pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第84章
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things considered； I begin to think it perfectly reasonable。 To be
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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
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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 time than courage； Elizabeth。 But it
ought to be 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：
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‘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 style；
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。’
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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
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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。
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CHAPTER XIX
appy for all her maternal feelings was the day on which
Mrs。 Bennet got rid of her two most deserving
H
daughters。 With what delighted pride she afterwards
visited Mrs。 Bingley and talked of Mrs。 Darcy may be guessed。 I
wish I could say； for the sake of her family； that the
accomplishment of her earnest desire in the establishment of so
many of her children； produced so happy an effect as to make her
a sensible； amiable； well…informed woman for the rest of her life；
though perhaps it was lucky for her husband； who might not have
relished domestic felicity in so unusual a form； that she still was
occasionally nervous and invariably silly。
Mr。 Bennet missed his second daughter exceedingly； his
affection for her drew him oftener from home than any thing else
could do。 He delighted in going to
