pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第35章
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interesting to Elizabeth； and her spirits were in a state for
E
enjoyment； for she had seen her sister looking so well as
to banish all fear for her health； and the prospect of her northern
tour was a constant source of delight。
When they left the high road for the lane to Hunsford； every eye
was in search of the Parsonage； and every turning expected to
bring it in view。 The paling of Rosings Park was their boundary on
one side。 Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had
heard of its inhabitants。
At length the Parsonage was discernible。 The garden sloping to
the road； the house standing in it； the green pales and the laurel
hedge； every thing declared they were arriving。 Mr。 Collins and
Charlotte appeared at the door； and the carriage stopped at the
small gate； which led by a short gravel walk to the house； amidst
the nods and smiles of the whole party。 In a moment they were all
out of the chaise； rejoicing at the sight of each other。 Mrs。 Collins
welcomed her friend with the liveliest pleasure； and Elizabeth was
more and more satisfied with coming； when she found herself so
affectionately received。 She saw instantly that her cousin’s
manners were not altered by his marriage； his formal civility was
just what it had been； and he detained her some minutes at the
gate to hear and satisfy his enquiries after all her family。 They
were then； with no other delay than his pointing out the neatness
of the entrance； taken into the house； and as soon as they were in
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the parlour； he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious
formality to his humble abode； and punctually repeated all his
wife’s offers of refreshment。
Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory； and she could
not help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the
room； its aspect and its furniture； he addressed himself
particularly to her； as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost
in refusing him。 But though every thing seemed neat and
comfortable； she was not able to gratify him by any sigh of
repentance； and rather looked with wonder at her friend that she
could have so cheerful an air； with such a companion。 When Mr。
Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be
ashamed； which certainly was not unseldom； she involuntarily
turned her eye on Charlotte。 Once or twice she could discern a
faint blush； but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear。 After
sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the
room； from the sideboard to the fender； to give an account of their
journey and of all that had happened in London； Mr。 Collins
invited them to take a stroll in the garden； which was large and
well laid out； and to the cultivation of which he attended himself。
To work in his garden was one of his most respectable pleasures；
and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance with which
Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the exercise； and owned
she encouraged it as much as possible。 Here； leading the way
through every walk and cross walk； and scarcely allowing them an
interval to utter the praises he asked for； every view was pointed
out with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind。 He could
number the fields in every direction； and could tell how many
trees there were in the most distant clump。 But of all the views
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which his garden； or which the country； or the kingdom could
boast； none were to be compared with the prospect of Rosings；
afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park nearly
opposite the front of his house。 It was a handsome modern
building； well situated on rising ground。
From his garden； Mr。 Collins would have led them round his
two meadows； but the ladies not having shoes to encounter the
remains of a white frost； turned back； and while Sir William
accompanied him； Charlotte took her sister and friend over the
house； extremely well pleased； probably； to have the opportunity
of shewing it without her husband’s help。 It was rather small； but
well built and convenient； and every thing was fitted up and
arranged with a neatness and consistency of which Elizabeth gave
Charlotte all the credit。 When Mr。 Collins could be forgotten； there
was really a great air of comfort throughout； and by Charlotte’s
evident enjoyment of it； Elizabeth supposed he must be often
forgotten。
She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the
country。 It was spoken of again while they were at dinner； when
Mr。 Collins joining in； observed；
‘Yes； Miss Elizabeth； you will have the honour of seeing Lady
Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church； and I need
not say you will be delighted with her。 She is all affability and
condescension； and I doubt not but you will be honoured with
some portion of her notice when service is over。 I have scarcely
any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister
Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your
stay here。 Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming。 We
dine at Rosings twice every week； and are never allowed to walk
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home。 Her ladyship’s carriage is regularly ordered for us。 I should
say； one of her ladyship’s carriages； for she has several。’
‘Lady Catherine is a very respectable； sensible woman indeed；’
added Charlotte； ‘and a most attentive neighbour。’
‘Very true； my dear； that is exactly what I say。 She is the sort of
woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference。’
The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire
news； and telling again what had been already written； and when
it closed； Elizabeth in the solitude of her chamber had to meditate
upon Charlotte’s degree of contentment； to understand her
address in guiding； and composure in bearing with her husband；
and to acknowledge that it was all done very well。 She had also to
anticipate how her visit would pass； the quiet tenor of their usual
employments； the vexatious interruptions of Mr。 Collins； and the
gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings。 A lively imagination
soon settled it all。
About the middle of the next day； as she was in her room
getting ready for a walk； a sudden noise below seemed to speak
the whole house in confusion； and after listening a moment； she
heard somebody running up stairs in a violent hurry； and calling
loudly after her。 She opened the door； and met Maria in the
landing place； who； breathless with agitation； cried out；
‘Oh； my dear Eliza！ pray make haste and come into the dining…
room； for there is such a sight to be seen！ I will not tell you what it
is。 Make haste； and come down this moment。’
Elizabeth asked questions in vain； Maria would tell her nothing
more； and down they ran into the dining…room； which fronted the
lane； in quest of this wonder； it was two ladies stopping in a low
phaeton at the garden gate。
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‘And is this all？’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘I expected at least that the
pigs were got into the garden； and here is nothing but Lady
Catherine and her daughter！’
‘La！ my dear；’ said Maria quite shocked at the mistake； ‘it is not
Lady Catherine。 The old lady is Mrs。 Jenkinson； who lives with
them。 The other is Miss De Bourgh。 Only look at her。 She is quite
a little creature。 Who would have thought she could be so thin and
small！’
‘She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all
this wind。 Why does she not come in？’
‘Oh！ Charlotte says； she hardly ever does。 It is the greatest of
favours when Miss De Bourgh comes in。
‘I like her appearance；’ said Elizabeth； struck with other ideas。
‘She looks sickly and cross。—Yes； she will do for him very well。
She will make him a very proper wife。’
Mr。 Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in
conversation with the ladies； and Sir William； to Elizabeth’s high
diversion； was stationed in the doorway； in earnest contemplation
of the greatness before him； and constantly bowing whenever Miss
De Bourgh looked that way。
At length there was nothing more to be said； the ladies drove
on； and the others returned into the house。 Mr。 Collins no sooner
saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their
good fortune； which Charlotte explained by letting them know that
the whole party was asked to dine at Rosings the next day。
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CHAPTER VI
r。 Collins’s triumph in conse
