THE discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, his feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her, and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself, were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility in listening to him, was a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to her friend.
關(guān)于柯林斯先生求婚問(wèn)題的,討論差不多就要結(jié)束了,現(xiàn)在伊麗莎白只感到一種照例難免的的不愉快,有時(shí)候還要聽(tīng)她母親埋怨一兩聲。說(shuō)到那位先生本人,他可并不顯得意氣沮喪,也沒(méi)有表現(xiàn)出要回避她的樣子,只是氣憤憤地板著臉,默然無(wú)聲。他簡(jiǎn)直不跟她說(shuō)話,他本來(lái)的那一股熱情,到下半天都轉(zhuǎn)移到盧卡斯小姐身上去了。盧小姐滿有禮貌地聽(tīng)著他說(shuō)話,這叫大家都松了口氣,特別是她的朋友。

The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill humour or ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he still meant to stay.
班納特太太直到第二天還是同樣不高興,身體也沒(méi)有復(fù)元??铝炙瓜壬策€是那樣又氣憤又傲慢的樣子。伊麗莎白原以為他這樣一氣,就會(huì)早日離開(kāi)此地,誰(shuí)知道他決不因此而改變?cè)瓉?lái)的計(jì)劃,他講她要到星期六才走,便決定要待到星期六。

After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton, to inquire if Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town and attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and vexation, and the concern of every body was well talked over. -- To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self imposed.
吃過(guò)早飯,小姐們上麥里屯去打聽(tīng)韋翰先生回來(lái)了沒(méi)有,同時(shí)為了他沒(méi)有參加尼日斐花園的舞會(huì)而去向他表示惋惜。她們一走到鎮(zhèn)上就遇見(jiàn)了他,于是他陪著小姐們上她們姨媽家里去,他在那兒把他的歉意,他的煩惱,以及他對(duì)于每個(gè)人的關(guān)注,談了個(gè)暢快。不過(guò)他卻在伊麗莎白面前自動(dòng)說(shuō)明,那次舞會(huì)是他自己不愿意去參加。

"I found," said he, "as the time drew near, that I had better not meet Mr. Darcy; -- that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself."
他說(shuō):“當(dāng)時(shí)日期一天天迫近,我心里想,還是不要碰見(jiàn)達(dá)西先生的好;我覺(jué)得要同他在同一間屋子里,在同一個(gè)舞會(huì)上,待上好幾個(gè)鐘頭,那會(huì)叫我受不了,而且可能會(huì)鬧出些笑話來(lái),弄得彼此都不開(kāi)心?!?/div>

She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to her. His accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the compliment it offered to herself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing him to her father and mother.
她非常贊美他的涵養(yǎng)功夫。當(dāng)韋翰和另一位軍官跟她們一塊兒回浪博恩來(lái)的時(shí)候,一路上他特別照顧她,因此他們有充分的空暇來(lái)討論這個(gè)問(wèn)題,而且還客客氣氣地彼此恭維了一陣。他所以要伴送她們,是為了兩大利益;一來(lái)可以讓她高興高興,二來(lái)可以利用這個(gè)大好機(jī)會(huì),去認(rèn)識(shí)認(rèn)識(shí)她的雙親。

Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and was opened immediately. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw her dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected herself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane invited her to follow her up stairs. When they had gained their own room, Jane taking out the letter, said, "This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains, has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town; and without any intention of coming back again. You shall hear what she says."
她們剛回到家里,班納特小姐就接到一封從尼日斐花園寄來(lái)的信。信立刻拆開(kāi)了,里面裝著一張小巧、精致、熨燙得很平滑的信箋,字跡是出自一位小姐的娟秀流利的手筆。伊麗莎白看到姐姐讀信時(shí)變了臉色,又看到她全神貫注在某幾段上面。頃該之間,吉英又鎮(zhèn)靜了下來(lái),把信放在一旁,象平常一樣,高高興興地跟大家一起聊天;可是伊麗莎白仍然為這件事焦急,因此對(duì)韋翰也分心了。韋翰和他的同伴一走,吉英便對(duì)她做了個(gè)眼色,叫她跟上樓去。一到了她們自己房里,吉英就拿出信來(lái),說(shuō)道:“這是另羅琳·彬格萊寫來(lái)的,信上的話真叫我大吃一驚。她們一家人現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)離開(kāi)尼日斐花園上城里去了,再也不打算回來(lái)了。你看看她怎么說(shuō)的吧?!?/div>

She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that day in Grosvenor street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. The next was in these words. "I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; but we will hope at some future period, to enjoy many returns of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the mean while may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that." To these high flown expressions, Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must soon cease to regard it, in the enjoyment of his.
于是她先把第一句念出來(lái),那句話是說(shuō),她們已經(jīng)決定,立刻追隨她們的弟兄上城里去,而且要在當(dāng)天趕到格魯斯汶納街吃飯,原來(lái)赫斯脫先生就住在那條街上。接下去是這樣寫的:──“親愛(ài)的朋友,離開(kāi)哈福德郡,除了你的友誼以外,我真是一無(wú)留戀,不過(guò),我希望將來(lái)有一天,還是可以象過(guò)去那樣愉快地來(lái)往,并希望目前能經(jīng)常通信,無(wú)話不談,以抒離悃。臨筆不勝企盼。”伊麗莎白對(duì)這些浮話奢詞,亦只是姑妄聽(tīng)之;雖說(shuō)她們這一次突然的遷走叫她感到驚奇,可是她并不覺(jué)得真有什么可以惋惜的地方。她們離開(kāi)了尼日斐花園,未必彬格萊先生便不會(huì)再在那兒住下去;至于說(shuō)到跟她們沒(méi)有了來(lái)往,她相信吉英只要跟彬格萊先生時(shí)常見(jiàn)面,也就無(wú)所謂了。

"It is unlucky," said she, after a short pause, "that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks forward, may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends, will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? -- Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by them."
歇了片刻,伊麗莎白說(shuō)道:“不幸得很,你朋友們臨走以前,你沒(méi)有來(lái)得及去看她們一次??墒?,彬格萊小姐既然認(rèn)為將來(lái)還有重聚的歡樂(lè),難道我們不能希望這一天比她意料中來(lái)得早一些嗎?將來(lái)做了姑嫂,不是比今天做朋友更滿意嗎?彬格萊先生不會(huì)被她們久留在倫敦的?!?/div>

"Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you --"
“咖羅琳肯定地說(shuō),她們一家人,今年冬天誰(shuí)也不會(huì)回到哈???lái)了。讓我念給你聽(tīng)吧:

"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London, might be concluded in three or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the croud, but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you."
‘我哥哥昨天和我們告別的時(shí)候,還以為他這次上倫敦去,只要三四天就可以把事情辦好;可是我們認(rèn)為辦不到,同時(shí)我們相信,查爾斯一進(jìn)了城,決不肯馬上就走,因此我們決計(jì)追蹤前去,免得他冷冷清清住在旅館里受罪。我很多朋友都上倫敦去過(guò)冬了;親愛(ài)的朋友,我本來(lái)還希望聽(tīng)到你進(jìn)城去的消息,結(jié)果我失望了。我真摯地希望你在哈福德郡照常能夠極其愉快地度過(guò)圣誕節(jié)。希望你有很多漂亮的男朋友,免得我們一走,你便會(huì)因?yàn)樯倭巳齻€(gè)朋友而感到難受?!?/div>

"It is evident by this," added Jane, "that he comes back no more this winter."
“這明明是說(shuō),”吉英補(bǔ)充道,“他今年冬天不會(huì)回來(lái)啦。”

"It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he should."
“這不過(guò)說(shuō)明彬格萊小姐不要他回來(lái)罷了?!?/div>

"Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. -- He is his own master. But you do not know all. I will read you the passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from you." "Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already, he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing, her relations all wish the connection as much as his own, and a sister's partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?"
“你為什么這樣想法?那一定是他自己的意思。他自己可以作主。可是你還沒(méi)有全部知道呢。我一定要把那特別叫我傷心的一段讀給你聽(tīng)。我對(duì)你完全不必忌諱。”“達(dá)西先生急著要去看看他妹妹;說(shuō)老實(shí)話,我們也差不多同樣熱切地希望和她重逢。我以為喬治安娜·達(dá)西無(wú)論在容貌方面,舉止方面,才藝方面,的確再也沒(méi)有人能夠比得上。露薏莎和我都大膽地希望她以后會(huì)做我們的嫂嫂,因此我們對(duì)她便越發(fā)關(guān)切了。我不知道以前有沒(méi)有跟你提起過(guò)我對(duì)這件事的感覺(jué),可是當(dāng)此離開(kāi)鄉(xiāng)村之際,我不愿意不把這些感覺(jué)說(shuō)出來(lái),我相信你不會(huì)覺(jué)得這是不合理的吧。我的哥哥已經(jīng)深深地受上了她,他現(xiàn)在可以時(shí)常去看她,他們自會(huì)更加親密起來(lái);雙方的家庭方面都同樣盼望這門親事能夠成功。我想,如果我說(shuō),查爾斯最善于博取任何女人的歡心,這可不能是出于做姐妹的偏心,瞎說(shuō)一陣吧。既是各方面都贊成這段姻緣,而且事情毫無(wú)阻礙,那么,最親愛(ài)的吉英,我衷心希望著這件人人樂(lè)意的事能夠?qū)崿F(xiàn),你能說(shuō)我錯(cuò)嗎?”

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