pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第86部分
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‘But you are not entitled to know mine； nor will such behaviour
as this； ever induce me to be explicit。’
‘Let me be rightly understood。 This match； to which you have
the presumption to aspire； can never take place。 No； never。 Mr。
Darcy is engaged to my daughter。 Now what have you to say？’
‘Only this； that if he is so； you can have no reason to suppose he
will make an offer to me。’
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment； and then replied；
‘The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind。 From
their infancy； they have been intended for each other。 It was the
favourite wish of his mother； as well as of her’s。 While in their
cradles； we planned the union： and now； at the moment when the
wishes of both sisters would be accomplished； in their marriage； to
be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth； of no importance
in the world； and wholly unallied to the family！ Do you pay no
regard to the wishes of his friends？ To his tacit engagement with
Miss De Bourgh？ Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and
delicacy？ Have you not heard me say； that from his earliest hours
he was destined for his cousin？’
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 406
‘Yes； and I had heard it before。 But what is that to me？ If there
is no other objection to my marrying your nephew； I shall certainly
not be kept from it； by knowing that his mother and aunt wished
him to marry Miss De Bourgh。 You both did as much as you could；
in planning the marriage。 Its completion depended on others。 If
Mr。 Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his
cousin； why is not he to make another choice？ And if I am that
choice； why may not I accept him？’
‘Because honour； decorum； prudence； nay； interest； forbid it。
Yes； Miss Bennet； interest； for do not expect to be noticed by his
family or friends； if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all。
You will be censured； slighted； and despised； by every one
connected with him。 Your alliance will be a disgrace； your name
will never even be mentioned by any of us。’
‘These are heavy misfortunes；’ replied Elizabeth。 ‘But the wife
of Mr。 Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness
necessarily attached to her situation； that she could； upon the
whole； have no cause to repine。
‘Obstinate； headstrong girl！ I am ashamed of you！ Is this your
gratitude for my attentions to you last spring？ Is nothing due to
me on that score？
‘Let us sit down。 You are to understand； Miss Bennet； that I
came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose；
nor will I be dissuaded from it。 I have not been used to submit to
any person’s whims。 I have not been in the habit of brooking
disappointment。’
‘That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more
pitiable； but it will have no effect on me。’
‘I will not be interrupted。 Hear me in silence。 My daughter and
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 407
my nephew are formed for each other。 They are descended on the
maternal side； from the same noble line； and； on the father’s； from
respectable； honourable； and ancient； though untitled families。
Their fortune on both sides is splendid。 They are destined for each
other by the voice of every member of their respective houses； and
what is to divide them？ The upstart pretensions of a young woman
without family； connections； or fortune。 Is this to be endured！ But
it must not； shall not be。 If you were sensible of your own good；
you would not wish to quit the sphere； in which you have been
brought up。’
‘In marrying your nephew； I should not consider myself as
quitting that sphere。 He is a gentleman； I am a gentleman’s
daughter； so far we are equal。’
‘True。 You are a gentleman’s daughter。 But who was your
mother？ Who are your uncles and aunts？ Do not imagine me
ignorant of their condition。’
‘Whatever my connections may be；’ said Elizabeth； ‘if your
nephew does not object to them； they can be nothing to you。’
‘Tell me once for all； are you engaged to him？’
Though Elizabeth would not； for the mere purpose of obliging
Lady Catherine； have answered this question； she could not but
say； after a moment’s deliberation；
‘I am not。’
Lady Catherine seemed pleased。
‘And will you promise me； never to enter into such an
engagement？’
‘I will make no promise of the kind。’
‘Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished。 I expected to find a
more reasonable young woman。 But do not deceive yourself into a
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 408
belief that I will ever recede。 I shall not go away； till you have
given me the assurance I require。
‘And I certainly never shall give it。 I am not to be intimidated
into anything so wholly unreasonable。 Your ladyship wants Mr。
Darcy to marry your daughter； but would my giving you the
wished…for promise； make their marriage at all more probable？
Supposing him to be attached to me； would my refusing to accept
his hand； make him wish to bestow it on his cousin？ Allow me to
say； Lady Catherine； that the arguments with which you have
supported this extraordinary application； have been as frivolous as
the application was ill…judged。 You have widely mistaken my
character； if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as
these。 How far your nephew might approve of your interference in
his affairs； I cannot tell； but you have certainly no right to concern
yourself in mine。 I must beg； therefore； to be importuned no
farther on the subject。’
‘Not so hasty； if you please。 I have by no means done。 To all the
objections I have already urged； I have still another to add。 I am no
stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous
elopement。 I know it all； that the young man’s marrying her； was a
patched…up business； at the expence of your father and uncles。
And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister？ Is her husband； is the
son of his late father’s steward； to be his brother？ Heaven and
earth！—of what are you thinking？ Are the shades of Pemberley to
be thus polluted？’
‘You can now have nothing farther to say；’ she resentfully
answered。 ‘You have insulted me； in every possible method。 I must
beg to return to the house。’
And she rose as she spoke。 Lady Catherine rose also； and they
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 409
turned back。 Her ladyship was highly incensed。
‘You have no regard； then； for the honour and credit of my
nephew！ Unfeeling； selfish girl！ Do you not consider that a
connection with you； must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody？’
‘Lady Catherine； I have nothing farther to say。 You know my
sentiments。’
‘You are then resolved to have him？’
‘I have said no such thing。 I am only resolved to act in that
manner； which will； in my own opinion； constitute my happiness；
without reference to you； or to any person so wholly unconnected
with me。’
‘It is well。 You refuse； then； to oblige me。 You refuse to obey the
claims of duty； honour； and gratitude。 You are determined to ruin
him in the opinion of all his friends； and make him the contempt of
the world。’
‘Neither duty； nor honour； nor gratitude；’ replied Elizabeth；
‘have any possible claim on me； in the present instance。 No
principle of either； would be violated by my marriage with Mr。
Darcy。 And with regard to the resentment of his family； or the
indignation of the world； if the former were excited by his
marrying me； it would not give me one moment’s concern—and
the world in general would have too much sense to join in the
scorn。’
‘And this is your real opinion！ This is your final resolve！ Very
well。 I shall now know how to act。 Do not imagine； Miss Bennet；
that your ambition will ever be gratified。 I came to try you。 I hoped
to find you reasonable； but depend upon it I will carry my point。’
In this manner Lady Catherine talked on； till they were at the
door of the carriage； when turning hastily round； she added；
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