evils before her. She anticipated what would be felt in the family when her situation became known; she was aware that no one liked him but Jane; and even feared that with the others it was a dislike which not all his fortune and consequence might do away.
At night she opened her heart to Jane. Though suspicion was very far from Miss Bennet's general habits, she was absolutely incredulous here.
"You are joking, Lizzy. This cannot be! -- engaged to Mr. Darcy! No, no, you shall not deceive me. I know it to be impossible."
"This is a wretched beginning indeed! My sole dependence was on you; and I am sure nobody else will believe me, if you do not. Yet, indeed, I am in earnest. I speak nothing but the truth. He still loves me, and we are engaged."
Jane looked at her doubtingly. "Oh, Lizzy! it cannot be. I know how much you dislike him."
"You know nothing of the matter. That is all to be forgot. Perhaps I did not always love him so well as I do now. But in such cases as these, a good memory is unpardonable. This is the last time I shall ever remember it myself."
Miss Bennet still looked all amazement. Elizabeth again, and more seriously assured her of its truth.
"Good Heaven! can it be really so! Yet now I must believe you," cried Jane. "My dear, dear Lizzy, I would -- I do congratulate you -- but are you certain? forgive the question -- are you quite certain that you can be happy with him?"
"There can be no doubt of that. It is settled between us already, that we are to be the happiest couple in the world. But are you pleased, Jane? Shall you like to have such a brother?"
"Very, very much. Nothing could give either Bingley or myself more delight. But we considered it, we talked of it as impossible. And do you really love him quite well enough? Oh, Lizzy! do any thing rather than marry without affection. Are you quite sure that you feel what you ought to do?"
"Oh, yes! You will only think I feel more than I ought to do, when I tell you all."
"What do you mean?"
"Why, I must confess that I love him better than I do Bingley. I am afraid you will be angry."
"My dearest sister, now be serious. I want to talk very seriously. Let me know every thing that I am to know, without delay. Will you tell me how long you have loved him?"
"It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley."
Another intreaty that she would be serious, however, produced the desired effect; and she soon satisfied Jane by her solemn assurances of attachment. When convinced on that article, Miss Bennet had nothing farther to wish.
"Now I am quite happy," said she, "for you will be as happy as myself. I always had a value for him. Were it for nothing but his love of you, I must always have esteemed him; but now, as Bingley's friend and your husband, there can be only Bingley and yourself more dear to me. But Lizzy, you have been very sly, very reserved with me. How little did you tell me of what passed at Pemberley and Lambton! I owe all that I know of it to another, not to you."
Elizabeth told her the motives of her secrecy. She had been unwilling to mention Bingley; and the unsettled state of her own feelings had made her equally avoid the name of his friend. But now she would no longer conceal from her his share in Lydia's marriage. All was acknowledged, and half the night spent in conversation.

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"Good gracious!" cried Mrs. Bennet, as she stood at a window the next morning, "if that disagreeable Mr. Darcy is not coming here again with our dear Bingley! What can he mean by being so tiresome as to be always coming here? I had no notion but he would go a-shooting, or something or other, and not disturb us with his company. What shall we do with him? Lizzy, you must walk out with him again, that he may not be in Bingley's way."
Elizabeth could hardly help laughing at so convenient a proposal; yet was really vexed that her mother should be always giving him such an epithet.
As soon as they entered, Bingley looked at her so expressively, and shook hands with such warmth, as left no doubt of his good information; and he soon afterwards said aloud, "Mrs. Bennet, have you no more lanes hereabouts in which Lizzy may lose her way again to-day?"
"I advise Mr. Darcy, and Lizzy, and Kitty," said Mrs. Bennet, "to walk to Oakham Mount this morning. It is a nice long walk, and Mr. Darcy has never seen the view."
"It may do very well for the others," replied Mr. Bingley; "but I am sure it will be too much for Kitty. Won't it, Kitty?" Kitty owned that she had rather stay at home. Darcy professed a great curiosity to see the view from the Mount, and Elizabeth silently consented. As she went up stairs to get ready, Mrs. Bennet followed her, saying,
"I am quite sorry, Lizzy, that you should be forced to have that disagreeable man all to yourself. But I hope you will not mind it: it is all for Jane's sake, you know; and there is no occasion for talking to him, except just now and then. So, do not put yourself to inconvenience."
During their walk, it was resolved that Mr. Bennet's consent should be asked in the course of the evening. Elizabeth reserved to herself the application for her mother's. She could not determine how her mother would take it; sometimes doubting whether all his wealth and grandeur would be enough to overcome her abhorrence of the man. But whether she were violently set against the match, or violently delighted with it, it was certain that her manner would be equally ill adapted to do credit to her sense; and she could no more bear that Mr. Darcy should hear the first raptures of her joy, than the first vehemence of her disapprobation.

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In the evening, soon after Mr. Bennet withdrew to the library, she saw Mr. Darcy rise also and follow him, and her agitation on seeing it was extreme. She did not fear her father's opposition, but he was going to be made unhappy; and that it should be through her means -- that she, his favourite child, should be distressing him by her choice, should be filling him with fears and regrets in disposing of her -- was a wretched reflection, and she sat in misery till Mr. Darcy appeared again, when, looking at him, she was a little relieved by his smile. In a few minutes he approached the table where she was sitting with Kitty; and, while pretending to admire her work said in a whisper, "Go to your father, he wants you in the library." She was gone directly.
Her father was walking about the room, looking grave and anxious. "Lizzy," said he, "what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be accepting this man? Have not you always hated him?"
How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, her expressions more moderate! It would have spared her from explanations and professions which it was exceedingly awkward to give; but they were now necessary, and she assured him, with some confusion, of her attachment to Mr. Darcy.
"Or, in other words, you are determined to have him. He is rich, to be sure, and you may have more fine clothes and fine carriages than Jane. But will they make you happy?"
"Have you any other objection," said Elizabeth, "than your belief of my indifference?"
"None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him."
"I do, I do like him," she replied, with tears in her eyes, "I love him. Indeed he has no improper pride. He is perfectly amiable. You do not know what he really is; then pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms."
"Lizzy," said her father, "I have given him my consent. He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare refuse any thing, which he condescended to ask. I now give it to you, if you are resolved on having him. But let me advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your partner in life. You know not what you are about."
Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in her reply; and at length, by repeated assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her choice, by explaining the gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone, relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the work of a day, but had stood the test of many months suspense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did conquer her father's incredulity, and reconcile him to the match.
"Well, my dear," said he, when she ceased speaking, "I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less worthy."
To complete the favourable impression, she then told him what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard her with astonishment.
"This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And so, Darcy did every thing: made up the match, gave the money, paid the fellow's debts, and got him his commission! So much the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy. Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and would have paid him; but these violent young lovers carry every thing their own way. I shall offer to pay him to-morrow; he will rant and storm about his love for you, and there will be an end of the matter."
He then recollected her embarrassment a few days before, on his reading Mr. Collins's letter; and after laughing at her some time, allowed her at last to go -- saying, as she quitted the room, "If any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite at leisure."
Elizabeth's mind was now relieved from a very heavy weight; and, after half an hour's quiet reflection in her own room, she was able to join the others with tolerable composure. Every thing was too recent for gaiety, but the evening passed tranquilly away; there was no longer any thing material to be dreaded, and the comfort of ease and familiarity would come in time.
When her mother went up to her dressing-room at night, she followed her, and made the important communication. Its effect was most extraordinary; for on first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still, and unable to utter a syllable. Nor was it under many, many minutes that she could comprehend what she heard; though not in general backward to credit what was for the advantage of her family, or that came in the shape of a lover to any of them. She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get up, sit down again, wonder, and bless herself.
"Good gracious! Lord bless me! only think! dear me! Mr. Darcy! Who would have thought it! And is it really true? Oh! my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be! What pin-money, what jewels, what carriages you will have! Jane's is nothing to it -- nothing at all. I am so pleased -- so happy. Such a charming man! -- so handsome! so tall! -- Oh, my dear Lizzy! pray apologise for my having disliked him so much before. I hope he will overlook it. Dear, dear Lizzy. A house in town! Every thing that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh, Lord! What will become of me. I shall go distracted."
This was enough to prove that her approbation need not be doubted: and Elizabeth, rejoicing that such an effusion was heard only by herself, soon went away. But before she had been three minutes in her own room, her mother followed her.
"My dearest child," she cried, "I can think of nothing else! Ten thousand a year, and very likely more! 'Tis as good as a Lord! And a special licence. You must and shall be married by a special licence. But my dearest love, tell me what dish Mr. Darcy is particularly fond of, that I may have it tomorrow."
This was a sad omen of what her mother's behaviour to the gentleman himself might be; and Elizabeth found that, though in the certain possession of his warmest affection, and secure of her relations' consent, there was still something to be wished for. But the morrow passed off much better than she expected; for Mrs. Bennet luckily stood in such awe of her intended son-in-law that she ventured not to speak to him, unless it was in her power to offer him any attention, or mark her deference for his opinion.
Elizabeth had the satisfaction of seeing her father taking pains to get acquainted with him; and Mr. Bennet soon assured her that he was rising every hour in his esteem.
"I admire all my three sons-in-law highly," said he. "Wickham, perhaps, is my favourite; but I think I shall like your husband quite as well as Jane's."
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第 59 章

　　且說伊莉莎白一走進家門，吉英便問她："親愛的麗萃，你們到什麼地方去了？"等到他們倆人坐下來的時候，家裡所有的人都這樣問她，她只得說，他們倆人隨便逛逛，後來她自己也不知道走到什麼地方去了。她說話時漲紅了臉；可是不管她神色如何，都沒有引起大家懷疑到那件事上面去。

　　那個下午平平靜靜地過去了，並沒有什麼特別的事情。公開的那一對愛人有說有笑；沒有公開的那一對不聲不響。達西生性沉靜，喜悅不形於色；伊莉莎白心慌意亂，只知道自己很幸福，卻沒有確切體味到究竟如何幸福，因為除了眼前這一陣彆扭以外，還有種種麻煩等在前頭。她預料事情公開以後，家裡人有何種感覺。她知道除了吉英以外，家裡沒有一個人喜歡他，她甚至顧慮到家裡人都會討厭他，哪怕憑他的財產地位，也是無法挽救。

　　晚上，她把真心話說給吉英聽。雖說吉英一向並不多疑，可是對這件事卻簡直不肯相信。

　　"你在開玩笑！麗萃。不會有這種事！跟達西先生訂婚！不行，不行，你不要騙我；我知道這件事不可能。"

　　"一開頭就這樣糟糕，可真要命！我唯一希望全寄托在你身上，要是你不相信我，就沒有人會相信我了。我決不是跟你胡說。我說的都是真話。他仍然愛我，我們已經講定了。"

　　吉英半信半疑地看著她。"噢，麗萃，不會有這種事的。我知道你非常厭惡他。"

　　"你一點也不明白這裡面的曲折，這種話不必再提。也許我一向並不象現在這樣愛他。可是這一類的事，總不應該把宿怨記得太牢。我從今以後也一定要把它忘記得乾乾淨淨。"

　　班納特小姐仍然顯出非常詫異的樣子。於是伊莉莎白更加一本正經地重新跟她說，這是事實。

　　吉英不禁大聲叫道："老天爺呀！真有這件事嗎？這一下我可應該相信你了，我的好麗萃，親麗萃，我要恭喜你，我一定得恭喜你；可是，對不起，讓我問你一聲：你能不能斷定……能不能百分之百地斷定，嫁了他是否幸福？"

　　"這當然毫無疑問。我們倆都認為我們是世界上最幸福的一對。可是你高興嗎，吉英？你願意要這樣一位妹夫嗎？"

　　"非常非常願意。彬格萊和我真是再高興也沒有了。這件事我們也考慮過，談論過，都認為不可能。你當真非常愛他嗎？噢，麗萃，什麼事都可以隨便，沒有愛情可千萬不能結婚。你確實感覺到你應該這樣做嗎？"

　　"的確如此！等我把詳情細節都告訴了你，你只會覺得我還做得不夠呢。"

　　"你這話是什麼意思？"

　　"噯，我得承認，我愛他要比愛彬格萊更深切。我怕你要生氣吧。"

　　"好妹妹，請你嚴肅一些。我要聽你嚴肅地談一談。凡是可以對我說的話，趕快對我說個明白，你是否願意告訴我，你愛他有多久了？"

　　"這是慢慢兒發展起來的，我也說不出從什麼時候開始，不過我覺得，應該從看到彭伯里他那美麗的花園算起。"

　　姐姐又叫她嚴肅些，這一次總算產生了效果；她立刻依了吉英的意見，鄭重其事地把自己愛他的經過講給吉英聽。班納特小姐弄明白了這一點以後，便萬事放心了。

　　她說："我現在真是太幸福了，因為你也會同我一樣幸福。我一向很器重他。不說別的，光是為了他愛你，我也就要永遠敬重他了；他既是彬格萊的朋友，現在又成了你的丈夫，那麼除了彬格萊和你以外，我最喜歡的當然就是他啦。可是麗萃，你太狡猾了，平常連一點口風也不向我吐露。彭伯里的事和藍白屯的事從來沒有說給我聽過！我所知道的一些情形，都是別人說給我聽的，不是你自己說的。"

　　伊莉莎白只得把保守秘密的原因告訴了她。原來她以前不願意提起彬格萊，加上她又心緒不寧，所以也不講起達西，可是現在，她大可不必再把達西為麗迪雅婚姻奔忙的那段情節，瞞住吉英了。她把一切事都和盤托出，姐妹倆一直談到半夜。

　　第二天早上，班納特太太站在視窗叫道："天哪！那位討厭的達西先生又跟著我們的彬格萊一塊兒上這兒來了！他為什麼那樣不知趣，老是要上這兒來？我但願他去打鳥，或者隨便去干點什麼，可別來吵我們。叫我們拿他怎麼辦？麗萃，你又得同他出去散散步才好，不要讓他在這裡麻煩彬格萊。"

　　母親想出這個辦法來，正是伊莉莎白求之不得的，她禁不住要笑出來，可是聽到母親老是說他討厭，她亦不免有些氣惱。

　　兩位貴客一走進門，彬格萊便意味深長地望著她，熱烈地跟她的握手，她一看見這情形，便斷定他準是消息十分靈通；不多一會兒工夫，他果然大聲說道："班納特太太，這一帶還有什麼別的曲徑小道，可以讓麗萃今天再去迷路嗎？"

　　班納特太太說："我要勸達西先生、麗萃和吉蒂，今天上午都上奧克漢山去。這一段長路走起來挺有味，達西先生還沒有見過那兒的風景呢。"

　　彬格萊先生說："對他們兩人當然再好也沒有了，我看吉蒂一定吃不消。是不是，吉蒂？"

　　吉蒂說她寧可待在家裡。達西表示非常想到那座山上去看看四面的風景。伊莉莎白默默表示同意，正要上樓去準備，班納特太太在她後面說：

　　"麗萃，我很對不起你，逼你去跟那個討厭的人在一起，你可不要計較。你要知道，這都是為了吉英；你只消隨便敷衍敷衍他，不必多費心思。"

　　散步的時候，兩人決定當天下午就去請求班納特先生表示允許；母親那兒由伊莉莎白自己去說。她不知道母親是否會贊成。母親實在太厭惡他了，因此伊莉莎白有時候竟會認為，即使以他財產地位，也挽回不了母親的心，可是，母親對這門婚姻無論是堅決反對也好，欣喜若狂也好，她的出言吐語反正都是不得體。叫人家覺得她毫無見識。她對達西先生不是欣喜欲狂地表示贊成，便是義憤填胸地表示反對，伊莉莎白想到這裡，心裡實在受不了。

　　當天下午，只見班納特先生剛一走進書房，達西先生便立刻站起身來跟著他走，伊莉莎白看到這情形，心裡焦急到了極點。她並不是怕父親反對，而是怕父親會給弄得不愉快。她想，她是父親最寵愛的女兒，如果她選擇了這個物件，竟會使父親感到痛苦，使父親為她終身大事憂慮惋惜，未免太不象話。她擔心地坐在那兒，直到達西先生回到她身邊，面帶笑意，她這才鬆了口氣。一會兒工夫，達西走到她跟吉蒂一塊兒坐著的那張桌子跟前來，裝做欣賞她手裡的針線，輕聲地跟她說："快到你爸爸那兒去，他在書房裡等著你。"她馬上就去了。

　　她父親正在房間里踱來踱去，看他那種神氣，既是嚴肅，又是焦急。

　　他說："麗萃，你在鬧些什麼？你瘋了嗎，你怎麼會要這個人？你不是一向都恨他嗎？"

　　她這時候真是焦急非凡。假若她從前不是那樣見解過火，出言不遜，那就好了，那現在用不到那麼尷尷尬尬地去解釋和剖白了。可是事到如今，既是免不了要費些唇舌，她只得心慌意亂地跟父親說，她愛上了達西先生。

　　"換句話說，你已經打定主意，非嫁他不可啦。他當然有的是錢，可以使你比吉英衣服穿得更高貴，車輛乘得更華麗。難道這就會使你幸福嗎？"

　　伊莉莎白說："你認為我對他並沒有感情，除此以外，你還有別的反對意見嗎？"

　　"一點沒有。我們都知道他是個傲慢而不易親近的人；不過，只要你真正喜歡他，這也無關緊要。"

　　女兒含淚回答道："我實在喜歡他，我愛他。他並不是傲慢得沒有道理。他可愛極了。你不了解他真正的為人，因此，我求你不要這樣編派他，免得我痛苦。"

　　父親說："麗萃，我已經允許他了。象他那樣的人，只要蒙他不棄，有所請求，我當然只有答應。如果你現在已經決定了要嫁他，我當然決計允許你。不過我勸你還是再仔細想想：我了解你的個性，麗萃。我知道，你除非真正能敬重你的丈夫，認為他高你一等，你便不會覺得幸福，也不會覺得得意。以你這樣了不起的才能，要是婚姻攀得不相稱，那是極其危險的，那你就很難逃得了丟臉和悲慘的下場。好孩子，別讓我以後眼看著你瞧不起你的終身伴侶，為你傷心。你得明白，這不是鬧著玩的"

　　伊莉莎白更加感動，便非常認真、非常嚴肅地回答他的話；後來她又幾次三番地說，達西確實確實是她選中的物件，說她對他的敬愛已經步步提高，說她相信他的感情決不是一朝一夕生長起來的，而是擱置了好幾個月考驗出來的；她又竭力讚揚他種種優美的品質，這才打消了父親的猶疑，完全贊成了這門婚姻。

　　她講完了，他便說道："好孩子，這麼說，我沒有別的意見了。當真這樣，他的確配得上你。麗萃，我可不願意讓你嫁給一個夠不上這種標準的人。"

　　為了要使得父親對達西先生更有好感，她又把他自告奮勇搭救麗迪雅的事告訴了父親，父親聽了，大為驚奇。

　　"今天真是無奇不有了！原來一切全仗達西的大力，他一手撮合他們的婚姻，為他們賠錢，替那個傢伙還債，給他找差使！這是再好也沒有了。省了我多少麻煩，省了我多少錢。假如這事是你舅舅做的，我就非還他不可，而且可能已經還他了；可是這些狂戀熱愛的年輕人，樣樣事都喜歡自作主張。明天我就提出還他的錢，他一定會大吹大擂，說他怎麼樣愛你疼你，那麼事情就這樣完了。"

　　於是他記起了前幾天給伊莉莎白讀柯林斯先生那封信的時候，她是多麼局促不安；他又取笑了她一陣，最後才讓她走了；她正要走出房門，他又說："如果還有什麼年輕人來向曼麗和吉蒂求婚，帶他們進來好了，我正閑著呢。"

　　伊莉莎白心裡那塊大石頭這才算放了下來，在自己房間里待了半個鐘頭定了定心以後，便神色鎮定地去和大家待在一起了。所有歡樂愉快的事情都來得太突然，這個下午就這樣心曠神怡地消磨過去了；現在再也沒有什麼重大的事情需要擔憂了，但覺心安理得，親切愉快。

　　晚上母親進化妝室去的時候，伊莉莎白也跟著母親一起去，把這個重要的消息告訴她。班納特太太的反應極好。她初聽到這消息，只是靜靜地坐著，一句話也說不出，過了好一會兒，她才聽懂了女兒的話，才隱隱約約地明白了又有一個女兒要出嫁了，這對於家裡有多少好處。到最後她才完全弄明白了是怎麼回事，於是在椅子上坐立不安，一會兒站起來，一會兒又坐下去，一會兒詫異，一會兒又為自己祝福。

　　"謝謝老天爺！謝天謝地！且想想看吧！天啊！達西先生！誰想得到喲！真有這回事嗎？麗萃，我的心肝寶貝，你馬上就要大富大貴了！你將要有多少針線錢，有多少珠寶，多少馬車啊！吉英比起來就差得太遠了……簡直是天上地下。我真高興……真快樂。這樣可愛的丈夫！那麼漂亮，那麼魁偉！噢，我的好麗萃！我以前那麼討厭他，請你代我去向他求饒吧！我希望他不會計較。麗萃，我的心肝，我的寶貝。他在城裡有所大住宅！漂亮的東西一應俱全！三個女兒出嫁啦！每年有一萬鎊收入！噢，天啊！我真樂不可支了。我要發狂了！"

　　這番話足以證明她完全贊成這門婚姻；伊莉莎白心喜的是，幸虧母親這些得意忘形的話只有她一個人聽見。不久她便走出房來，可是她走到自己房間里還沒有三分鐘，母親又趕來了。

　　母親大聲叫道："我的心肝，我腦子裡再也想不到旁的東西了！一年有一萬鎊的收入，可能還要多！簡直闊得象個皇親國戚！而且還有特許結婚證……你當然要用特許結婚證結婚的。可是，我的寶貝，告訴我，達西先生愛吃什麼菜，讓我明天準備起來。"

　　這句話不是好兆頭，看來她母親明天又要在那位先生面前出醜；伊莉莎白心想，現在雖然已經十拿九穩地獲得了他的熱愛，而且也得到了家裡人的同意，恐怕還是難免節外生枝。好在事出意料，第二天的情形非常好，這完全是多虧班納特太太對她這位未來的女婿極其敬畏，簡直不敢跟他說話，只是盡量向他獻些殷勤，或者是恭維一下他的高談闊論。

　　伊莉莎白看到父親也盡心竭力地跟他親近，覺得很滿意；班納特先生不久又對她說，他愈來愈器重達西先生了。

　　他說："三個女婿都使我非常得意，或許韋翰是我最寵愛的一個；可是我想，你的丈夫也會象吉英丈夫一樣討我喜歡。"

...

Chapter 60

ELIZABETH'S spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. "How could you begin?" said she. "I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?"
"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun."
"My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners -- my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?"
"For the liveliness of your mind, I did."
"You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them. Had you not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you. There -- I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me -- but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love."
"Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane while she was ill at Netherfield?"
"Dearest Jane! who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me to find occasions for teazing and quarrelling with you as often as may be; and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling to come to the point at last. What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did you look as if you did not care about me?"
"Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement."
"But I was embarrassed."
"And so was I."
"You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner."
"A man who had felt less, might."
"How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that I should be so reasonable as to admit it! But I wonder how long you would have gone on, if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when you would have spoken, if I had not asked you! My resolution of thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect. Too much, I am afraid; for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort springs from a breach of promise? for I ought not to have mentioned the subject. This will never do."
"You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady Catherine's unjustifiable endeavours to separate us were the means of removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour to wait for any opening of your's. My aunt's intelligence had given me hope, and I was determined at once to know every thing."
"Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed? or had you intended any more serious consequence?"
"My real purpose was to see you, and to judge, if I could, whether I might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to myself, was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley, and if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made."
"Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to befall her?"
"I am more likely to want more time than courage, Elizabeth. But it ought to done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be done directly."
"And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected."
From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy had been over-rated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's long letter; but now, having that to communicate which she knew would be most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and aunt had already lost three days of happiness, and immediately wrote as follows:
"I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have done, for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars; but to say the truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed. But now suppose as much as you chuse; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you cannot greatly err. You must write again very soon, and praise him a great deal more than you did in your last. I thank you, again and again, for not going to the Lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it! Your idea of the ponies is delightful. We will go round the Park every day. I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that he can spare from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. Your's, &c."
Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different ; and still different from either was what Mr. Bennet sent to Mr. Collins, in reply to his last.
"DEAR SIR,
I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give.
Your's sincerely, &c."
Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother, on his approaching marriage, were all that was affectionate and insincere. She wrote even to Jane on the occasion, to express her delight, and repeat all her former professions of regard. Jane was not deceived, but she was affected; and though feeling no reliance on her, could not help writing her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved.
The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information, was as sincere as her brother's in sending it. Four sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight, and all her earnest desire of being loved by her sister.
Before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins, or any congratulations to Elizabeth from his wife, the Longbourn family heard that the Collinses were come themselves to Lucas lodge. The reason of this sudden removal was soon evident. Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter, that Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over. At such a moment, the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth, though in the course of their meetings she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought, when she saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of her husband. He bore it, however, with admirable calmness. He could even listen to Sir William Lucas, when he complimented him on carrying away the brightest jewel of the country, and expressed his hopes of their all meeting frequently at St. James's, with very decent composure. If he did shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir William was out of sight.
Mrs. Philips's vulgarity was another, and perhaps a greater, tax on his forbearance; and though Mrs. Philips, as well as her sister, stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley's good humour encouraged, yet, whenever she did speak, she must be vulgar. Nor was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep him to herself, and to those of her family with whom he might converse without mortification; and though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the hope of the future; and she looked forward with delight to the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley.

第 60 章

　　伊莉莎白馬上又高興得頑皮起來了，她要達西先生講一講愛上她的經過。她問："你是怎樣走第一步的？我知道你只要走了第一步，就會一路順風往前走去；可是，你最初怎麼會轉這個念頭的？"

　　"我也說不準究竟是在什麼時間，什麼地點，看見了你什麼樣的風姿，聽到了你什麼樣的談吐，便使我開始愛上了你。那是好久以前的事。等我發覺我自己開始愛上你的時候，我已經走了一半路了。"

　　"我的美貌並沒有打動你的心；講到我的態度方面，我對你至少不是怎麼有禮貌，我沒有哪一次同你說話不是想要叫你難過一下。請你老老實實說一聲，你是不是愛我的唐突無禮？"

　　"我愛你的腦子靈活。"

　　"你還不如說是唐突，十足唐突。事實上是因為，你對於殷勤多禮的客套，已經感到膩煩。天下有種女人，她們無論是說話、思想、表情，都只是為了博得你稱讚一聲，你對這種女人已經覺得討厭。我所以會引起你的注目，打動了你的心，就因為我不像她們。如果你不是一個真正可愛的人，你一定會恨我這種地方；可是，儘管你想盡辦法來遮掩你自己，你的情感畢竟是高貴的、正確的、你心目中根本看不起那些拚命向你獻媚的人。我這樣一說，你就可以不必費神去解釋了；我通盤考慮了一下，覺得你的愛完全合情合理。老實說，你完全沒有想到我有什麼實在的長處；不過，隨便什麼人，在戀愛的時候，也都不會想到這種事情。"

　　"當初吉英在尼日斐花園病了，你對她那樣溫柔體貼，不正是你的長處嗎？"

　　"吉英真是太好了！誰能不好好地待她？你姑且就把這件事當做我的德性吧。我一切優美的品質都全靠你誇獎，你愛怎麼說就怎麼說吧；我可只知道找機會來嘲笑你，跟你爭論；我馬上就開始這樣做，聽我問你：你為什麼總是不願意直捷爽快地談到正題？你第一次上這兒來拜訪，第二次在這兒吃飯，為什麼見到我就害臊？尤其是你來拜訪的那一次，你為什麼顯出那副神氣，好象完全不把我擺在心上似的？"

　　"因為你那樣板起了臉，一言不發，使得我不敢和你攀談。"

　　"可是我覺得難為情呀。"

　　"我也一樣。"

　　"那麼，你來吃飯的那一次，也可以跟我多談談嘍。"

　　"要是愛你愛得少些，話就可以說得多些了。"

　　"真不湊巧，你的回答總是這樣有道理，我又偏偏這樣懂道理，會承認你這個回答！我想，要是我不來理你，你不知要拖到什麼時候；要是我不問你一聲，不知你什麼時候才肯說出來。這都是因為我拿定了主意，要感謝你對麗迪雅的好處，這才促成了這件事。我怕促成得太厲害了；如果說，我們是因為打破了當初的諾言，才獲得了目前的快慰，那在道義上怎麼說得過去？我實在不應該提起那件事的。實在是大錯特錯。"

　　"你不用難過。道義上完全講得過去。咖苔琳夫人蠻不講理。想要拆散我們，這反而使我消除了種種疑慮。我並不以為目前的幸福，都是出於你對我的一片感恩圖報之心。我本來就不打算等你先開口。我一聽到我姨母的話，便產生了希望，於是決定要立刻把事情弄個清楚明白。"

　　"咖苔琳夫人倒幫了極大的忙，她自己也應該高興，因為她喜歡幫人家的忙。可是請你告訴我，你這次上尼日斐花園來是幹什麼的？難道就是為了騎著馬到浪搏恩來難為情一番嗎？你不沒有預備要做出些正經大事來呢？"

　　"我上這兒來的真正目的，就是為了看看你。如果可能的話，我還要想法子研究研究，是否有希望使你愛上我。至於在別人面前，在我自己心裡，我總是說，是為了看看你姐姐對彬格萊是否依然有情，我就決計把這事的原委向他說明。"

　　"你有沒有勇氣把咖苔琳夫人的自討沒趣，向她自己宣布一遍？"

　　"我並不是沒有勇氣，而是沒有時間，伊莉莎白。可是這件事是應該要做的；如果你給我一張紙，我馬上就來做。"

　　"要不是我自己有封信要寫，我一定會象另外一位年輕的小姐一樣，坐在你身旁欣賞你那工整的書法。可惜我也有一位舅母，再不能不回信給她了。"

　　且說前些時候，舅母過高地估計了伊莉莎白和達西先生的交情，伊莉莎白又不願意把事情向舅母說明白，因此嘉丁納太太寫來的那封長信一直還沒有回答，現在有了這個可喜的消息告訴她，她一定會喜歡，可是伊莉莎白倒覺得，讓舅父母遲了三天才知道這個消息，真有些不好意思。她馬上寫道；──

　　親愛的舅母，蒙你寫給我那封親切而令人滿意的長信，告訴了我種種詳情細節，本當早日回通道謝，無奈我當時實在情緒不佳，因而不願意動筆。你當時所想像的情況，實在有些過甚其辭。可是現在，你大可愛怎麼想就怎麼想了。關於這件事，你可以放縱你的幻想，想到哪裡就是哪裡，只要你不以為我已經結了婚，你總不會猜想得太過分。你得馬上再寫封信來把他讚美一番，而且要讚美得大大超過你上一封信。我要多謝你沒有帶我到湖區去旅行。我真傻，為什麼到湖區去呢？你說要弄幾匹小馬去遊園，這個打算可真有意思。今後我們便可以每天在那個園裡兜圈子了。我現在成了天下最幸福的人。也許別人以前也說過這句話，可是誰也不能象我這樣名副其實。我甚至比吉英還要幸福；她只是莞爾微笑，我卻縱聲大笑。達西先生分一部分愛我之心問候你。歡迎你們到彭伯里來耶誕節。──你的甥女。（下略）

　　達西先生寫給咖苔琳夫人的信，格調和這封信不一樣，而班納特先生寫給柯林斯先生的軹，和這兩封信又是全不相同。

　　賢侄先生左右：我得麻煩你再恭賀我一次。伊莉莎白馬上就要做達西夫人了。請多多勸慰咖苔琳夫人。要是我處在你的地位，我一定要站在姨侄一邊，因為他可以給人更大的利益。

　　 愚某手上

　　彬格萊小姐祝賀哥快要結婚的那封信，寫得無限親切，只可惜缺乏誠意。她甚至還寫信給吉英道賀，又把從前那一套假仁假義的話重提了一遍。吉英雖然再也不受她蒙蔽，可仍然為她感動；雖說對她不再信任，可還是回了她一封信，措辭極其親切，實在使她受之有愧。

　　達西小姐來信上說，她接到喜訊時，正和她哥哥發出喜訊時一樣歡欣。那封信寫了四張信紙，還不足以表達她內心的喜悅，不足以表明她是怎樣懇切地盼望著嫂嫂會疼愛她。

　　柯林斯先生的回信還沒有來，伊莉莎白也還沒有獲得柯林斯太太的祝賀，這時候浪搏恩全家卻聽說他們夫婦倆馬上要到盧家莊來。他們突然動身前來的原因，是很容易明白的。原來咖苔琳夫人接到她姨侄那封信，大發雷霆，而夏綠蒂對這門婚事偏偏非常欣喜，因此不得不火速避開一下，等到這場暴風雨過去了以後再說。對伊莉莎白說來，在這樣的佳期，自己的好朋友來了，真是一件無上愉快的事，只可惜等到見了面，看到柯林斯先生對達西那種極盡巴結阿諛的樣子，便不免認為這種愉快有些得不償失。不過達西卻非常鎮定地容忍著。還有威廉盧卡斯爵士，他恭維達西獲得了當地最寶貴的明珠，而且還恭而敬之地說，希望今後能常在宮中見面。達西先生甚至連這些話也聽得進去，直到威廉爵士走開以後，他方才聳了聳肩。

　　還有腓力普太太，她為人很粗俗，也許會叫達西更加受不了。腓力普太太正象她姐姐一樣，見到彬格萊先生那麼和顏悅色，於是攀談起來很是隨便，而對達西則敬畏備至，不敢隨便，可是她的出言吐語總還是免不了粗俗。雖說她因為尊敬達西而很少跟達西說話，可是她並不因此而顯得舉止文雅一些。伊莉莎白為了不讓達西受到這些人的糾纏，便竭力使他跟她自己談話，跟她家裡那些不會使他受罪的人談話。雖然這一番應酬大大減少了戀愛的樂趣，可是卻促進了她對未來生活的期望，她一心盼望趕快離開這些討厭的人物，到彭伯里去，和他一家人在一起，舒舒服服過一輩子風雅有趣的生活。

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