pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第40部分
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would have thought necessary。
In spite of having been at St。 James’s； Sir William was so
completely awed； by the grandeur surrounding him； that he had
but just courage enough to make a very low bow； and take his seat
without saying a word； and his daughter； frightened almost out of
her senses； sat on the edge of her chair； not knowing which way to
look。 Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene； and could
observe the three ladies before her composedly。—Lady Catherine
was a tall； large woman； with strongly…marked features； which
might once have been handsome。 Her air was not conciliating； nor
was her manner of receiving them； such as to make her visitors
forget their inferior rank。 She was not rendered formidable by
silence； but whatever she said； was spoken in so authoritative a
tone； as marked her self…importance； and brought Mr。 Wickham
immediately to Elizabeth’s mind； and from the observation of the
day altogether； she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he
had represented。
When； after examining the mother； in whose countenance and
deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr。 Darcy； she
turned her eyes on the daughter； she could almost have joined in
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Maria’s astonishment； at her being so thin； and so small。 There
was neither in figure nor face； any likeness between the ladies。
Miss De Bourgh was pale and sickly； her features； though not
plain； were insignificant； and she spoke very little； except in a low
voice； to Mrs。 Jenkinson； in whose appearance there was nothing
remarkable； and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she
said； and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes。
After sitting a few minutes； they were all sent to one of the
windows； to admire the view； Mr。 Collins attending them to point
out its beauties； and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it
was much better worth looking at in the summer。
The dinner was exceedingly handsome； and there were all the
servants； and all the articles of plate which Mr。 Collins had
promised； and； as he had likewise foretold； he took his seat at the
bottom of the table； by her ladyship’s desire； and looked as if he
felt that life could furnish nothing greater。—He carved； and ate；
and praised with delighted alacrity； and every dish was
commended； first by him； and then by Sir William； who was now
enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said； in a
manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear。
But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive
admiration； and gave most gracious smiles； especially when any
dish on the table proved a novelty to them。 The party did not
supply much conversation。 Elizabeth was ready to speak
whenever there was an opening； but she was seated between
Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh—the former of whom was engaged
in listening to Lady Catherine； and the latter said not a word to
her all dinner time。 Mrs。 Jenkinson was chiefly employed in
watching how little Miss De Bourgh ate； pressing her to try some
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other dish； and fearing she were indisposed。 Maria thought
speaking out of the question； and the gentlemen did nothing but
eat and admire。
When the ladies returned to the drawing room； there was little
to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk； which she did without
any intermission till coffee came in； delivering her opinion on
every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not
used to have her judgment controverted。 She enquired into
Charlotte’s domestic concerns familiarly and minutely； and gave
her a great deal of advice； as to the management of them all； told
her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as
her’s； and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her
poultry。 Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great
Lady’s attention； which could furnish her with an occasion of
dictating to others。 In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs。
Collins； she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and
Elizabeth； but especially to the latter； of whose connections she
knew the least； and who she observed to Mrs。 Collins； was a very
genteel； pretty kind of girl。 She asked her at different times； how
many sisters she had； whether they were older or younger than
herself； whether any of them were likely to be married； whether
they were handsome； where they had been educated； what
carriage her father kept； and what had been her mother’s maiden
name？—Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions； but
answered them very composedly。—Lady Catherine then observed；
‘Your father’s estate is entailed on Mr。 Collins； I think。 For your
sake；’ turning to Charlotte； ‘I am glad of it； but otherwise I see no
occasion for entailing estates from the female line。—It was not
thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s family。—Do you play
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and sing； Miss Bennet？’
‘A little。’
‘Oh！ Then—some time or other we shall be happy to hear you。
Our instrument is a capital one； probably superior to— You shall
try it some day。—Do your sisters play and sing？’
‘One of them does。’
‘Why did not you all learn？—You ought all to have learned。 The
Miss Webbs all play； and their father has not so good an income as
your’s。—Do you draw？’
‘No； not at all。’
‘What； none of you？’
‘Not one。’
‘That is very strange。 But I suppose you had no opportunity。
Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the
benefit of masters。’
‘My mother would have had no objection； but my father hates
London。’
‘Has your governess left you？’
‘We never had any governess。’
‘No governess！ How was that possible？ Five daughters brought
up at home without a governess！—I never heard of such a thing。
Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education。’
Elizabeth could hardly help smiling； as she assured her that
had not been the case。
‘Then； who taught you？ who attended to you？ Without a
governess you must have been neglected。’
‘Compared with some families； I believe we were； but such of us
as wished to learn； never wanted the means。 We were always
encouraged to read； and had all the masters that were necessary。
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Those who chose to be idle； certainly might。’
‘Aye； no doubt； but that is what a governess will prevent； and if
I had known your mother； I should have advised her most
strenuously to engage one。 I always say that nothing is to be done
in education without steady and regular instruction； and nobody
but a governess can give it。 It is wonderful how many families I
have been the means of supplying in that way。 I am always glad to
get a young person well placed out。 Four nieces of Mrs。 Jenkinson
are most delightfully situated through my means； and it was but
the other day； that I recommended another young person； who
was merely accidentally mentioned to me； and the family are quite
delighted with her。 Mrs。 Collins； did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe’s
calling yesterday to thank me？ She finds Miss Pope a treasure。
“Lady Catherine；” said she； “you have given me a treasure。” Are
any of your younger sisters out； Miss Bennet？’
‘Yes； Ma’am； all。’
‘All！—What； all five out at once？ Very odd！—And you only the
second。—The younger ones out before the elder are married！—
Your younger sisters must be very young？’
‘Yes； my youngest is not sixteen。 Perhaps she is full young to be
much in company。 But really； Ma’am； I think it would be very hard
upon younger sisters； that they should not have their share of
society and amusement because the elder may not have the means
or inclination to marry early。—The last born has as good a right to
the pleasures of youth； as the first。 And to be kept back on such a
motive！—I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly
affection or delicacy of mind。’
