ONE morning, about a week after Bingley's engagement with Jane had been formed, as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the dining room, their attention was suddenly drawn to the window, by the sound of a carriage; and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors, and besides, the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses were post; and neither the carriage, nor the livery of the servant who preceded it, were familiar to them. As it was certain, however, that somebody was coming, Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery. They both set off, and the conjectures of the remaining three continued, though with little satisfaction, till the door was thrown open and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.?
They were of course all intending to be surprised; but their astonishment was beyond their expectation; and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty, though she was perfectly unknown to them, even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.?
She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious, made no other reply to Elizabeth's salutation than a slight inclination of the head, and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship's entrance, though no request of introduction had been made.
Mrs. Bennet, all amazement, though flattered by having a guest of such high importance, received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence, she said very stiffly to Elizabeth,
"I hope you are well, Miss Bennet. That lady, I suppose, is your mother."
Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.
"And that I suppose is one of your sisters."
"Yes, madam," said Mrs. Bennet, delighted to speak to a Lady Catherine. "She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married, and my eldest is somewhere about the grounds, walking with a young man who, I believe, will soon become a part of the family."
"You have a very small park here," returned Lady Catherine after a short silence.
"It is nothing in comparison of Rosings, my lady, I dare say; but I assure you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas's."
"This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening, in summer; the windows are full west."
Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner, and then added,
"May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well."
"Yes, very well. I saw them the night before last."
Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte, as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared, and she was completely puzzled.
Mrs. Bennet, with great civility, begged her ladyship to take some refreshment; but Lady Catherine very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating any thing; and then, rising up, said to Elizabeth,
"Miss Bennet, there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it, if you will favour me with your company."
"Go, my dear," cried her mother, "and shew her ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage."
Elizabeth obeyed, and running into her own room for her parasol, attended her noble guest down stairs. As they passed through the hall, Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining-parlour and drawing-room, and pronouncing them, after a short survey, to be decent looking rooms, walked on.
Her carriage remained at the door, and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.
"How could I ever think her like her nephew?" said she, as she looked in her face.
As soon as they entered the copse, Lady Catherine began in the following manner: --
"You can be at no loss, Miss Bennet, to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart, your own conscience, must tell you why I come."
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.
"Indeed, you are mistaken, Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here."
"Miss Bennet," replied her ladyship, in an angry tone, "you ought to know, that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be, you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness, and in a cause of such moment as this, I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married, but that you, that Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood, though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible, I instantly resolved on setting off for this place, that I might make my sentiments known to you."
"If you believed it impossible to be true," said Elizabeth, colouring with astonishment and disdain, "I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it?"
"At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted."
"Your coming to Longbourn, to see me and my family," said Elizabeth coolly, "will be rather a confirmation of it; if, indeed, such a report is in existence."
"If! Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it? Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves? Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad?"
"I never heard that it was."
"And can you likewise declare, that there is no foundation for it?"
"I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer."
"This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet, I insist on being satisfied. Has he, has my nephew, made you an offer of marriage?"
"Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible."
"It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in."
"If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it."
"Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns."
"But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, ever induce me to be explicit."
"Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?"
"Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me."
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment, and then replied,
"The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy, they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother, as well as of her's. While in their cradles, we planned the union: and now, at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished in their marriage, to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth, of no importance in the world, and wholly unallied to the family! Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends? To his tacit engagement with Miss De Bourgh? Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy? Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin?"
"Yes, and I had heard it before. But what is that to me? If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew, I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss De Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin, why is not he to make another choice? And if I am that choice, why may not I accept him?"
"Because honour, decorum, prudence, nay, interest, forbid it. Yes, Miss Bennet, interest; for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends, if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be censured, slighted, and despised, by every one connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace; your name will never even be mentioned by any of us."
"These are heavy misfortunes," replied Elizabeth. "But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation, that she could, upon the whole, have no cause to repine."
"Obstinate, headstrong girl! I am ashamed of you! Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring? Is nothing due to me on that score? Let us sit down. You are to understand, Miss Bennet, that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose; nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person's whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment."
"That will make your ladyship's situation at present more pitiable; but it will have no effect on me."
"I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended, on the maternal side, from the same noble line; and, on the father's, from respectable, honourable, and ancient -- though untitled -- families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses; and what is to divide them? The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family, connections, or fortune. Is this to be endured! But it must not, shall not be. If you were sensible of your own good, you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up."
"In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter; so far we are equal."
"True. You are a gentleman's daughter. But who was your mother? Who are your uncles and aunts? Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition."
"Whatever my connections may be," said Elizabeth, "if your nephew does not object to them, they can be nothing to you."
"Tell me once for all, are you engaged to him?"
Though Elizabeth would not, for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine, have answered this question, she could not but say, after a moment's deliberation,
"I am not."
Lady Catherine seemed pleased.
"And will you promise me, never to enter into such an engagement?"
"I will make no promise of the kind."
"Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require."
"And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter; but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable? Supposing him to be attached to me, would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin? Allow me to say, Lady Catherine, that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character, if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs, I cannot tell; but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg, therefore, to be importuned no farther on the subject."
"Not so hasty, if you please. I have by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged, I have still another to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous elopement. I know it all; that the young man's marrying her was a patched-up business, at the expence of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to be my nephew's sister? Is her husband, is the son of his late father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth! -- of what are you thinking? Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?"
"You can now have nothing farther to say," she resentfully answered. "You have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house."
And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also, and they turned back. Her ladyship was highly incensed.
"You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?"
"Lady Catherine, I have nothing farther to say. You know my sentiments."
"You are then resolved to have him?"
"I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me."
"It is well. You refuse, then, to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty, honour, and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends, and make him the contempt of the world."
"Neither duty, nor honour, nor gratitude," replied Elizabeth, "have any possible claim on me, in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family, or the indignation of the world, if the former were excited by his marrying me, it would not give me one moment's concern -- and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn."
"And this is your real opinion! This is your final resolve! Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine, Miss Bennet, that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable; but, depend upon it, I will carry my point."
In this manner Lady Catherine talked on, till they were at the door of the carriage, when, turning hastily round, she added, "I take no leave of you, Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased."
Elizabeth made no answer; and without attempting to persuade her ladyship to return into the house, walked quietly into it herself. She heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs. Her mother impatiently met her at the door of the dressing-room, to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest herself.
"She did not choose it," said her daughter, "she would go."
"She is a very fine-looking woman! and her calling here was prodigiously civil! for she only came, I suppose, to tell us the Collinses were well. She is on her road somewhere, I dare say, and so, passing through Meryton, thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you, Lizzy?"
Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here; for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible.
--正文
大約賓利和簡訂婚一周后的早上，一家人正坐在餐廳吃早飯，突然聽到一陣馬車的聲音，大家都抬頭朝窗戶看。只見四匹馬拉著一輛馬車駛過草坪?，F(xiàn)在還太早不會有客人拜訪，而且這個馬車也不像是自己鄰居的。幾匹馬都是送信的駿馬。不論是馬車，還是那個坐在前面的熱情仆人，一家人都不太熟悉。但是很明確的是去世有人來了，賓利立刻讓簡和自己避避這些不速之客，拉著她躲進了草叢。他們兩個都跑了，但是剩下的三個人都還在猜測，但是都猜得不太滿意，直到門打開客人進門，他們才知道是卡瑟林.德.包爾夫人。
他們確實都很驚訝，但是這種驚奇更多是因為出乎意料。本內(nèi)特太太和凱蒂之前從沒聽說過卡瑟林夫人，表現(xiàn)地還不如之前的伊麗莎白。
卡瑟林夫人進了門，表現(xiàn)地比平時還要冷漠點，見到伊麗莎白問好也只是輕輕點了下頭，然后就坐下來一言不發(fā)。卡瑟林夫人一進門的時候，伊麗莎白就跟自己母親提起了她的母親，盡管卡瑟林夫人也沒要求她介紹。
本內(nèi)特太太驚喜地要死，此番有這么個貴客到訪，不禁感覺蓬蓽生輝，十分恭敬地招待了她。
就那么沉默了坐了一會后，她冷冷地跟伊麗莎白說：“
我希望你一切都好，本內(nèi)特小姐。那個太太，應(yīng)該就是你媽吧?！?/p>
伊麗莎白十分直接地說她是。
“那那個估計就是你的某個姐妹吧?！?/p>
“是的，太太，”本內(nèi)特太太十分高興能跟卡瑟林太太說句話，“這是我家第二年輕的姑娘，最年輕的那個最近剛家人，而大女兒也差不多了，現(xiàn)在正跟著他那未婚夫在外面散步呢。”
“你家這莊子挺小的啊。”卡瑟林夫人沉默了一會說。
“夫人，跟羅星相比肯定算不了什么。但是跟盧卡斯爵士家的比，那肯定是大多了！”（翻譯官：哈哈哈哈哈哈哈！）
“夏天的時候，這個客廳晚上坐著肯定很不方便，窗戶全是朝西的?！?/p>
本內(nèi)特太太說自己一家人吃完晚飯絕對不會坐在那兒的，然后說：“
我能不能問問夫人您，柯林斯夫人和柯林斯先生還好嗎？”
“是的很不錯，前天晚上我還見了他們”
伊麗莎白現(xiàn)在覺得估計是夏洛特托她帶封信，因為這是她此次拜訪唯一可能的目的。但是卡瑟林夫人根本沒提信的事情，現(xiàn)在搞得伊麗莎白有點迷糊。
而本內(nèi)特太太無比熱情地懇請，夫人吃點甜點。而卡瑟林夫人十分堅決又粗魯?shù)鼐芙^了。然后她站起身來，跟伊麗莎白說：“
本內(nèi)特小姐，你家草坪有個地方似乎草木旺盛，挺好看的，我挺想過去轉(zhuǎn)轉(zhuǎn)的，你要是愿意陪我過去就再好不過了。”
“好閨女，快去！”她母親著急地說，“帶著夫人到處走走。我覺得她會喜歡那個修道院的?！?/p>
伊麗莎白聽明白了意思，然后甘蔗沖進去拿起遮陽傘，然后下樓和她尊貴的客人一起。她們穿過走廊的時候，卡瑟林夫人打開了餐廳和客廳的門，觀察了一會說，這些房間還行，然后就接著走了。
她的馬車還停在門口，伊麗莎白看到卡瑟林夫人的女仆坐在里面。她們倆就這么靜靜地穿過沙石小路，走向那邊的灌木叢?？吹娇ㄉ址蛉吮绕綍r還要冷漠粗魯，伊麗莎白就決心不主動找她說話。
伊麗莎白看著她的臉，說道：“我之前怎么就會覺得她跟她侄兒很像呢？”
她們倆一走到灌木從，卡瑟林夫人就開始說：“
本內(nèi)特小姐，你肯定知道為什么我會來這里。你自己的直覺，你的良心都知道為什么我會來這里?！?/p>
伊麗莎白發(fā)自內(nèi)心地驚訝。
“你錯了夫人。我一點都不知道為什么有榮幸在這里見到你?！?/p>
“本內(nèi)特小姐，“卡瑟林夫人生氣地回答說，”你應(yīng)該知道不要頂撞我。但是不管你怎么樣假情假意，我是不會這樣的。我很自豪自己的個性一直如此真摯誠實，而在眼前的情況下，我也不會放棄這么做。兩天前有一個嚇人的消息傳到我耳邊。我聽說不僅你姐姐就要高嫁了，而且你，伊麗莎白本內(nèi)特小姐，好像馬上也要跟我侄兒結(jié)婚了，我自己的親侄兒——達西。盡管我知道你們結(jié)婚就是大錯特錯，但是我也不會覺得這事有一點點可能性，我立即決定親自來這里一趟，讓你知道我的意見。“
”你要是覺得沒可能，那你為什么還跑那么遠？夫人你這么做是什么意思呢？“伊麗莎白說，她的臉因為驚喜一陣紅，而因為鄙夷又一陣白。
”只是立即來確認這事是沒有可能的！“
”你大老遠跑來蘑菇屯見我和我的家人，只會進一步證實這件事情。如果你聽到的消息是真的話?！耙聋惿桌淅涞卣f
”如果？！你是在跟我玩躲貓貓嗎？這難道不是你自己精心策劃的？你自己就不知道這消息已經(jīng)傳得滿大街都是了嗎？“
”我沒聽說過?！?/p>
”那既然這樣，你敢說這是空穴來風(fēng)嗎？“
”夫人，我覺得自己可能不像您那么坦誠。你可以問問題，我也可以不回答?！?/p>
”這是不可接受的，本內(nèi)特小姐！我堅持要聞到滿意。我侄兒，有沒有向你求過婚？“
”夫人您自己說了不可能了。“
”應(yīng)該不可能！要是他自己還有點理性的話，那肯定也不可能。但是假如他十分喜歡你，而你自己又花言巧語蒙騙誘惑，讓他忘了自己的身份，自己家人的身份，那也可能會迷惑住他的?！?/p>
”我要是這么做了，也不會承認的?！?/p>
”本內(nèi)特小姐，你知道我是誰嗎？我可不習(xí)慣這種話。我?guī)缀跏撬谶@個世上最近的親人了，我有權(quán)利過問他的終身大事?！?/p>
”但是你沒權(quán)利過問我們的。而你現(xiàn)在的行為，讓我一點也不像跟你說明?！?/p>
”我就跟你明說了吧，眼下這件你很想促成的事情，是不可能發(fā)生的，絕不可能。達西已經(jīng)跟我女兒訂婚了。現(xiàn)在你還有什么可說的？“
”只有這句話——如果他已經(jīng)訂婚了，那你也沒理由認為他會向我求婚啊。“
卡瑟林夫人猶豫了一會，然后說：“
他們之間的婚約有點奇怪。他們是訂了娃娃親的。這樁親事是我們雙方做母親的都同意的。他們還在搖籃的時候我們就商量好。而現(xiàn)在，在兩個孩子就要滿足我們姐妹倆心愿的時候，一個出身卑微的女人，毫無價值的女人，一個跟我們兩家完全沒關(guān)系的女人，卻橫插一腳。你就不關(guān)系他朋友們的想法嗎？就不關(guān)心他們的娃娃親嗎？你就沒有一點榮譽感嗎？你難道沒聽我說過他一生下來就是要娶自己表妹的？”（翻譯官：臥槽？慕容復(fù)？）
“我聽說過。但是跟我有什么關(guān)系呢？如果沒有其它理由阻止我跟你侄兒結(jié)婚，那么只是知道你跟他母親希望他娶德.包爾小姐，并不會讓我退縮。你們倆促成這個婚事是盡心盡力了，但是能不能成還是要看別人德。如果達西不跟德.包爾小姐結(jié)婚不有損道德，而且他也不喜歡她的話，那他為什么不能再選另一個姑娘？而如果他選了我，我為什么不接受他呢？”
”因為不論是榮譽，禮節(jié)，還是利害關(guān)系都不贊同。是的本內(nèi)特小姐，利害關(guān)系。如果你要是一意孤行，那就別怪他的家人朋友忽視你了。他的朋友親人會對你指指點點，瞧不起你，鄙視你。你們的結(jié)合會是一個恥辱。我們再也不會提起你的名字?！?/p>
”那可真是太慘了，“伊麗莎白說，”但是達西先生的妻子肯定會很幸福，所以總體上完全沒有理由抱怨?！?/p>
”你這個倔丫頭！我都替你感到害臊！你就是這么感謝我去年春天對你的照顧的？你就不看看我的臉面嗎？我們坐下來說吧。本內(nèi)特小姐，你得明白，我來這兒可是打算實現(xiàn)我的目的的，沒人能勸得了我。我可不會因為某個人的心血來潮就屈服的。我可沒有接受失望的習(xí)慣?！?/p>
”那這會讓夫人您現(xiàn)在的處境更加難過，因為你說的話對我根本沒有用。“
”別打斷我！安靜聽我說。我女兒和我侄兒可是天生一對。他們母親都來自高貴家庭，而他們父親雖然沒有什么頭銜，但也都是來自保守尊敬，有榮譽感，歷史悠久的家庭。雙方不管哪邊，錢財都是拿得出手的。兩邊家族的每個人都堅持他們兩人在一起。什么東西能把他們分開？一個自命不凡的，裝腔作勢的年輕女人？沒有好家庭，也沒什么背景，也沒什么錢財。這是不可容忍的！而且我也不會容忍！也不應(yīng)該容忍！你要是還知道點好壞的話，你也不會想離開自己成長的階層吧?！?/p>
”我不會覺得跟你侄兒結(jié)婚就算脫離自己的階層了。他是個紳士，我也是紳士的女兒。所以怎么說我們都是平等的?！?/p>
”倒是真的。你父親是個紳士?？墒悄隳赣H呢？你的叔叔嬸嬸呢？你可別以為我會忘了他們是什么樣?！?/p>
”不管我的親戚是什么樣的，“伊麗莎白說，”只要你的侄兒不反對，那對你來說也沒什么影響啊?！?/p>
”你跟我說個實話，你跟他訂婚了嗎？“
盡管伊麗莎白不會回答這個問題，因為那樣就等于服從卡瑟林夫人了，但是仔細想了想她還是說：”我沒有?！?/p>
卡瑟林夫人看起來很高興。
”那你會答應(yīng)我，以后不會跟他訂婚嗎？“
”我不會做這樣的承諾。“
”本內(nèi)特小姐，我真是很震驚，很驚訝。我還以為你是那種講道理的女人呢。你可別以為這事我會讓步。你要是不答應(yīng)我的話，我可就不走了?！?/p>
”我肯定不會答應(yīng)你的。我可不會被你這三言兩語就給嚇到。夫人你想達西娶你家閨女，但是我現(xiàn)在給你這個承諾會讓他們的婚姻更加板上釘釘嗎？假如達西喜歡我，那我拒絕了他會讓他選擇自己表妹么？卡瑟林夫人，我就直說了吧，你用這些理由就想說服我，是很愚蠢的行為，而且想說服我這個行為本身也是沒什么眼力。你要是以為用這些理由就能說服我，那你真是搞錯了我的性格。你的侄兒會不會贊成你干涉他的事情，我無從得知。但是你絕對沒有權(quán)利能干涉我的事情。因此，我只能請求你在這件事情上就不要再糾纏我了?！?/p>
”別那么著急，我還沒說完呢。除了剛才說的反對理由，我還有一項要說。我可是知道你五妹的那不光彩的私奔行為。什么細節(jié)我都知道。那個年輕人跟他結(jié)婚只是不得已而為，是你父親和叔叔掏了錢的。而這樣的一個姑娘將來就是我侄兒的妹妹？而她的丈夫，一個他父親管家的兒子，就要成為他的兄弟了么？老天爺！你在想什么呢？我這彭伯里難道就要這樣顏面喪盡？“
“你可以不要再說了！”伊麗莎白厭惡地說，“你已經(jīng)盡你所能地羞辱我了，我現(xiàn)在要回去了。”
她說著就起身走了?？ㄉ址蛉艘财鹕砀厝?。卡瑟林夫人出離憤怒。
“你對我侄兒真是一點不關(guān)心，一點不在乎他的臉面、名聲！你這個冷漠，自私的女人！你難道不覺得跟你這樣的姑娘結(jié)婚會讓他臉面丟盡嗎？”
“卡瑟林夫人，我沒什么可說的。你知道我的想法?！?/p>
“那你是打算跟他結(jié)婚嗎？”
“我沒說過這話。我只是想說，我只會按照自己的觀點，自己的幸福行事，不會參考你的意見，或者任何與我無關(guān)人的意見?！?/p>
“行吧！那你是拒絕我了。你已經(jīng)喪盡天良，不止廉恥，自私自利了！你已經(jīng)決定毀掉他在朋友眼中的形象了，你要讓別人都瞧不起他！”
“這件事情無關(guān)責任，榮譽，或者知恩圖報，”伊麗莎白說，“我跟達西結(jié)婚根本不會影響這些東西。至于他家里人不喜歡我，或者整個世界不喜歡我，如果跟我結(jié)婚會讓他家人不喜歡我，那我也不在意，而世界那么講道理，可不是攪這攤渾水?！?/p>
“這就是你的真是想法！這就是你最終的決定！非常好。我現(xiàn)在知道怎么做了。本內(nèi)特小姐，你可別以為自己的如意算盤能得逞。我過來只是來試試你。我以為你這人挺講道理的，但是現(xiàn)在看來，我還是會堅持自己的觀點?！?/p>
卡瑟林夫人就這么一直說，直到到了馬車那邊。然后她匆忙轉(zhuǎn)過身，說：“本內(nèi)特小姐，我可不會原諒你。我不會說你母親的好話。你根本配不上我這么做。我可真是氣炸了。”
伊麗莎白沒有接話，她也沒想著再邀請卡瑟林夫人進屋坐坐，自己靜靜地進去了。
她上樓的時候聽到了馬車離開的聲音。她母親著急地在更衣室門口等她，問她為什么卡瑟林夫人不進來坐坐。
“她不想進來，”伊麗莎白說，“她想回去了?！?/p>
“她可真是個漂亮的虐人！她能過來拜訪真是太給面子了。我認為她過來只是告訴我們柯林斯夫妻倆很好。我猜她當時已經(jīng)到梅屯了，就想著過來拜訪你。她沒跟你說什么吧，利茲？”
伊麗莎白不得不撒點小謊，因為她實在沒辦法把談話內(nèi)容說出來。
