pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第15部分
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Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay； for
her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection
for the other。
The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were
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to go so soon； and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it
would not be safe for her—that she was not enough recovered； but
Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right。
To Mr。 Darcy it was welcome intelligence—Elizabeth had been
at Netherfield long enough。 She attracted him more than he
liked—and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her； and more teazing than
usual to himself。 He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that
no sign of admiration should now escape him； nothing that could
elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity； sensible that if
such an idea had been suggested； his behaviour during the last day
must have material weight in confirming or crushing it。 Steady to
his purpose； he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole
of Saturday； and though they were at one time left by themselves
for half an hour； he adhered most conscientiously to his book； and
would not even look at her。
On Sunday； after morning service； the separation； so agreeable
to almost all； took place。 Miss Bingley’s civility to Elizabeth
increased at last very rapidly； as well as her affection for Jane； and
when they parted； after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would
always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield； and
embracing her most tenderly； she even shook hands with the
former。—Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest
spirits。
They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother。
Mrs Bennet wondered at their coming； and thought them very
wrong to give so much trouble； and was sure Jane would have
caught cold again。—But their father； though very laconic in his
expressions of pleasure； was really glad to see them； he had felt
their importance in the family circle。 The evening conversation；
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when they were all assembled； had lost much of its animation； and
almost all its sense； by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth。
They found Mary； as usual； deep in the study of thorough bass
and human nature； and had some new extracts to admire； and
some new observations of thread…bare morality to listen to。
Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different sort。
Much had been done； and much had been said in the regiment
since the preceding Wednesday； several of the officers had dined
lately with their uncle； a private had been flogged； and it had
actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married。
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CHAPTER XIII
hope； my dear；’ said Mr。 Bennet to his wife； as they were
‘Iat breakfast the next morning； ‘that you have ordered a
good dinner to…day； because I have reason to expect an
addition to our family party。’
‘Who do you mean； my dear？ I know of nobody that is coming I
am sure； unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in； and I
hope my dinners are good enough for her。 I do not believe she
often sees such at home。’
‘The person of whom I speak； is a gentleman and a stranger。’
Mrs。 Bennet’s eyes sparkled。—‘A gentleman and a stranger！ It is
Mr。 Bingley I am sure。 Why Jane—you never dropt a word of this；
you sly thing！ Well； I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr。
Bingley。—But—good lord！ how unlucky！ there is not a bit of fish to
be got to…day。 Lydia； my love； ring the bell。 I must speak to Hill；
this moment。’
‘It is not Mr。 Bingley；’ said her husband； ‘it is a person whom I
never saw in the whole course of my life。’
This roused a general astonishment； and he had the pleasure of
being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once。
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity； he thus
explained。 ‘About a month ago I received this letter； and about a
fortnight ago I answered it； for I thought it a case of some delicacy；
and requiring early attention。 It is from my cousin； Mr。 Collins；
who； when I am dead； may turn you all out of this house as soon as
he pleases。’
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‘Oh！ my dear；’ cried his wife； ‘I cannot bear to hear that
mentioned。 Pray do not talk of that odious man。 I do think it is the
hardest thing in the world； that your estate should be entailed
away from your own children； and I am sure if I had been you； I
should have tried long ago to do something or other about it。’
Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an
entail。 They had often attempted it before； but it was a subject on
which Mrs。 Bennet was beyond the reach of reason； and she
continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate
away from a family of five daughters； in favour of a man whom
nobody cared anything about。
‘It certainly is a most iniquitous affair；’ said Mr。 Bennet； ‘and
nothing can clear Mr。 Collins from the guilt of inheriting
Longbourn。 But if you will listen to his letter； you may perhaps be
a little softened by his manner of expressing himself。’
‘No； that I am sure I shall not； and I think it was very
impertinent of him to write to you at all； and very hypocritical。 I
hate such false friends。 Why could not he keep on quarrelling with
you； as his father did before him？’
‘Why； indeed； he does seem to have had some filial scruples on
that head； as you will hear。’
Hunsford； near Westerham； Kent；
15th October。
‘Dear Sir；
‘The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late
honoured father； always gave me much uneasiness； and since I
have had the misfortune to lose him； I have frequently wished to
heal the breach； but for some time I was kept back by my own
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doubts； fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for
me to be on good terms with any one； with whom it had always
pleased him to be at variance。—‘There； Mrs。 Bennet。’—My mind
however is now made up on the subject； for having received
ordination at Easter； I have been so fortunate as to be
distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady
Catherine de Bourgh； widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh； whose
bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of
this parish； where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean
myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship； and be ever
ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted
by the Church of England。 As a clergyman； moreover； I feel it my
duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families
within the reach of my influence； and on these grounds I flatter
myself that my present overtures of good…will are highly
commendable； and that the circumstance of my being next in the
entail of Longbourn estate； will be kindly overlooked on your side；
and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch。 I cannot be
otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your
amiable daughters； and beg leave to apologise for it； as well as to
assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends；—
but of this hereafter。 If you should have no objection to receive me
into your house； I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you
and your family； Monday； November 18th； by four o’clock； and
shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday
se’night following； which I can do without any inconvenience； as
Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a
Sunday； pro
