pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第25章
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for believing it are briefly these：—It does not appear to me that my
hand is unworthy your acceptance； or that the establishment I can
offer would be any other than highly desirable。 My situation in life；
my connections with the family of De Bourgh； and my relationship
to your own； are circumstances highly in my favour； and you
should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your
manifold attractions； it is by no means certain that another offer of
marriage may ever be made you。 Your portion is unhappily so
small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness
and amiable qualifications。 As I must therefore conclude that you
are not serious in your rejection of me； I shall chuse to attribute it
to your wish of increasing my love by suspense； according to the
usual practice of elegant females。’
‘I do assure you； Sir； that I have no pretension whatever to that
kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man。 I
would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere。 I
thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in
your proposals； but to accept them is absolutely impossible。 My
feelings in every respect forbid it。 Can I speak plainer？ Do not
consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you； but
as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart。’
‘You are uniformly charming！’ cried he； with an air of awkward
gallantry； ‘and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the
express authority of both your excellent parents； my proposals will
not fail of being acceptable。’
To such perseverance in wilful self…deception Elizabeth would
make no reply； and immediately and in silence withdrew；
determined； that if he persisted in considering her repeated
refusals as flattering encouragement； to apply to her father； whose
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negative might be uttered in such a manner as must be decisive；
and whose behaviour at least could not be mistaken for the
affectation and coquetry of an elegant female。
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CHAPTER XX
r。 Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation
of his successful love； for Mrs。 Bennet； having dawdled
M
about in the vestibule to watch for the end of the
conference； no sooner saw Elizabeth open the door and with quick
step pass her towards the staircase； than she entered the
breakfast…room； and congratulated both him and herself in warm
terms on the happy prospect of their nearer connection。 Mr。
Collins received and returned these felicitations with equal
pleasure； and then proceeded to relate the particulars of their
interview； with the result of which he trusted he had every reason
to be satisfied； since the refusal which his cousin had stedfastly
given him would naturally flow from her bashful modesty and the
genuine delicacy of her character。
This information； however； startled Mrs。 Bennet；—she would
have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant
to encourage him by protesting against his proposals； but she
dared not to believe it； and could not help saying so。
‘But depend upon it； Mr。 Collins；’ she added； ‘that Lizzy shall be
brought to reason。 I will speak to her about it myself directly。 She
is a very headstrong foolish girl； and does not know her own
interest； but I will make her know it。’
‘Pardon me for interrupting you； Madam；’ cried Mr。 Collins；
‘but if she is really headstrong and foolish； I know not whether she
would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation；
who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state。 If
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therefore she actually persists in rejecting my suit； perhaps it were
better not to force her into accepting me； because if liable to such
defects of temper； she could not contribute much to my felicity。’
‘Sir； you quite misunderstand me；’ said Mrs。 Bennet； alarmed。
‘Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these。 In every thing
else she is as good natured a girl as ever lived。 I will go directly to
Mr。 Bennet； and we shall very soon settle it with her； I am sure。’
She would not give him time to reply； but hurrying instantly to
her husband； called out as she entered the library；
‘Oh！ Mr。 Bennet； you are wanted immediately； we are all in an
uproar。 You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr。 Collins； for she
vows she will not have him； and if you do not make haste he will
change his mind and not have her。’
Mr。 Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered； and
fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in
the least altered by her communication。
‘I have not the pleasure of understanding you；’ said he； when
she had finished her speech。 ‘Of what are you talking？’
‘Of Mr。 Collins and Lizzy。 Lizzy declares she will not have Mr。
Collins； and Mr。 Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy。’
‘And what am I to do on the occasion？—It seems an hopeless
business。’
‘Speak to Lizzy about it yourself。 Tell her that you insist upon
her marrying him。’
‘Let her be called down。 She shall hear my opinion。’
Mrs。 Bennet rang the bell； and Miss Elizabeth was summoned
to the library。
‘Come here； child；’ cried her father as she appeared。 ‘I have
sent for you on an affair of importance。 I understand that Mr。
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Collins has made you an offer of marriage。 Is it true？’ Elizabeth
replied that it was。 ‘Very well—and this offer of marriage you have
refused？’
‘I have； Sir。’
‘Very well。 We now come to the point。 Your mother insists upon
your accepting it。 Is not it so； Mrs。 Bennet？’
‘Yes； or I will never see her again。’
‘An unhappy alternative is before you； Elizabeth。 From this day
you must be a stranger to one of your parents。—Your mother will
never see you again if you do not marry Mr。 Collins； and I will
never see you again if you do。’
Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a
beginning； but Mrs。 Bennet； who had persuaded herself that her
husband regarded the affair as she wished； was excessively
disappointed。
‘What do you mean； Mr。 Bennet； by talking in this way？ You
promised me to insist upon her marrying him。’
‘My dear；’ replied her husband； ‘I have two small favours to
request。 First； that you will allow me the free use of my
understanding on the present occasion； and secondly； of my room。
I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as may be。’
Not yet； however； in spite of her disappointment in her
husband； did Mrs。 Bennet give up the point。 She talked to
Elizabeth again and again； coaxed and threatened her by turns。
She endeavoured to secure Jane in her interest； but Jane with all
possible mildness declined interfering；—and Elizabeth sometimes
with real earnestness and sometimes with playful gaiety replied to
her attacks。 Though her manner varied however； her
determination never did。
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Mr。 Collins； meanwhile； was meditating in solitude on what had
passed。 He thought too well of himself to comprehend on what
motive his cousin could refuse him； and though his pride was hurt；
he suffered in no other way。 His regard for her was quite
imaginary； and the possibility of her deserving her mother’s
reproach prevented his feeling any regret。
While the family were in this confusion； Charlotte Lucas came
to spend the day with them。 She was met in the vestibule by
Lydia； who； flying to her； cried in a half whisper； ‘I am glad you are
come； for there is such fun here！—What do you think has
happened this morning？—Mr。 Collins has made an offer to Lizzy；
and she will not have him。’
Charlotte had hardly time to answer； before they were joined by
Kitty； who came to tell the same news； and no sooner had they
entered the breakfast…room； where Mrs。 Bennet was alone； than
she likewise began on the subject； calling on Miss Lucas for her
compassion； and entreating her to persuade her friend Lizzy to
comply with the wishes of all her family。 ‘Pray do； my dear Miss
Lucas；’ she added in a melancholy tone； ‘for nobody is on my side；
nobody takes part with me； I am cruelly used； nobody feels for my
poor nerves。’
Charlotte’s reply was spared by the entrance of Jane and
Elizabeth。
‘Aye； there she comes；’ continued Mrs。 Bennet； ‘looking as
unconcerned as may be； and caring no more for us than if we were
at York； provided she can have her own way。—But I tell you what；
Miss Lizzy； if you take it into your head to go on refusing every
offer of marriage in this way； you will never get
