pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第47章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
CHAPTER XIV
he two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning； and Mr。
Collins having been in waiting near the lodges； to make
T
them his parting obeisance； was able to bring home the
pleasing intelligence； of their appearing in very good health； and
in as tolerable spirits as could be expected； after the melancholy
scene so lately gone through at Rosings。 To Rosings he then
hastened to console Lady Catherine； and her daughter； and on his
return； brought back； with great satisfaction； a message from her
Ladyship； importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her
very desirous of having them all to dine with her。
Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting；
that had she chosen it； she might by this time have been presented
to her； as her future niece； nor could she think； without a smile； of
what her ladyship’s indignation would have been。 ‘What would she
have said？—how would she have behaved？’ were questions with
which she amused herself。
Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party—‘I
assure you； I feel it exceedingly；’ said Lady Catherine； ‘I believe
nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do。 But I am
particularly attached to these young men； and know them to be so
much attached to me！—They were excessively sorry to go！ But so
they always are。 The dear colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till
just at last； but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely； more I think
than last year。 His attachment to Rosings； certainly increases。’
Mr。 Collins had a compliment； and an allusion to throw in here；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 246…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 246
which were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter。
Lady Catherine observed； after dinner； that Miss Bennet
seemed out of spirits； and immediately accounting for it herself； by
supposing that she did not like to go home again so soon； she
added；
‘But if that is the case； you must write to your mother to beg
that you may stay a little longer。 Mrs。 Collins will be very glad of
your company； I am sure。’
‘I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation；’
replied Elizabeth； ‘but it is not in my power to accept it。—I must
be in town next Saturday。’
‘Why； at that rate； you will have been here only six weeks。 I
expected you to stay two months。 I told Mrs。 Collins so before you
came。 There can be no occasion for your going so soon。 Mrs。
Bennet could certainly spare you for another fortnight。’
‘But my father cannot。—He wrote last week to hurry my
return。’
‘Oh！ your father of course may spare you； if your mother can。—
Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father。 And if
you will stay another month complete； it will be in my power to
take one of you as far as London； for I am going there early in
June； for a week； and as Dawson does not object to the Barouche
box； there will be very good room for one of you—and indeed； if
the weather should happen to be cool； I should not object to taking
you both； as you are neither of you large。’
‘You are all kindness； Madam； but I believe we must abide by
our original plan。’
Lady Catherine seemed resigned。
‘Mrs。 Collins； you must send a servant with them。 You know I
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 247…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 247
always speak my mind； and I cannot bear the idea of two young
women travelling post by themselves。 It is highly improper。 You
must contrive to send somebody。 I have the greatest dislike in the
world to that sort of thing。—Young women should always be
properly guarded and attended； according to their situation in life。
When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer； I made
a point of her having two men servants go with her。—Miss Darcy；
the daughter of Mr。 Darcy； of Pemberley； and Lady Anne； could
not have appeared with propriety in a different manner。—I am
excessively attentive to all those things。 You must send John with
the young ladies； Mrs。 Collins。 I am glad it occurred to me to
mention it； for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go
alone。’
‘My uncle is to send a servant for us。’
‘Oh！—Your uncle！—He keeps a man…servant； does he？—I am
very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things。 Where
shall you change horses？—Oh！ Bromley； of course。—If you
mention my name at the Bell； you will be attended to。’
Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting
their journey； and as she did not answer them all herself； attention
was necessary； which Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her； or；
with a mind so occupied； she might have forgotten where she was。
Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours； whenever she was
alone； she gave way to it as the greatest relief； and not a day went
by without a solitary walk； in which she might indulge in all the
delight of unpleasant recollections。
Mr。 Darcy’s letter； she was in a fair way of soon knowing by
heart。 She studied every sentence： and her feelings towards its
writer were at times widely different。 When she remembered the
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 248…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 248
style of his address； she was still full of indignation； but when she
considered how unjustly she had condemned and upbraided him；
her anger was turned against herself； and his disappointed
feelings became the object of compassion。 His attachment excited
gratitude； his general character respect； but she could not approve
him； nor could she for a moment repent her refusal； or feel the
slightest inclination ever to see him again。 In her own past
behaviour； there was a constant source of vexation and regret； and
in the unhappy defects of her family a subject of yet heavier
chagrin。 They were hopeless of remedy。 Her father； contented
with laughing at them； would never exert himself to restrain the
wild giddiness of his youngest daughters； and her mother； with
manners so far from right herself； was entirely insensible of the
evil。 Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in an endeavour to
check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia； but while they
were supported by their mother’s indulgence； what chance could
there be of improvement？ Catherine； weak…spirited； irritable； and
completely under Lydia’s guidance； had been always affronted by
their advice； and Lydia； self…willed and careless； would scarcely
give them a hearing。 They were ignorant； idle； and vain。 While
there was an officer in Meryton； they would flirt with him； and
while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn； they would be
going there for ever。
Anxiety on Jane’s behalf； was another prevailing concern； and
Mr。 Darcy’s explanation； by restoring Bingley to all her former
good opinion； heightened the sense of what Jane had lost。 His
affection was proved to have been sincere； and his conduct cleared
of all blame； unless any could attach to the implicitness of his
confidence in his friend。 How grievous then was the thought that；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 249…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 249
of a situation so desirable in every respect； so replete with
advantage； so promising for happiness； Jane had been deprived；
by the folly and indecorum of her own family！
When to these recollections was added the developement of
Wickham’s character； it may be easily believed that the happy
spirits which had seldom been depressed before； were now so
much affected as to make it almost impossible for her to appear
tolerably cheerful。
Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last
week of her stay； as they had been at first。 The very last evening
was spent there； and her Ladyship again enquired minutely into
the particulars of their journey； gave them directions as to the best
method of packing； and was so urgent on the necessity of placing
gowns in the only right way； that Maria thought herself obliged； on
her return； to undo all the work of the morning； and pack her
trunk afresh。
When they parted； Lady Catherine； with great condescension；
wished them a good journey； and invited them to come to
Hunsford again next year； and Miss De Bourgh exerted herself so
far as to curtsey and hold out her hand to both。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 250…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 250
CHAPTER XV
n Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr。 Collins met for
breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared； and
O
he took the opportunity of paying the parting civilities
which he deemed indispensably necessary。
‘I know not； Miss Elizabeth；’ said he； ‘whether Mrs。 Collins has
yet expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us； but I am
very certain you will not leave the hou
