pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第27章
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sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the
gaieties which that season generally brings； and that your beaux
will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three；
of whom we shall deprive you。’
‘It is evident by this；’ added Jane； ‘that he comes back no more
this winter。’
‘It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he should。’
‘Why will you think so？ It must be his own doing。—He is his
own master。 But you do not know all。 I will read you the passage
which particularly hurts me。 I will have no reserves from you。’ ‘Mr。
Darcy is impatient to see his sister； and to confess the truth； we are
scarcely less eager to meet her again。 I really do not think
Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty； elegance； and
accomplishments； and the affection she inspires in Louisa and
myself； is heightened into something still more interesting； from
the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister。 I
do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings
on this subject； but I will not leave the country without confiding
them； and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable。 My
brother admires her greatly already； he will have frequent
opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing； her
relations all wish the connection as much as his own； and a sister’s
partiality is not misleading me； I think； when I call Charles most
capable of engaging any woman’s heart。 With all these
circumstances to favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it；
am I wrong； my dearest Jane； in indulging the hope of an event
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which will secure the happiness of so many？’
‘What think you of this sentence； my dear Lizzy？’—said Jane as
she finished it。 ‘Is it not clear enough？—Does it not expressly
declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her
sister； that she is perfectly convinced of her brother’s indifference；
and that if she suspects the nature of my feelings for him； she
means （most kindly！） to put me on my guard？ Can there be any
other opinion on the subject？’
‘Yes； there can； for mine is totally different。—Will you hear it？’
‘Most willingly。’
‘You shall have it in few words。 Miss Bingley sees that her
brother is in love with you； and wants him to marry Miss Darcy。
She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there； and
tries to persuade you that he does not care about you。’
Jane shook her head。
‘Indeed； Jane； you ought to believe me。—No one who has ever
seen you together； can doubt his affection。 Miss Bingley I am sure
cannot。 She is not such a simpleton。 Could she have seen half as
much love in Mr。 Darcy for herself； she would have ordered her
wedding clothes。 But the case is this。 We are not rich enough； or
grand enough for them； and she is the more anxious to get Miss
Darcy for her brother； from the notion that when there has been
one intermarriage； she may have less trouble in achieving a
second； in which there is certainly some ingenuity； and I dare say
it would succeed； if Miss de Bourgh were out of the way。 But； my
dearest Jane； you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss
Bingley tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy； he is in
the smallest degree less sensible of your merit than when he took
leave of you on Tuesday； or that it will be in her power to persuade
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him that instead of being in love with you； he is very much in love
with her friend。’
‘If we thought alike of Miss Bingley；’ replied Jane； ‘your
representation of all this； might make me quite easy。 But I know
the foundation is unjust。 Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving
any one； and all that I can hope in this case is； that she is deceived
herself。’
‘That is right。—You could not have started a more happy idea；
since you will not take comfort in mine。 Believe her to be deceived
by all means。 You have now done your duty by her； and must fret
no longer。’
‘But； my dear sister； can I be happy； even supposing the best； in
accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to
marry elsewhere？’
‘You must decide for yourself；’ said Elizabeth； ‘and if upon
mature deliberation； you find that the misery of disobliging his two
sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife； I
advise you by all means to refuse him。’
‘How can you talk so？’—said Jane faintly smiling；—‘You must
know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their
disapprobation； I could not hesitate。’
‘I did not think you would；—and that being the case； I cannot
consider your situation with much compassion。’
‘But if he returns no more this winter； my choice will never be
required。 A thousand things may arise in six months！’
The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the
utmost contempt。 It appeared to her merely the suggestion of
Caroline’s interested wishes； and she could not for a moment
suppose that those wishes； however openly or artfully spoken；
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could influence a young man so totally independent of every one。
She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she
felt on the subject； and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy
effect。 Jane’s temper was not desponding； and she was gradually
led to hope； though the diffidence of affection sometimes
overcame the hope； that Bingley would return to Netherfield and
answer every wish of her heart。
They agreed that Mrs。 Bennet should only hear of the
departure of the family； without being alarmed on the score of the
gentleman’s conduct； but even this partial communication gave
her a great deal of concern； and she bewailed it as exceedingly
unlucky that the ladies should happen to go away； just as they
were all getting so intimate together。 After lamenting it however at
some length； she had the consolation of thinking that Mr。 Bingley
would be soon down again and soon dining at Longbourn； and the
conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration that； though he
had been invited only to a family dinner she would take care to
have two full courses。
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CHAPTER XXII
he Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases； and
again during the chief of the day； was Miss Lucas so kind
T
as to listen to Mr。 Collins。 Elizabeth took an opportunity
of thanking her。 ‘It keeps him in good humour；’ said she； ‘and I am
more obliged to you than I can express。’ Charlotte assured her
friend of her satisfaction in being useful； and that it amply repaid
her for the little sacrifice of her time。 This was very amiable； but
Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any
conception of；—its object was nothing less； than to secure her
from any return of Mr。 Collins’s addresses； by engaging them
towards herself。 Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme； and appearances
were so favourable that when they parted at night； she would have
felt almost sure of success if he had not been to leave
Hertfordshire so very soon。 But here； she did injustice to the fire
and independence of his character； for it led him to escape out of
Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness； and
hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet。 He was
anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins； from a conviction that if
they saw him depart； they could not fail to conjecture his design；
and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success
could be known likewise； for though feeling almost secure； and
with reason； for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging； he was
comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday。 His
reception however was of the most flattering kind。 Miss Lucas
perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the
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house； and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane。
But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence
awaited her there。
In as short a time as Mr。 Collins’s long speeches would allow；
every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of both；
and as they entered the house； he earnestly entreated her to name
the day that was to make him the happiest of men； and though
such a solicitation must be waved for the present； the lady felt no
inclination to trifle with his happiness。 The stupidity with which
he was favoured by nature； must guard his courtship from any
charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance； and
Miss Lucas； who accepted him solely from the pure and
disinterested desire of an establishment； cared not how soon that
establ
