pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第21部分
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Collins for a few moments； he asked Elizabeth in a low voice
whether her relation were very intimately acquainted with the
family of de Bourgh。
‘Lady Catherine de Bourgh；’ she replied； ‘has very lately given
him a living。 I hardly know how Mr。 Collins was first introduced to
her notice； but he certainly has not known her long。’
‘You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady
Anne Darcy were sisters； consequently that she is aunt to the
present Mr。 Darcy。’
‘No； indeed； I did not。—I knew nothing at all of Lady
Catherine’s connections。 I never heard of her existence till the day
before yesterday。’
‘Her daughter； Miss de Bourgh； will have a very large fortune；
and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two
estates。’
This information made Elizabeth smile； as she thought of poor
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Miss Bingley。 Vain indeed must be all her attentions； vain and
useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself； if he
were already self…destined to another。
‘Mr。 Collins；’ said she； ‘speaks highly both of Lady Catherine
and her daughter； but from some particulars that he has related of
her ladyship； I suspect his gratitude misleads him； and that in spite
of her being his patroness； she is an arrogant； conceited woman。’
‘I believe her to be both in a great degree；’ replied Wickham； ‘I
have not seen her for many years； but I very well remember that I
never liked her； and that her manners were dictatorial and
insolent。 She has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and
clever： but I rather believe she derives part of her abilities from her
rank and fortune； part from her authoritative manner； and the rest
from the pride of her nephew； who chuses that every one
connected with him should have an understanding of the first
class。’
Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it；
and they continued talking together with mutual satisfaction till
supper put an end to cards； and gave the rest of the ladies their
share of Mr。 Wickham’s attentions。 There could be no conversation
in the noise of Mrs。 Philips’s supper party； but his manners
recommended him to every body。 Whatever he said； was said well；
and whatever he did； done gracefully。 Elizabeth went away with
her head full of him。 She could think of nothing but of Mr。
Wickham； and of what he had told her； all the way home； but there
was not time for her even to mention his name as they went； for
neither Lydia nor Mr。 Collins were once silent。 Lydia talked
incessantly of lottery tickets； of the fish she had lost and the fish
she had won； and Mr。 Collins； in describing the civility of Mr。 and
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Mrs。 Philips； protesting that he did not in the least regard his
losses at whist； enumerating all the dishes at supper； and
repeatedly fearing that he crouded his cousins； had more to say
than he could well manage before the carriage stopped at
Longbourn House。
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CHAPTER XVII
lizabeth related to Jane the next day； what had passed
between Mr。 Wickham and herself。 Jane listened with
E
astonishment and concern；—she knew not how to believe
that Mr。 Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr。 Bingley’s regard； and
yet； it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young
man of such amiable appearance as Wickham。—The possibility of
his having really endured such unkindness； was enough to interest
all her tender feelings； and nothing therefore remained to be done；
but to think well of them both； to defend the conduct of each； and
throw into the account of accident or mistake； whatever could not
be otherwise explained。
‘They have both；’ said she； ‘been deceived； I dare say； in some
way or other； of which we can form no idea。 Interested people have
perhaps misrepresented each to the other。 It is； in short；
impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which
may have alienated them； without actual blame on either side。’
‘Very true； indeed；—and now； my dear Jane； what have you got
to say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been
concerned in the business？—Do clear them too； or we shall be
obliged to think ill of somebody。’
‘Laugh as much as you chuse； but you will not laugh me out of
my opinion。 My dearest Lizzy； do but consider in what a
disgraceful light it places Mr。 Darcy； to be treating his father’s
favourite in such a manner；—one； whom his father had promised
to provide for。—It is impossible。 No man of common humanity； no
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man who had any value for his character； could be capable of it。
Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him？
oh！ no。’
‘I can much more easily believe Mr。 Bingley’s being imposed on；
than that Mr。 Wickham should invent such a history of himself as
he gave me last night； names； facts； every thing mentioned without
ceremony。—If it be not so； let Mr。 Darcy contradict it。 Besides；
there was truth in his looks。’
‘It is difficult indeed—it is distressing。—One does not know
what to think。’
‘I beg your pardon；—one knows exactly what to think。’
But Jane could think with certainty on only one point；—that Mr。
Bingley； if he had been imposed on； would have much to suffer
when the affair became public。
The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery
where this conversation passed； by the arrival of some of the very
persons of whom they had been speaking； Mr。 Bingley and his
sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long expected
ball at Netherfield； which was fixed for the following Tuesday。 The
two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again； called it an
age since they had met； and repeatedly asked what she had been
doing with herself since their separation。 To the rest of the family
they paid little attention； avoiding Mrs。 Bennet as much as
possible； saying not much to Elizabeth； and nothing at all to the
others。 They were soon gone again； rising from their seats with an
activity which took their brother by surprise； and hurrying off as if
eager to escape from Mrs。 Bennet’s civilities。
The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to
every female of the family。 Mrs。 Bennet chose to consider it as
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given in compliment to her eldest daughter； and was particularly
flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr。 Bingley himself；
instead of a ceremonious card。 Jane pictured to herself a happy
evening in the society of her two friends； and the attention of their
brother； and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great
deal with Mr。 Wickham； and of seeing a confirmation of every thing
in Mr。 Darcy’s looks and behaviour。 The happiness anticipated by
Catherine and Lydia； depended less on any single event； or any
particular person； for though they each； like Elizabeth； meant to
dance half the evening with Mr。 Wickham； he was by no means the
only partner who could satisfy them； and a ball was at any rate； a
ball。 And even Mary could assure her family that she had no
disinclination for it。
‘While I can have my mornings to myself；’ said she； ‘it is
enough。—I think it no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening
engagements。 Society has claims on us all； and I profess myself one
of those who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as
desirable for every body。’
Elizabeth’s spirits were so high on the occasion； that though she
did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr。 Collins； she could not help
asking him whether he intended to accept Mr。 Bingley’s invitation；
and if he did； whether he would think it proper to join in the
