pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第42部分
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！
was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening
into Hunsford Lane； in order to have the earliest assurance of it；
and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the Park；
hurried home with the great intelligence。 On the following
morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects。 There were
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 199…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 199
two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them； for Mr。 Darcy
had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam； the younger son of
his uncle； Lord — and to the great surprise of all the party； when
Mr。 Collins returned the gentlemen accompanied him。 Charlotte
had seen them from her husband’s room； crossing the road； and
immediately running into the other； told the girls what an honour
they might expect； adding；
‘I may thank you； Eliza； for this piece of civility。 Mr。 Darcy
would never have come so soon to wait upon me。’
Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the
compliment； before their approach was announced by the door…
bell； and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room。
Colonel Fitzwilliam； who led the way； was about thirty； not
handsome； but in person and address most truly the gentleman。
Mr。 Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in
Hertfordshire； paid his compliments； with his usual reserve； to
Mrs。 Collins； and whatever might be his feelings towards her
friend； met her with every appearance of composure。 Elizabeth
merely curtseyed to him； without saying a word。
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the
readiness and ease of a well…bred man； and talked very pleasantly；
but his cousin； after having addressed a slight observation on the
house and garden to Mrs。 Collins； sat for some time without
speaking to any body。 At length； however； his civility was so far
awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family。
She answered him in the usual way； and after a moment’s pause；
added；
‘My eldest sister has been in town these three months。 Have
you never happened to see her there？’
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 200…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 200
She was perfectly sensible that he never had； but she wished to
see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had
passed between the Bingleys and Jane； and she thought he looked
a little confused as he answered that he had never been so
fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet。 The subject was pursued no
farther； and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 201…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 201
CHAPTER VIII
olonel Fitzwilliam’s manners were very much admired at
the parsonage； and the ladies all felt that he must add
C
considerably to the pleasure of their engagements at
Rosings。 It was some days； however； before they received any
invitation thither； for while there were visitors in the house； they
could not be necessary； and it was not till Easter…day； almost a
week after the gentlemen’s arrival； that they were honoured by
such an attention； and then they were merely asked on leaving
church to come there in the evening。 For the last week they had
seen very little of either Lady Catherine or her daughter。 Colonel
Fitzwilliam had called at the parsonage more than once during the
time； but Mr。 Darcy they had only seen at church。
The invitation was accepted of course； and at a proper hour
they joined the party in Lady Catherine’s drawing room。 Her
ladyship received them civilly； but it was plain that their company
was by no means so acceptable as when she could get nobody else；
and she was； in fact； almost engrossed by her nephews； speaking
to them； especially to Darcy； much more than to any other person
in the room。
Colonel Fitzwilliam seemed really glad to see them； any thing
was a welcome relief to him at Rosings； and Mrs。 Collins’s pretty
friend had moreover caught his fancy very much。 He now seated
himself by her； and talked so agreeably of Kent and Hertfordshire；
of travelling and staying at home； of new books and music； that
Elizabeth had never been half so well entertained in that room
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 202…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 202
before； and they conversed with so much spirit and flow； as to
draw the attention of Lady Catherine herself； as well as of Mr。
Darcy。 His eyes had been soon and repeatedly turned towards
them with a look of curiosity； and that her ladyship after a while
shared the feeling； was more openly acknowledged； for she did not
scruple to call out；
‘What is that you are saying； Fitzwilliam？ What is it you are
talking of？ What are you telling Miss Bennet？ Let me hear what it
is。’
‘We are speaking of music； Madam；’ said he； when no longer
able to avoid a reply。
‘Of music！ Then pray speak aloud。 It is of all subjects my
delight。 I must have my share in the conversation； if you are
speaking of music。 There are few people in England； I suppose；
who have more true enjoyment of music than myself； or a better
natural taste。 If I had ever learnt； I should have been a great
proficient。 And so would Anne； if her health had allowed her to
apply。 I am confident that she would have performed delightfully。
How does Georgiana get on； Darcy？’
Mr。 Darcy spoke with affectionate praise of his sister’s
proficiency。
‘I am very glad to hear such a good account of her；’ said Lady
Catherine； ‘and pray tell her from me； that she cannot expect to
excel； if she does not practise a great deal。’
‘I assure you； Madam；’ he replied； ‘that she does not need such
advice。 She practises very constantly。’
‘So much the better。 It cannot be done too much； and when I
next write to her； I shall charge her not to neglect it on any
account。 I often tell young ladies； that no excellence in music is to
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 203…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 203
be acquired； without constant practise。 I have told Miss Bennet
several times； that she will never play really well； unless she
practises more； and though Mrs。 Collins has no instrument； she is
very welcome； as I have often told her； to come to Rosings every
day； and play on the pianoforté in Mrs。 Jenkinson’s room。 She
would be in nobody’s way； you know； in that part of the house。’
Mr Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill breeding and
made no answer。
When coffee was over； Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth
of having promised to play to him； and she sat down directly to the
instrument。 He drew a chair near her。 Lady Catherine listened to
half a song； and then talked； as before； to her other nephew； till
the latter walked away from her； and moving with his usual
deliberation towards the pianoforté； stationed himself so as to
command a full view of the fair performer’s countenance。
Elizabeth saw what he was doing； and at the first convenient
pause； turned to him with an arch smile； and said；
‘You mean to frighten me； Mr。 Darcy； by coming in all this state
to hear me？ But I will not be alarmed though your sister does play
so well。 There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to
be frightened at the will of others。 My courage always rises with
every attempt to intimidate me。’
‘I shall not say that you are mistaken；’ he replied； ‘because you
could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming
you； and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long
enough to know； that you find great enjoyment in occasionally
professing opinions which in fact are not your own。’
Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself； and said to
Colonel Fitzwilliam； ‘Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 204…
