pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第39部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church； and I need
not say you will be delighted with her。 She is all affability and
condescension； and I doubt not but you will be honoured with
some portion of her notice when service is over。 I have scarcely
any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister
Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your
stay here。 Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming。 We
dine at Rosings twice every week； and are never allowed to walk
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 185…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 185
home。 Her ladyship’s carriage is regularly ordered for us。 I should
say； one of her ladyship’s carriages； for she has several。’
‘Lady Catherine is a very respectable； sensible woman indeed；’
added Charlotte； ‘and a most attentive neighbour。’
‘Very true； my dear； that is exactly what I say。 She is the sort of
woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference。’
The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire
news； and telling again what had been already written； and when
it closed； Elizabeth in the solitude of her chamber had to meditate
upon Charlotte’s degree of contentment； to understand her
address in guiding； and composure in bearing with her husband；
and to acknowledge that it was all done very well。 She had also to
anticipate how her visit would pass； the quiet tenor of their usual
employments； the vexatious interruptions of Mr。 Collins； and the
gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings。 A lively imagination
soon settled it all。
About the middle of the next day； as she was in her room
getting ready for a walk； a sudden noise below seemed to speak
the whole house in confusion； and after listening a moment； she
heard somebody running up stairs in a violent hurry； and calling
loudly after her。 She opened the door； and met Maria in the
landing place； who； breathless with agitation； cried out；
‘Oh； my dear Eliza！ pray make haste and come into the dining…
room； for there is such a sight to be seen！ I will not tell you what it
is。 Make haste； and come down this moment。’
Elizabeth asked questions in vain； Maria would tell her nothing
more； and down they ran into the dining…room； which fronted the
lane； in quest of this wonder； it was two ladies stopping in a low
phaeton at the garden gate。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 186…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 186
‘And is this all？’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘I expected at least that the
pigs were got into the garden； and here is nothing but Lady
Catherine and her daughter！’
‘La！ my dear；’ said Maria quite shocked at the mistake； ‘it is not
Lady Catherine。 The old lady is Mrs。 Jenkinson； who lives with
them。 The other is Miss De Bourgh。 Only look at her。 She is quite
a little creature。 Who would have thought she could be so thin and
small！’
‘She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all
this wind。 Why does she not come in？’
‘Oh！ Charlotte says； she hardly ever does。 It is the greatest of
favours when Miss De Bourgh comes in。
‘I like her appearance；’ said Elizabeth； struck with other ideas。
‘She looks sickly and cross。—Yes； she will do for him very well。
She will make him a very proper wife。’
Mr。 Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in
conversation with the ladies； and Sir William； to Elizabeth’s high
diversion； was stationed in the doorway； in earnest contemplation
of the greatness before him； and constantly bowing whenever Miss
De Bourgh looked that way。
At length there was nothing more to be said； the ladies drove
on； and the others returned into the house。 Mr。 Collins no sooner
saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their
good fortune； which Charlotte explained by letting them know that
the whole party was asked to dine at Rosings the next day。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 187…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 187
CHAPTER VI
r。 Collins’s triumph in consequence of this invitation
was complete。 The power of displaying the grandeur of
M
his patroness to his wondering visitors； and of letting
them see her civility towards himself and his wife； was exactly
what he had wished for； and that an opportunity of doing it should
be given so soon； was such an instance of Lady Catherine’s
condescension as he knew not how to admire enough。
‘I confess；’ said he； ‘that I should not have been at all surprised
by her Ladyship’s asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the
evening at Rosings。 I rather expected； from my knowledge of her
affability； that it would happen。 But who could have foreseen such
an attention as this？ Who could have imagined that we should
receive an invitation to dine there （an invitation moreover
including the whole party） so immediately after your arrival！’
‘I am the less surprised at what has happened；’ replied Sir
William； ‘from that knowledge of what the manners of the great
really are； which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire。
About the Court； such instances of elegant breeding are not
uncommon。’
Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day or next
morning； but their visit to Rosings。 Mr。 Collins was carefully
instructing them in what they were to expect； that the sight of
such rooms； so many servants； and so splendid a dinner might not
wholly overpower them。
When the ladies were separating for the toilette； he said to
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 188…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 188
Elizabeth；
‘Do not make yourself uneasy； my dear cousin； about your
apparel。 Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of
dress in us； which becomes herself and daughter。 I would advise
you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the
rest； there is no occasion for any thing more。 Lady Catherine will
not think the worse of you for being simply dressed。 She likes to
have the distinction of rank preserved。’
While they were dressing； he came two or three times to their
different doors； to recommend their being quick； as Lady
Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner。—
Such formidable accounts of her Ladyship； and her manner of
living； quite frightened Maria Lucas； who had been little used to
company； and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings；
with as much apprehension； as her father had done to his
presentation at St。 James’s。
As the weather was fine； they had a pleasant walk of about half
a mile across the park。—Every park has its beauty and its
prospects； and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with； though she
could not be in such raptures as Mr。 Collins expected the scene to
inspire； and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the
windows in front of the house； and his relation of what the glazing
altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh。
When they ascended the steps to the hall； Maria’s alarm was
every moment increasing； and even Sir William did not look
perfectly calm。—Elizabeth’s courage did not fail her。 She had
heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her aweful from any
extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue； and the mere
stateliness of money and rank； she thought she could witness
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 189…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 189
without trepidation。
From the entrance hall； of which Mr。 Collins pointed out； with a
rapturous air； the fine proportion and finished ornaments； they
followed the servants through an anti…chamber； to the room where
Lady Catherine； her daughter； and Mrs。 Jenkinson were sitting。—
Her Ladyship； with great condescension； arose to receive them；
and as Mrs。 Collins had settled it with her husband that the office
of introduction should be her’s； it was performed in a proper
manner； without any of those apologies and thanks which he
would have thought necessary。
In spite of having been at St。 James’s； S
