pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第31部分
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difficulty； for the curiosity excited by his long absence； burst forth
in such very direct questions on his return； as required some
ingenuity to evade； and he was at the same time exercising great
self…denial； for he was longing to publish his prosperous love。
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see
any of the family； the ceremony of leave…taking was performed
when the ladies moved for the night； and Mrs。 Bennet with great
politeness and cordiality said how happy they should be to see him
at Longbourn again； whenever his other engagements might allow
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him to visit them。
‘My dear Madam；’ he replied； ‘this invitation is particularly
gratifying； because it is what I have been hoping to receive； and
you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as
possible。’
They were all astonished； and Mr。 Bennet； who could by no
means wish for so speedy a return； immediately said；
‘But is there not danger of Lady Catherine’s disapprobation
here； my good sir？—You had better neglect your relations； than
run the risk of offending your patroness。
‘My dear sir；’ replied Mr。 Collins； ‘I am particularly obliged to
you for this friendly caution； and you may depend upon my not
taking so material a step without her ladyship’s concurrence。’
‘You cannot be too much on your guard。 Risk any thing rather
than her displeasure； and if you find it likely to be raised by your
coming to us again； which I should think exceedingly probable；
stay quietly at home； and be satisfied that we shall take no
offence。’
‘Believe me； my dear sir； my gratitude is warmly excited by
such affectionate attention； and depend upon it； you will speedily
receive from me a letter of thanks for this； as well as for every
other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire。 As for
my fair cousins； though my absence may not be long enough to
render it necessary； I shall now take the liberty of wishing them
health and happiness； not excepting my cousin Elizabeth。’
With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew； all of them
equally surprised to find that he meditated a quick return。 Mrs。
Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying his
addresses to one of her younger girls； and Mary might have been
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prevailed on to accept him。 She rated his abilities much higher
than any of the others； there was a solidity in his reflections which
often struck her； and though by no means so clever as herself； she
thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an
example as her’s； he might become a very agreeable companion。
But on the following morning； every hope of this kind was done
away。 Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast； and in a private
conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before。
The possibility of Mr。 Collins’s fancying himself in love with her
friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two；
but that Charlotte could encourage him； seemed almost as far
from possibility as that she could encourage him herself； and her
astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the
bounds of decorum； and she could not help crying out；
‘Engaged to Mr。 Collins！ my dear Charlotte；—impossible！’
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in
telling her story； gave way to a momentary confusion here on
receiving so direct a reproach； though； as it was no more than she
expected； she soon regained her composure； and calmly replied；
‘Why should you be surprised； my dear Eliza？—Do you think it
incredible that Mr。 Collins should be able to procure any woman’s
good opinion； because he was not so happy as to succeed with
you？’
But Elizabeth had now recollected herself； and making a strong
effort for it； was able to assure her with tolerable firmness that the
prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to her； and that
she wished her all imaginable happiness。
‘I see what you are feeling；’ replied Charlotte；—‘you must be
surprised； very much surprised；—so lately as Mr。 Collins was
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wishing to marry you。 But when you have had time to think it all
over； I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done。 I am not
romantic you know。 I never was。 I ask only a comfortable home；
and considering Mr。 Collins’s character； connections； and situation
in life； I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as
fair； as most people can boast on entering the marriage state。’
Elizabeth quietly answered ‘Undoubtedly；’—and after an
awkward pause； they returned to the rest of the family。 Charlotte
did not stay much longer； and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on
what she had heard。 It was a long time before she became at all
reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match。 The strangeness of
Mr。 Collins’s making two offers of marriage within three days； was
nothing in comparison of his being now accepted。 She had always
felt that Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her
own； but she could not have supposed it possible that when called
into action； she would have sacrificed every better feeling to
worldly advantage。 Charlotte the wife of Mr。 Collins； was a most
humiliating picture！—And to the pang of a friend disgracing
herself and sunk in her esteem； was added the distressing
conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably
happy in the lot she had chosen。
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CHAPTER XXIII
lizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters； reflect…
ing on what she had heard； and doubting whether she
E
were authorised to mention it； when Sir William Lucas
himself appeared； sent by his daughter to announce her
engagement to the family。 With many compliments to them； and
much self…gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the
houses； he unfolded the matter；—to an audience not merely
wondering； but incredulous： for Mrs。 Bennet； with more
perseverance than politeness； protested he must be entirely
mistaken； and Lydia； always unguarded and often uncivil；
boisterously exclaimed；
‘Good Lord！ Sir William； how can you tell such a story？—Do
not you know that Mr。 Collins wants to marry Lizzy？’
Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have
borne without anger such treatment： but Sir William’s good
breeding carried him through it all； and though he begged leave to
be positive as to the truth of his information； he listened to all their
impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy。
Elizabeth； feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so
unpleasant a situation； now put herself forward to confirm his
account； by mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte
herself； and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her
mother and sisters； by the earnestness of her congratulations to
Sir William； in which she was readily joined by Jane； and by
making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be
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expected from the match； the excellent character of Mr。 Collins；
and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London。
Mrs。 Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great
deal while Sir William remained； but no sooner had he left them
than her feelings found a rapid vent。 In the first place； she
persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter； secondly； she
was very sure that Mr。 Collins had been taken in； thirdly； she
trusted that they would never be happy together； and fourthly；
that the match might be broken off。 Two inferences； however；
were plainly deduced from the w
