登陆注册
3553800000112

第112章

'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 blemish,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 condescension,expressed what she felt on the occasion;when it become 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 amazement,at hearing that you received the young couple into your house as soon as they were married.It was an encouragement of vice;and had I been the rector of Longbourn,I should very strenuously have opposed it.You ought certainly to forgive them as a christian,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 affronted at an idle report.For what do we live,butto 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 fixed on any other man it would have been nothing;but his perfect indifference,and your pointed dislike,make it so delightfully absurd!Much as I abominate writing,I would not give up Mr.Collins's correspondence for any consideration.Nay,when I read a letter of his,I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickham,much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy 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 distressed 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 mortified 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.

XVI

I nstead of receiving any such letter of excuse from his friend,as Elizabeth half expected Mr. Bingley to do,he was able to bring Darcy with him to Longbourn before many days had passed after Lady Catherine's visit.The gentlemen arrived early;and,before Mrs.Bennet had time to tell him of their having seen his aunt,of which her daughter sat in momentary dread,Bingley,who wanted to be alone with Jane,proposed their all walking out.It was agreed to.Mrs.Bennet was not in the habit of walking,Mary could never spare time,but the remaining five set off together.Bingley and Jane,however,soon allowed the others to outstrip them.They lagged behind,while Elizabeth,Kitty,and Darcy,were to entertain each other.Very little was said by either;Kitty was too much afraid of him to talk;Elizabeth was secretly forming a desperate resolution;and perhaps he might be doing the same.

They walked towards the Lucases,because Kitty wished to call upon Maria;and as Elizabeth saw no occasion for making it a general concern,when Kitty left them,she went boldly on with him alone. Now was the moment for her resolution to be executed,and,while her courage was high,she immediately said,

'Mr. Darcy,I am a very selfish creature;and,for the sake of giving relief to my own feelings,care not how much I may be wounding your's.I can no longer help thanking you for your unexampled kindness to my poor sister.Ever since I have known it,I have been most anxious to acknowledge to you how gratefullyI feel it.Were it known to the rest of my family,I should not have merely my own gratitude to express.'

'I am sorry,exceedingly sorry,'replied Darcy,in a tone of surprise and emotion,'that you have ever been informed of what may,in a mistaken light,have given you uneasiness. I did not think Mrs.Gardiner was so little to be trusted.'

'You must not blame my aunt. Lydia's thoughtlessness first betrayed to me that you had been concerned in the matter;and,of course,I could not rest till I knew the particulars.Let me thank you again and again,in the name of all my family,for that generous compassion which induced you to take so much trouble,and bear so many mortifications,for the sake of discovering them.'

'If you will thank me,'he replied,'let it be for yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you,might add force to the other inducements which led me on,I shall not attempt to deny.But your family owe me nothing.Much as I respect them,I believe,I thought only of you.'

同类推荐
  • 佛说如幻三摩地无量印法门经

    佛说如幻三摩地无量印法门经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 开河记

    开河记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 横吹曲辞 捉搦歌

    横吹曲辞 捉搦歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK

    THE BLUE FAIRY BOOK

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 刺奢

    刺奢

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 美国,另一种生活

    美国,另一种生活

    职场中的上司怎么变成了下属?美国阿拉伯的算命师会告诉你什么秘密?生第二胎有怎样的烦恼?一个美国文盲怎么当上了老板?在美华人一定要培养孩子上常春藤大学吗?在美国的房子外种果树,房价是增值还是贬值?美国为什么没钱参加世博会?美国的佛教徒为什么不烧香礼佛……作者以在美旅居20年的亲身经历,绘声绘色地讲述了在美国生活的方方面面,内容涵盖美国职场、文化冲突、教育理念、体育政治等真实状况。告诉你一个与众不同的美国,它错综复杂的好处和坏处。呈现一个立体的美国,万花筒般的美国,它的光怪陆离和色彩斑斓。
  • 江湖青衫行

    江湖青衫行

    江湖纵横,剑影刀光;悲欢离合,泪湿青衫……北宋末年,风云动荡,政局难测,宋金联军灭了辽国,金国却又反戈一击,侵攻大宋。大宋军民奋起抵抗,奈何朝政腐败,终不敌北国虎狼之兵,节节败退。大宋武林人士正欲携手共同北上抗金,在这民族危亡之际,突然腥风血雨,江湖上同时出现了重天教、鬼门关两大邪派组织,却无人知道这两大邪派的来历与目的,一时风声鹤唳,草木皆兵,人人自危……青衫少年谢恩因师门巨变,便在此时携师妹温红狐懵懵懂懂地踏入了这个波诡云谲的江湖……
  • 盗梦工厂

    盗梦工厂

    工业化的学校模式已有将近一百五十年的历史,它还能满足今天的需要吗?学校的职能究竟是什么?赛斯·高汀在这篇三万字的意见书里指出,互联时代需要的不是读死书的考试冠军,不是听指挥的产业工人,而是独辟蹊径的追梦者,是敢于打破成规的领袖、企业家、创业者、艺术家。本书于2012年2月27日发表在作者的博客上,由多篇短文和博客文章集合而成。作者在书中简述了现代教育的历史和现状,对教育体制(包括高等教育)的改革提出了很多大胆而独到的设想和建议,并开放版权,以期引起广泛的关注和讨论。
  • 蔡徐坤时光不及遇见你

    蔡徐坤时光不及遇见你

    我与你只差一个时光,然而,它太慢,等不急,我就先爱上了你。甜文上线,全文无虐,等待接收,哔哔哔……
  • 青少年必听语文之谜的故事(启迪青少年的语文故事集)

    青少年必听语文之谜的故事(启迪青少年的语文故事集)

    本丛书重视语文的基础知识训练,选编了常用词语、好词好句、古文名句解读,谚语、歇后语集萃,还有语文趣味故事、语文之谜以及语文大家的故事等等,目的是使中小学生在快乐的阅读中逐步提高语文知识,增加文学素养,为将来走出社会自立人生打下坚实的基础。
  • 昌言

    昌言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 红警的黑科技帝国

    红警的黑科技帝国

    【年度火爆爽文,免费阅读!】叶铭偶然获得红警系统,从狂暴的一发不可收拾,穿梭土著文明两界,掠夺资源,售卖黑科技!什么?你说我缺钱?呵呵,我随便研发的几个黑科技,就快成为世界首富了,你跟我提钱?我都不知道钱是什么东西。什么?红警基地需要能量?简单,我这就派出百万雄师部队前往土著文明世界掠夺资源,什么黑科技武器全都给我派上去,红警所到之处,寸草不生!PS:已完本200万精品《红警之科技帝国》
  • 神仙服饵丹石行药法

    神仙服饵丹石行药法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 毒妇从良记:女配翻身攻略

    毒妇从良记:女配翻身攻略

    不就尼玛的埋怨了下作者,至于严重到穿越吗?好吧,那就既来之则安之!“居然让我碰上穿越这种事,等老娘把白莲花女主来个大改造,让那些欺负我者,通通都去屎,O(∩_∩)O哈哈~”慢着!你叫我什么?大公主?我不应该是白莲花二公主吗?二公主才是女主啊!我是不是上错身了?大公主可是让我恨得牙痒的恶毒女配啊,虽然她跟我同名同姓O__O”…某人仿佛被打入万丈深渊!【新女配文,放心入坑,不各种黑,QQ群:①⑥①⑤②⑤④⑦⑧】
  • 佛为心王菩萨说投陀经

    佛为心王菩萨说投陀经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。