pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第15章
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with no compliments； answered most readily；
‘You are very kind； sir； I am sure； and I wish with all my heart it
may prove so； for else they will be destitute enough。 Things are
settled so oddly。’
‘You allude perhaps to the entail of this estate。’
‘Ah！ sir； I do indeed。 It is a grievous affair to my poor girls； you
must confess。 Not that I mean to find fault with you； for such things
I know are all chance in this world。 There is no knowing how
estates will go when once they come to be entailed。’
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‘I am very sensible； madam； of the hardship to my fair
cousins；—and could say much on the subject； but that I am
cautious of appearing forward and precipitate。 But I can assure the
young ladies that I come prepared to admire them。 At present I
will not say more； but perhaps when we are better acquainted—’
He was interrupted by a summons to dinner； and the girls
smiled on each other。 They were not the only objects of Mr。
Collins’s admiration。 The hall； the dining…room； and all its
furniture were examined and praised； and his commendation of
every thing would have touched Mrs。 Bennet’s heart； but for the
mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future
property。 The dinner too in its turn was highly admired； and he
begged to know to which of his fair cousins； the excellence of its
cookery was owing。 But here he was set right by Mrs。 Bennet； who
assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to
keep a good cook； and that her daughters had nothing to do in the
kitchen。 He begged pardon for having displeased her。 In a softened
tone she declared herself not at all offended； but he continued to
apologise for about a quarter of an hour。
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CHAPTER XIV
uring dinner； Mr。 Bennet scarcely spoke at all； but when
the servants were withdrawn； he thought it time to have
D
some conversation with his guest； and therefore started
a subject in which he expected him to shine； by observing that he
seemed very fortunate in his patroness。 Lady Catherine de
Bourgh’s attention to his wishes； and consideration for his
comfort； appeared very remarkable。 Mr。 Bennet could not have
chosen better。 Mr。 Collins was eloquent in her praise。 The subject
elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner； and with a
most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life
witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank—such affability and
condescension； as he had himself experienced from Lady
Catherine。 She had been graciously pleased to approve of both the
discourses； which he had already had the honour of preaching
before her。 She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings； and
had sent for him only the Saturday before； to make up her pool of
quadrille in the evening。 Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by
many people he knew； but he had never seen any thing but
affability in her。 She had always spoken to him as she would to
any other gentleman； she made not the smallest objection to his
joining in the society of the neighbourhood； nor to his leaving his
parish occasionally for a week or two； to visit his relations。 She
had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he
could； provided he chose with discretion； and had once paid him a
visit in his humble parsonage； where she had perfectly approved
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all the alterations he had been making； and had even vouchsafed
to suggest some herself； some shelves in the closets up stairs。’
‘That is all very proper and civil； I am sure；’ said Mrs。 Bennet；
‘and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman。 It is a pity that great
ladies in general are not more like her。 Does she live near you； sir？’
‘The garden in which stands my humble abode； is separated
only by a lane from Rosings Park； her ladyship’s residence。’
‘I think you said she was a widow； sir？ has she any family？’
‘She has one only daughter； the heiress of Rosings； and of very
extensive property。’
‘Ah！’ cried Mrs。 Bennet； shaking her head； ‘then she is better off
than many girls。 And what sort of young lady is she？ is she
handsome？’
‘She is a most charming young lady indeed。 Lady Catherine
herself says that in point of true beauty； Miss De Bourgh is far
superior to the handsomest of her sex； because there is that in her
features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth。 She
is unfortunately of a sickly constitution； which has prevented her
making that progress in many accomplishments； which she could
not otherwise have failed of； as I am informed by the lady who
superintended her education； and who still resides with them。 But
she is perfectly amiable； and often condescends to drive by my
humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies。’
‘Has she been presented？ I do not remember her name among
the ladies at court。’
‘Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in
town； and by that means； as I told Lady Catherine myself one day；
has deprived the British court of its brightest ornament。 Her
ladyship seemed pleased with the idea； and you may imagine that I
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am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate
compliments which are always acceptable to ladies。 I have more
than once observed to Lady Catherine； that her charming daughter
seemed born to be a duchess； and that the most elevated rank；
instead of giving her consequence； would be adorned by her。—
These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship； and it
is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to
pay。’
‘You judge very properly；’ said Mr。 Bennet； ‘and it is happy for
you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy。 May I
ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of
the moment； or are the result of previous study？’
‘They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time； and though
I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such
little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary
occasions； I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as
possible。’
Mr。 Bennet’s expectations were fully answered。 His cousin was
as absurd as he had hoped； and he listened to him with the keenest
enjoyment； maintaining at the same time the most resolute
composure of countenance； and except in an occasional glance at
Elizabeth； requiring no partner in his pleasure。
By tea…time however the dose had been enough； and Mr。 Bennet
was glad to take his guest into the drawing…room again； and when
tea was over； glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies。 Mr。
Collins readily assented； and a book was produced； but on
beholding it； （for every thing announced it to be from a circulating
library；） he started back； and begging pardon； protested that he
never read novels。—Kitty stared at him； and Lydia exclaimed。—
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Other books were produced； and after some deliberation he chose
Fordyce’s Sermons。 Lydia gaped as he opened the volume； and
before he had； with very monotonous solemnity； read three pages；
she interrupted him with；
‘Do you know； mama； that my uncle Philips talks of turning
away Richard； and if he does； Colonel Forster will hire him。 My
aunt told me so herself on Saturday。 I shall walk to Meryton to…
morrow to hear more about it； and to ask when Mr。 Denny comes
back from town。’
Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue； but
Mr。 Collins； much offended； laid aside his book； and said；
‘I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by
books of a serious stamp； though written solely for their benefit。 It
amazes me； I confess；—for certainly； there can be nothing so
advantageous to them as instruction。 But I will no longer
importune my young cousin。’
Then turning to Mr。 Bennet； he offered himself as his antagonist
at backgammon。 Mr。 Bennet accepted the challenge； observing
that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling
amusements。 Mrs。 Bennet and her daughters apologised most
civilly for Lydia’s interruption； and promised that it should not
occur again； if he would resume his book； but Mr。 Collins； after
assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill will； and should
never resent her behaviour as any affront； seated himself at
another table with Mr。 Bennet； and prepared for backgammon。
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