pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第80章
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kindred； and extensive patronage。 Yet in spite of all these
temptations； let me warn my cousin Elizabeth； and yourself； of
what evils you may incur； by a precipitate closure with this
gentleman’s proposals； which； of course； you will be inclined to
take immediate advantage of。’
‘Have you any idea； Lizzy； who this gentleman is？ But now it
comes out。’
‘My motive for cautioning you； is as follows。 We have reason to
imagine that his aunt； Lady Catherine de Bourgh； does not look on
the match with a friendly eye。’
‘Mr。 Darcy； you see； is the man！ Now； Lizzy； I think I have
surprised you。 Could he； or the Lucases； have pitched on any man；
within the circle of our acquaintance； whose name would have
given the lie more effectually to what they related？ Mr。 Darcy； who
never looks at any woman but to see a blemish； and who probably
never looked at you in his life！ It is admirable！’
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Elizabeth tried to join in her father’s pleasantry； but could only
force one most reluctant smile。 Never had his wit been directed in
a manner so little agreeable to her。
‘Are you not diverted？’
‘Oh！ yes。 Pray read on。’
‘After mentioning the likelihood of this marriage to her ladyship
last night； she immediately； with her usual condescension；
expressed what she felt on the occasion； when it become apparent；
that on the score of some family objections on the part of my
cousin； she would never give her consent to what she termed so
disgraceful a match。 I thought it my duty to give the speediest
intelligence of this to my cousin； that she and her noble admirer
may be aware of what they are about； and not run hastily into a
marriage which has not been properly sanctioned。’ ‘Mr。 Collins
moreover adds；’ ‘I am truly rejoiced that my cousin Lydia’s sad
business has been so well hushed up； and am only concerned that
their living together before the marriage took place； should be so
generally known。 I must not； however； neglect the duties of my
station； or refrain from declaring my amazement； at hearing that
you received the young couple into your house as soon as they
were married。 It was an encouragement of vice； and had I been
the rector of Longbourn； I should very strenuously have opposed
it。 You ought certainly to forgive them as a christian； but never to
admit them in your sight； or allow their names to be mentioned in
your hearing。’ ‘That is his notion of christian forgiveness！ The rest
of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte’s situation； and his
expectation of a young olive…branch。 But； Lizzy； you look as if you
did not enjoy it。 You are not going to be Missish； I hope； and
pretend to be affronted at an idle report。 For what do we live； but
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to make sport for our neighbours； and laugh at them in our turn？’
‘Oh！’ cried Elizabeth； ‘I am excessively diverted。 But it is so
strange！’
‘Yes—that is what makes it amusing。 Had they fixed on any
other man it would have been nothing； but his perfect
indifference； and your pointed dislike； make it so delightfully
absurd！ Much as I abominate writing； I would not give up Mr。
Collins’s correspondence for any consideration。 Nay； when I read
a letter of his； I cannot help giving him the preference even over
Wickham； much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my
son…in…law。 And pray； Lizzy； what said Lady Catherine about this
report？ Did she call to refuse her consent？’
To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh； and as
it had been asked without the least suspicion； she was not
distressed by his repeating it。 Elizabeth had never been more at a
loss to make her feelings appear what they were not。 It was
necessary to laugh； when she would rather have cried。 Her father
had most cruelly mortified her； by what he said of Mr。 Darcy’s
indifference； and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want
of penetration； or fear that perhaps； instead of his seeing too little；
she might have fancied too much。
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CHAPTER XVI
nstead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend；
as Elizabeth half expected Mr。 Bingley to do； he was able to
I
bring Darcy with him to Longbourn before many days had
passed after Lady Catherine’s visit。 The gentlemen arrived early；
and； before Mrs。 Bennet had time to tell him of their having seen
his aunt； of which her daughter sat in momentary dread； Bingley；
who wanted to be alone with Jane； proposed their all walking out。
It was agreed to。 Mrs。 Bennet was not in the habit of walking；
Mary could never spare time； but the remaining five set off
together。 Bingley and Jane； however； soon allowed the others to
outstrip them。 They lagged behind； while Elizabeth； Kitty； and
Darcy； were to entertain each other。 Very little was said by either；
Kitty was too much afraid of him to talk； Elizabeth was secretly
forming a desperate resolution； and perhaps he might be doing
the same。
They walked towards the Lucases； because Kitty wished to call
upon Maria； and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a
general concern； when Kitty left them； she went boldly on with
him alone。 Now was the moment for her resolution to be executed；
and； while her courage was high； she immediately said；
‘Mr。 Darcy； I am a very selfish creature； and； for the sake of
giving relief to my own feelings； care not how much I may be
wounding your’s。 I can no longer help thanking you for your
unexampled kindness to my poor sister。 Ever since I have known
it； I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefully
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I feel it。 Were it known to the rest of my family； I should not have
merely my own gratitude to express。’
‘I am sorry； exceedingly sorry；’ replied Darcy； in a tone of
surprise and emotion； ‘that you have ever been informed of what
may； in a mistaken light； have given you uneasiness。 I did not
think Mrs。 Gardiner was so little to be trusted。’
‘You must not blame my aunt。 Lydia’s thoughtlessness first
betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter； and； of
course； I could not rest till I knew the particulars。 Let me thank
you again and again； in the name of all my family； for that
generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble；
and bear so many mortifications； for the sake of discovering them。’
‘If you will thank me；’ he replied； ‘let it be for yourself alone。
That the wish of giving happiness to you； might add force to the
other inducements which led me on； I shall not attempt to deny。
But your family owe me nothing。 Much as I respect them； I
believe； I thought only of you。’
Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word。 After a
short pause； her companion added； ‘You are too generous to trifle
with me。 If your feelings are still what they were last April； tell me
so at once。 My affections and wishes are unchanged； but one word
from you will silence me on this subject for ever。’
Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and
anxiety of his situation； now forced herself to speak； and
immediately； though not very fluently； gave him to understand；
that her sentiments had undergone so material a change； since the
period to which he alluded； as to make her receive with gratitude
and pleasure； his present assurances。 The happiness which this
reply produced； was such as he had probably never felt before；
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and he expressed himself on the occasion as sensibly and as
warmly as a man violently in love can be supposed to do。 Had
Elizabeth been able to encounter his eye； she might have seen how
well the expression of heart…felt delight； diffused over his face；
became him； but； though she could not look； she could listen； and
he told her of feelings； which； in proving of what importance she
was to him； made his affection every moment more valuable。
They walked on； without knowing in what direction。 There was
too much to be thought； and felt； and said； for attention to any
other objects。 She soon learnt that they were indebted for their
present good understanding to the efforts of his aunt； who did call
on him in her return through London； and there relate her
journey to Longbourn； its motive； and the substance of her
conversation with Elizabeth； dwelling emphatically on every
expression of the latter； which； in her ladyship’s apprehension；
peculiarly denoted her perverseness and assurance in the belief
t
