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Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
Chapter 37
The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning, and Mr. Collins having been in waiting near the lodges1, to make them his parting obeisance2, was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence, of their appearing in very good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy3 scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then hastened, to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her.
Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting4 that, had she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her future niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her ladyship's indignation would have been. "What would she have said? how would she have behaved?" were questions with which she amused herself.
Their first subject was the diminution5 of the Rosings party. "I assure you, I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine; "I believe no one feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to these young men, and know them to be so much attached to me! They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The dear Colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely, more, I think, than last year. His attachment6 to Rosings certainly increases."
Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion7 to throw in here, which were kindly8 smiled on by the mother and daughter.
Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out of spirits, and immediately accounting9 for it by herself, by supposing that she did not like to go home again so soon, she added:
"But if that is the case, you must write to your mother and beg that you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company, I am sure."
"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," replied Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept it. I must be in town next Saturday."
"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare you for another fortnight."
"But my father cannot. He wrote last week to hurry my return."
"Oh! your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as Dawson does not object to the barouche-box, there will be very good room for one of you—and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should not object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large."
Lady Catherine seemed resigned. "Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of two young women travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper11. You must contrive12 to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing. Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having two men-servants go with her. Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy, of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with propriety13 in a different manner. I am excessively attentive14 to all those things. You must send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone."
"My uncle is to send a servant for us."
"Oh! Your uncle! He keeps a man-servant, does he? I am very glad you have somebody who thinks of these things. Where shall you change horses? Oh! Bromley, of course. If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be attended to."
Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary, which Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her; or, with a mind so occupied, she might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be reserved for solitary15 hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.
Mr. Darcy's letter she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She studied every sentence; and her feelings towards its writer were at times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, she was still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned16 and upbraided17 him, her anger was turned against herself; and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion18. His attachment excited gratitude19, his general character respect; but she could not approve him; nor could she for a moment repent20 her refusal, or feel the slightest inclination21 ever to see him again. In her own past behaviour, there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy defects of her family, a subject of yet heavier chagrin22. They were hopeless of remedy. Her father, contented23 with laughing at them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters; and her mother, with manners so far from right herself, was entirely24 insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence, what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable25, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always affronted26 by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt27 with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there forever.
Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing28 concern; and Mr. Darcy's explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinion, heightened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved to have been sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach to the implicitness29 of his confidence in his friend. How grievous then was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every respect, so replete30 with advantage, so promising31 for happiness, Jane had been deprived, by the folly32 and indecorum of her own family!
When to these recollections was added the development of Wickham's character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had seldom been depressed33 before, were now so much affected34 as to make it almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful.
Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of her stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent there; and her ladyship again inquired minutely into the particulars of their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right way, that Maria thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo35 all the work of the morning, and pack her trunk afresh.
When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension36, wished them a good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next year; and Miss de Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her hand to both.
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1
lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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2
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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3
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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4
recollecting
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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5
diminution
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| n.减少；变小 | |
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6
attachment
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| n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附 | |
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7
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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8
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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10
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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11
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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12
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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13
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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14
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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15
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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16
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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17
upbraided
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| v.责备，申斥，谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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19
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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20
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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21
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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22
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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23
contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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24
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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25
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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26
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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27
flirt
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| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
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28
prevailing
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| adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的 | |
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29
implicitness
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| adj.含蓄的, 绝对的, 无疑问的,固有的,无保留的,暗示的 | |
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30
replete
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| adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁 | |
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31
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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32
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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33
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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34
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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35
undo
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| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
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36
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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