Kitabı oku: «Pride and Prejudice / Гордость и предубеждение», sayfa 4
Chapter 12
The next morning Elizabeth wrote to their mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, could not bring herself to receive them with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not favourable, at least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved. She urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately.
The communication excited much concern; and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day; and till the morrow62 their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other.
The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her – that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right.
To Mr. Darcy it was welcome news63 – Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked – and Miss Bingley was impolite to her, and more teasing than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered to his book, and did not even look at her.
On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's politeness to Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest of spirits.
They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.
They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of music and human nature; and had some extracts to admire, and some new observations of modern morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined lately with their uncle, and it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.
Chapter 13
“I hope, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet to his wife, as they were at breakfast the next morning, “that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.”
“Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure.”
“The person of whom I speak is a gentleman, and a stranger.”
Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. “A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure!”
“It is not Mr. Bingley,” said her husband; “it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life.”
This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once.
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained:
“About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.”
“Oh!” cried his wife, “I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I think it is the hardest thing in the world, that your estate should be entailed away from your own children.”
“Of course,” said Mr. Bennet, “nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself.”
“Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent, 15th October.
“Dear Sir, —
“The disagreement between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach64. For some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing that it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at disagreement. My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination65 at Easter, I have been distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh. She has preferred me to the valuable rectory66 of this parish, where it will be my earnest endeavour to show the grateful respect towards her ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence. On these grounds I flatter myself that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will not lead you to reject the offered olive-branch. I am concerned at being the means of injuring your daughters, and beg leave67 to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends – but of this later. If you have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of visiting you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and will probably trespass on your hospitality68 till the Saturday following. I can do this without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. – I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,
“WILLIAM COLLINS”
“At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemaking gentleman,” said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. “He seems to be a most polite young man, and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine lets him come to us again.”
“There is some sense in what he says about the girls, however, and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I will not be the person to discourage him.”
“Though it is difficult,” said Jane, “to guess in what way he can mean to make us the amends, the wish is certainly to his credit.”
Elizabeth was chiefly struck by his extraordinary respect for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required69.
“He must be an oddity, I think,” said she. “There is something very pompous in his style. And what can he mean by apologising for being next in the entail? Could he be a sensible man, sir?”
“No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him.”
“In point of composition,” said Mary, “the letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive-branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed.”
To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters.
Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet indeed said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins was not inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy-looking young man of five-and-twenty. His air was grave, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having such a fine family of daughters; said he had heard much of their beauty, but that in this instance fame had fallen short of the truth70; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage. Mrs. Bennet answered most readily.
“You are very kind, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so, for else they will be poor enough. Things are settled so oddly.”
“You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate.”
“Ah, sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things I know are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed.”
“I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward71. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more; but, perhaps, when we are better acquainted —”
He was interrupted by a summons to dinner. The girls were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture, were examined and praised; and his praises of everything would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too in its turn was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins the excellency of its cooking was owing. But Mrs. Bennet assured him with some severity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour.
Chapter 14
During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was expressive in her praise. He protested that “he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank – such cordiality and grace, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen anything but cordiality in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood nor to his leaving the parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble dwelling, where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even suggested some herself – some shelves in the closet upstairs.”
“That is all very proper, I am sure,” said Mrs. Bennet, “and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?”
“The garden in which stands my humble dwelling is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence.”
“I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she any family?”
“She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property.”
“Ah!” said Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, “then she is better off72 than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? Is she handsome?”
“She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex, because there is that in her features which marks the young lady of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of poor health, which has prevented her from making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble dwelling in her little phaeton and ponies.”
“Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court.”
“Her state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornaments. Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I consider myself bound to pay.”
“You judge very properly,” said Mr. Bennet, “and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?”
“They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them an unstudied air73.”
Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure.
By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily agreed, and a book was produced; but, on seeing it, he started back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia yawned as he opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with:
“Do you know, mamma, that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away Richard; and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I am going to walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town.”
Lydia was told by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said:
“I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by serious books, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin.”
Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon74. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most politely for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it would not occur again; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill-will75, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon.
Chapter 15
Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had not been assisted by education or society. The greatest part of his life had been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he did not form at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner; but it was now counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head76, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant. The respect which he felt for her high rank, and his adoration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and servility, selfimportance and humility.
Having now a good house and a very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to choose one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends for inheriting their father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.
His plan did not vary on seeing them. Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration. In a quarter of an hour's tête-à-tête with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his house, and leading naturally to the declaration of his hopes, that a mistress might be found for it at Longbourn, produced from her, among smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. “As to her younger daughters, she did not know of any prepossession; her eldest daughter, she must just mention, was likely to be very soon engaged.”
Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth – and it was soon done. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in age and beauty, succeeded her of course.
Mrs. Bennet trusted that she might soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now in her good graces77.
Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her. Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for there Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast; and there he took a large book but continued talking to Mr. Bennet of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from them there. His politeness, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins was extremely pleased to close his large book, and go.
When they entered Meryton, the eyes of the younger girls were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers.
But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined to find out, led the way across the street, under pretense of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and begged permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted a commission in their corps78. He had a fine face, a good figure, and very pleasing manners. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them. Bingley said he was on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after Jane. Mr. Darcy confirmed it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when he suddenly noticed the stranger. Elizabeth happened to see the expression of both as they looked at each other, and was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat – a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return79. What could be the meaning of it?
In another minute, Mr. Bingley took leave and rode on with his friend.
Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Phillip's house, and then made their bows80, in spite of Miss Lydia's invitation.
Mrs. Phillips was always glad to see her nieces; and she received Mr. Collins with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion, without any previous acquaintance with her. Mrs. Phillips was quite impressed by such an excess of good breeding.
She told her nieces of the stranger what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he had a lieutenant's commission in the – shire. Some of the officers were to dine with the Phillipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband invite Mr. Wickham, also. Mrs. Phillips declared that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits.
As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but Jane could no more explain such behaviour than her sister.
Mr. Collins on his return highly pleased Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Phillips's manners and politeness.
He said that, except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only received him with the utmost politeness, but even included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before.
