pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第17章
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certainly have continued the occupation； but unluckily no one
passed the windows now except a few of the officers； who in
comparison with the stranger； were become ‘stupid； disagreeable
fellows。’ Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next
day； and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr。
Wickham； and give him an invitation also； if the family from
Longbourn would come in the evening。 This was agreed to； and
Mrs。 Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable
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noisy game of lottery tickets； and a little bit of hot supper
afterwards。 The prospect of such delights was very cheering； and
they parted in mutual good spirits。 Mr。 Collins repeated his
apologies in quitting the room； and was assured with unwearying
civility that they were perfectly needless。
As they walked home； Elizabeth related to Jane what she had
seen pass between the two gentlemen； but though Jane would have
defended either or both； had they appeared to be wrong； she could
no more explain such behaviour than her sister。
Mr。 Collins on his return highly gratified Mrs。 Bennet by
admiring Mrs。 Philips’s manners and politeness。 He protested that
except Lady Catherine and her daughter； he had never seen a
more elegant woman； for she had not only received him with the
utmost civility； but had even pointedly included him in her
invitation for the next evening； although utterly unknown to her
before。 Something he supposed might be attributed to his
connection with them； but yet he had never met with so much
attention in the whole course of his life。
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CHAPTER XVI
s no objection was made to the young people’s
Aengagement with their aunt； and all Mr。 Collins’s scruples
of leaving Mr。 and Mrs。 Bennet for a single evening
during his visit were most steadily resisted； the coach conveyed
him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton； and the
girls had the pleasure of hearing； as they entered the drawing…
room； that Mr。 Wickham had accepted their uncle’s invitation； and
was then in the house。
When this information was given； and they had all taken their
seats； Mr。 Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire；
and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the
apartment； that he declared he might almost have supposed
himself in the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings； a
comparison that did not at first convey much gratification； but
when Mrs。 Philips understood from him what Rosings was； and
who was its proprietor； when she had listened to the description of
only one of Lady Catherine’s drawing…rooms； and found that the
chimney…piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds； she felt all
the force of the compliment； and would hardly have resented a
comparison with the housekeeper’s room。
In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her
mansion； with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble
abode； and the improvements it was receiving； he was happily
employed until the gentlemen joined them； and he found in Mrs。
Philips a very attentive listener； whose opinion of his consequence
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increased with what she heard； and who was resolving to retail it
all among her neighbours as soon as she could。 To the girls； who
could not listen to their cousin； and who had nothing to do but to
wish for an instrument； and examine their own indifferent
imitations of china on the mantlepiece； the interval of waiting
appeared very long。 It was over at last however。 The gentlemen did
approach； and when Mr。 Wickham walked into the room； Elizabeth
felt that she had neither been seeing him before； nor thinking of
him since； with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration。
The officers of the —shire were in general a very creditable；
gentlemanlike set； and the best of them were of the present party；
but Mr。 Wickham was as far beyond them all in person；
countenance； air； and walk； as they were superior to the broad…
faced stuffy uncle Philips； breathing port wine； who followed them
into the room。
Mr。 Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every
female eye was turned； and Elizabeth was the happy woman by
whom he finally seated himself； and the agreeable manner in
which he immediately fell into conversation； though it was only on
its being a wet night； and on the probability of a rainy season；
made her feel that the commonest； dullest； most threadbare topic
might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker。
With such rivals for the notice of the fair； as Mr。 Wickham and
the officers； Mr。 Collins seemed likely to sink into insignificance； to
the young ladies he certainly was nothing； but he had still at
intervals a kind listener in Mrs。 Philips； and was； by her
watchfulness； most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin。
When the card tables were placed； he had an opportunity of
obliging her in return； by sitting down to whist。
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‘I know little of the game； at present；’ said he； ‘but I shall be glad
to improve myself； for in my situation of life—’ Mrs。 Philips was
very thankful for his compliance； but could not wait for his reason。
Mr。 Wickham did not play at whist； and with ready delight was
he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia。 At first
there seemed danger of Lydia’s engrossing him entirely for she
was a most determined talker； but being likewise extremely fond of
lottery tickets； she soon grew too much interested in the game； too
eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes； to have attention
for any one in particular。 Allowing for the common demands of the
game； Mr。 Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth；
and she was very willing to hear him； though what she chiefly
wished to hear she could not hope to be told； the history of his
acquaintance with Mr。 Darcy。 She dared not even mention that
gentleman。 Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved。 Mr。
Wickham began the subject himself。 He inquired how far
Netherfield was from Meryton； and； after receiving her answer；
asked in an hesitating manner how long Mr。 Darcy had been
staying there。
‘About a month；’ said Elizabeth； and then； unwilling to let the
subject drop； added； ‘He is a man of very large property in
Derbyshire； I understand。’
‘Yes；’ replied Wickham；—‘his estate there is a noble one。 A clear
ten thousand per annum。 You could not have met with a person
more capable of giving you certain information on that head than
myself—for I have been connected with his family in a particular
manner from my infancy。’
Elizabeth could not but look surprised。
‘You may well be surprised； Miss Bennet； at such an assertion；
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after seeing； as you probably might； the very cold manner of our
meeting yesterday。—Are you much acquainted with Mr。 Darcy？’
‘As much as I ever wish to be；’ cried Elizabeth warmly；—‘I have
spent four days in the same house with him； and I think him very
disagreeable。’
‘I have no right to give my opinion；’ said Wickham； ‘as to his
being agreeable or otherwise。 I am not qualified to form one。 I have
known him too long and to well to be a fair judge。 It is impossible
for me to be impartial。 But I believe your opinion of him would in
general astonish—and perhaps you would not express it quite so
strongly anywhere else。—Here you are in your own family。’
‘Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house
in the neighbourhood； except Netherfield。 He is not at all liked in
Hertfordshire。 Every body is disgusted with his pride。 You will not
find him more favourably spoken of by any one。’
‘I cannot pretend to be sorry；’ said Wickham； after a short
interruption； ‘that he or that any man should not be estimated
beyond their deserts； but with him I believe it does not often
happen。 The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence； or
frightened by his high and imposing manners； and sees him only as
he chuses to be seen。’
‘I should take him； even on my slight acquaintance； to be an ill…
tempered man。’ Wickham only shook his head。
‘I wonder；’ said he； at the next opportunity of speaking；
‘whether he is likely to be in this country much longer。’
‘I do not at all know； but I heard nothing of his going away
