pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第30章
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place in it！’
‘My dear； do not give way to such gloomy thoughts。 Let us hope
for better things。 Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the
survivor。’
This was not very consoling to Mrs。 Bennet； and； therefore；
instead of making any answer； she went on as before；
‘I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate。 If it
was not for the entail I should not mind it。’
‘What should not you mind？’
‘I should not mind any thing at all。’
‘Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such
insensibility。’
‘I never can be thankful； Mr。 Bennet； for any thing about the
entail。 How any one could have the conscience to entail away an
estate from one’s own daughters I cannot understand； and all for
the sake of Mr。 Collins too！—Why should he have it more than
anybody else？’
‘I leave it to yourself to determine；’ said Mr。 Bennet。
END OF VOLUME ONE
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VOLUME II
CHAPTER I
iss Bingley’s letter arrived； and put an end to doubt。
The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their
M
being all settled in London for the winter； and
concluded with her brother’s regret at not having had time to pay
his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the
country。
Hope was over； entirely over； and when Jane could attend to
the rest of the letter； she found little； except the professed affection
of the writer； that could give her any comfort。 Miss Darcy’s praise
occupied the chief of it。 Her many attractions were again dwelt on；
and Caroline boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy； and
ventured to predict the accomplishment of the wishes which had
been unfolded in her former letter。 She wrote also with great
pleasure of her brother’s being an inmate of Mr。 Darcy’s house；
and mentioned with raptures； some plans of the latter with regard
to new furniture。
Elizabeth； to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of
all this； heard it in silent indignation。 Her heart was divided
between concern for her sister； and resentment against all the
others。 To Caroline’s assertion of her brother’s being partial to
Miss Darcy she paid no credit。 That he was really fond of Jane； she
doubted no more than she had ever done； and much as she had
always been disposed to like him； she could not think without
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anger； hardly without contempt； on that easiness of temper； that
want of proper resolution which now made him the slave of his
designing friends； and led him to sacrifice his own happiness to
the caprice of their inclinations。 Had his own happiness； however；
been the only sacrifice； he might have been allowed to sport with it
in what ever manner he thought best； but her sister’s was involved
in it； as she thought he must be sensible himself。 It was a subject；
in short； on which reflection would be long indulged； and must be
unavailing。 She could think of nothing else； and yet whether
Bingley’s regard had really died away； or were suppressed by his
friends’ interference； whether he had been aware of Jane’s
attachment； or whether it had escaped his observation； whichever
were the case； though her opinion of him must be materially
affected by the difference； her sister’s situation remained the
same； her peace equally wounded。
A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her
feelings to Elizabeth； but at last on Mrs。 Bennet’s leaving them
together； after a longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and
its master； she could not help saying；
‘Oh！ that my dear mother had more command over herself； she
can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual
reflections on him。 But I will not repine。 It cannot last long。 He will
be forgot； and we shall all be as we were before。’
Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude； but
said nothing。
‘You doubt me；’ cried Jane； slightly colouring； ‘indeed you have
no reason。 He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of
my acquaintance； but that is all。 I have nothing either to hope or
fear； and nothing to reproach him with。 Thank God！ I have not
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that pain。 A little time therefore。—I shall certainly try to get the
better。’
With a stronger voice she soon added； ‘I have this comfort
immediately； that it has not been more than an error of fancy on
my side； and that it has done no harm to any one but myself。’
‘My dear Jane！’ exclaimed Elizabeth； ‘you are too good。 Your
sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic； I do not know
what to say to you。 I feel as if I had never done you justice； or loved
you as you deserve。’
Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit； and
threw back the praise on her sister’s warm affection。
‘Nay；’ said Elizabeth； ‘this is not fair。 You wish to think all the
world respectable； and are hurt if I speak ill of any body。 I only
want to think you perfect； and you set yourself against it。 Do not
be afraid of my running into any excess； of my encroaching on
your privilege of universal good will。 You need not。 There are few
people whom I really love； and still fewer of whom I think well。
The more I see of the world； the more am I dissatisfied with it； and
every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human
characters； and of the little dependence that can be placed on the
appearance of either merit or sense。 I have met with two instances
lately； one I will not mention； the other is Charlotte’s marriage。 It
is unaccountable！ in every view it is unaccountable！’
‘My dear Lizzy； do not give way to such feelings as these。 They
will ruin your happiness。 You do not make allowance enough for
difference of situation and temper。 Consider Mr。 Collins’s
respectability； and Charlotte’s prudent； steady character。
Remember that she is one of a large family； that as to fortune； it is
a most eligible match； and be ready to believe； for every body’s
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sake； that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our
cousin。
‘To oblige you； I would try to believe almost any thing； but no
one else could be benefited by such a belief as this； for were I
persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him； I should only
think worse of her understanding； than I now do of her heart。 My
dear Jane； Mr。 Collins is a conceited； pompous； narrow…minded；
silly man； you know he is； as well as I do； and you must feel； as
well as I do； that the woman who marries him； cannot have a
proper way of thinking。 You shall not defend her； though it is
Charlotte Lucas。 You shall not； for the sake of one individual；
change the meaning of principle and integrity； nor endeavour to
persuade yourself or me； that selfishness is prudence； and
insensibility of danger； security for happiness。’
‘I must think your language too strong in speaking of both；’
replied Jane； ‘and I hope you will be convinced of it； by seeing
them happy together。 But enough of this。 You alluded to
something else。 You mentioned two instances。 I cannot
misunderstand you； but I intreat you； dear Lizzy； not to pain me
by thinking that person to blame； and saying your opinion of him is
sunk。 We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally
injured。 We must not expect a lively young man to be always so
guarded and circumspect。 It is very often nothing but our own
vanity that deceives us。 Women fancy admiration means more
than it does。’
‘And men take care that they should。’
‘If it is designedly done； they cannot be justified； but I have no
idea of there being so much design in the world as some persons
imagine。’
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‘I am far from attributing any part of Mr。 Bingley’s conduct to
design；’ said Elizabeth； ‘but without scheming to do wrong； or to
make others unhappy； there may be error； and there may be
misery。 Thoughtlessness； want of attention to other people’s
feelings； and want of resolution； will do the business。’
‘And do you impute it to either of those？’
‘Yes； to the last。 But if I go on； I shall displease you by saying
what I think of persons you esteem。 Stop me whilst you can。’
‘You persist； then； in supposing his sisters influence him。’
‘Yes； in conjunction with his friend。’
‘I cannot believe it。 Why should they try to influence him？ They
can only wish his happiness； and if he is attached to me； no other
woman can secure it。’
‘Your first pos
