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Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Chapter 57
The discomposure of spirits which this extraordinary visit threw Elizabeth into, could not be easily overcome; nor could she, for many hours, learn to think of it less than incessantly1. Lady Catherine, it appeared, had actually taken the trouble of this journey from Rosings, for the sole purpose of breaking off her supposed engagement with Mr. Darcy. It was a rational scheme, to be sure! but from what the report of their engagement could originate, Elizabeth was at a loss to imagine; till she recollected2 that his being the intimate friend of Bingley, and her being the sister of Jane, was enough, at a time when the expectation of one wedding made everybody eager for another, to supply the idea. She had not herself forgotten to feel that the marriage of her sister must bring them more frequently together. And her neighbours at Lucas Lodge3, therefore (for through their communication with the Collinses, the report, she concluded, had reached Lady Catherine), had only set that down as almost certain and immediate4, which she had looked forward to as possible at some future time.
In revolving5 Lady Catherine's expressions, however, she could not help feeling some uneasiness as to the possible consequence of her persisting in this interference. From what she had said of her resolution to prevent their marriage, it occurred to Elizabeth that she must meditate6 an application to her nephew; and how he might take a similar representation of the evils attached to a connection with her, she dared not pronounce. She knew not the exact degree of his affection for his aunt, or his dependence7 on her judgment8, but it was natural to suppose that he thought much higher of her ladyship than she could do; and it was certain that, in enumerating9 the miseries10 of a marriage with one, whose immediate connections were so unequal to his own, his aunt would address him on his weakest side. With his notions of dignity, he would probably feel that the arguments, which to Elizabeth had appeared weak and ridiculous, contained much good sense and solid reasoning.
If he had been wavering before as to what he should do, which had often seemed likely, the advice and entreaty12 of so near a relation might settle every doubt, and determine him at once to be as happy as dignity unblemished could make him. In that case he would return no more. Lady Catherine might see him in her way through town; and his engagement to Bingley of coming again to Netherfield must give way.
"If, therefore, an excuse for not keeping his promise should come to his friend within a few days," she added, "I shall know how to understand it. I shall then give over every expectation, every wish of his constancy. If he is satisfied with only regretting me, when he might have obtained my affections and hand, I shall soon cease to regret him at all."
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The surprise of the rest of the family, on hearing who their visitor had been, was very great; but they obligingly satisfied it, with the same kind of supposition which had appeased14 Mrs. Bennet's curiosity; and Elizabeth was spared from much teasing on the subject.
The next morning, as she was going downstairs, she was met by her father, who came out of his library with a letter in his hand.
"Lizzy," said he, "I was going to look for you; come into my room."
She followed him thither15; and her curiosity to know what he had to tell her was heightened by the supposition of its being in some manner connected with the letter he held. It suddenly struck her that it might be from Lady Catherine; and she anticipated with dismay all the consequent explanations.
She followed her father to the fire place, and they both sat down. He then said,
"I have received a letter this morning that has astonished me exceedingly. As it principally concerns yourself, you ought to know its contents. I did not know before, that I had two daughters on the brink16 of matrimony. Let me congratulate you on a very important conquest."
The colour now rushed into Elizabeth's cheeks in the instantaneous conviction of its being a letter from the nephew, instead of the aunt; and she was undetermined whether most to be pleased that he explained himself at all, or offended that his letter was not rather addressed to herself; when her father continued:
"You look conscious. Young ladies have great penetration17 in such matters as these; but I think I may defy even your sagacity, to discover the name of your admirer. This letter is from Mr. Collins."
"From Mr. Collins! and what can he have to say?"
"Something very much to the purpose of course. He begins with congratulations on the approaching nuptials18 of my eldest19 daughter, of which, it seems, he has been told by some of the good-natured, gossiping Lucases. I shall not sport with your impatience20, by reading what he says on that point. What relates to yourself, is as follows: 'Having thus offered you the sincere congratulations of Mrs. Collins and myself on this happy event, let me now add a short hint on the subject of another; of which we have been advertised by the same authority. Your daughter Elizabeth, it is presumed, will not long bear the name of Bennet, after her elder sister has resigned it, and the chosen partner of her fate may be reasonably looked up to as one of the most illustrious personages in this land.'
"Can you possibly guess, Lizzy, who is meant by this?" 'This young gentleman is blessed, in a peculiar21 way, with every thing the heart of mortal can most desire,—splendid property, noble kindred, and extensive patronage22. Yet in spite of all these temptations, let me warn my cousin Elizabeth, and yourself, of what evils you may incur23 by a precipitate24 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 motive25 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 blemish13, and who probably never looked at you in his life! It is admirable!"
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 condescension26, expressed what she felt on the occasion; when it became 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 amazement27 at hearing that you received the young couple into your house as soon as they were married. It was an encouragement of vice11; and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should very strenuously28 have opposed it. You ought certainly to forgive them, as a Christian29, 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 affronted30 at an idle report. For what do we live, but 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 fixed31 on any other man it would have been nothing; but his perfect indifference32, and your pointed33 dislike, make it so delightfully34 absurd! Much as I abominate35 writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins's correspondence for any consideration. Nay36, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence37 and hypocrisy38 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 distressed39 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 mortified40 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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1
incessantly
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| ad.不停地 | |
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2
recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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4
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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5
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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6
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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7
dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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8
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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9
enumerating
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| v.列举，枚举，数( enumerate的现在分词 ) | |
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10
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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11
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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12
entreaty
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| n.恳求，哀求 | |
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13
blemish
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| v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点 | |
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14
appeased
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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15
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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16
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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17
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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18
nuptials
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| n.婚礼；婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 ) | |
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19
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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20
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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21
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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22
patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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23
incur
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| vt.招致，蒙受，遭遇 | |
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24
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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25
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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26
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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27
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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28
strenuously
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| adv.奋发地，费力地 | |
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29
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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30
affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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31
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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32
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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33
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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34
delightfully
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| 大喜，欣然 | |
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35
abominate
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| v.憎恨，厌恶 | |
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36
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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37
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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38
hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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39
distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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40
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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