登陆注册
5409300000025

第25章

‘Probably not;-but Mr Darcy can please where he chuses.He does not want abilities.He can be a conversible companion if he thinks it worth his while.Among those who are at all his equals in consequence,he is a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous.His pride never deserts him;but with the rich he is liberal minded,just,sincere,rational,honourable,and perhaps agreeable-allowing something for fortune and figure.’

The whist party soon afterwards breaking up,the players gathered round the other table,and Mr Collins took his station between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs Philips.-The usual inquiries as to his success were made by the latter.It had not been very great;he had lost every point;but when Mrs Philips began to express her concern thereupon,he assured her with much earnest gravity that it was not of the least importance,that he considered the money as a mere trifle,and begged she would not make herself uneasy.

‘I know very well,madam,’said he,‘that when persons sit down to a card table,they must take their chance of these things,-and happily I am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object.There are undoubtedly many who could not say the same,but thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh,I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters.’

Mr Wickham's attention was caught;and after observing Mr Collins for a few moments,he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation were very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh.

‘Lady Catherine de Bourgh,’she replied,‘has very lately given him a living.I hardly know how Mr Collins was first introduced to her notice,but he certainly has not known her long.’

‘You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters;consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr Darcy?’

‘No,indeed,I did not.-I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine's connexions.I never heard of her existence till the day before yesterday.’

‘Her daughter,Miss de Bourgh,will have a very large fortune,and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates.’

This information made Elizabeth smile,as she thought of poor Miss Bingley.Vain indeed must be all her attentions,vain and useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself,if he were already self destined to another.

‘Mr Collins,’said she,‘speaks highly both of Lady Catherine and her daughter;but from some particulars that he has related of her ladyship,I suspect his gratitude misleads him,and that in spite of her being his patroness,she is an arrogant,conceited woman.’

‘I believe her to be both in a great degree,’replied Wickham;‘I have not seen her for many years,but I very well remember that I never liked her,and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent.She has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever;but I rather believe she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune,part from her authoritative manner,and the rest from the pride of her nephew,who chuses that everyone connected with him should have an understanding of the first class.’

Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it,and they continued talking together with mutual satisfaction till supper put an end to cards;and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Mr Wickham's attentions.There could be no conversation in the noise of Mrs Philips's supper party,but his manners recommended him to every body.Whatever he said,was said well;and whatever he did,done gracefully.Elizabeth went away with her head full of him.She could think of nothing but of Mr Wickham,and of what he had told her,all the way home;but there was not time for her even to mention his name as they went,for neither Lydia nor Mr Collins were once silent.Lydia talked incessantly of lottery tickets,of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won;and Mr Collins,in describing the civility of Mr and Mrs Philips,protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses at whist,enumerating all the dishes at supper,and repeatedly fearing that he crouded his cousins,had more to say than he could well manage before the carriage stopped at Longbourn House.

Chapter 17

Elizabeth related to Jane the next day,what had passed between Mr Wickham and herself.Jane listened with astonishment and concern;-she knew not how to believe that Mr Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr Bingley's regard;and yet,it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham.-The possibility of his having really endured such unkindness,was enough to interest all her tender feelings;and nothing therefore remained to be done,but to think well of them both,to defend the conduct of each,and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not be otherwise explained.

‘They have both,’said she,‘been deceived,I dare say,in some way or other,of which we can form no idea.Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other.It is,in short,impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them,without actual blame on either side.’

‘Very true,indeed;-and now,my dear Jane,what have you got to say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business?Do clear them too,or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody.’

‘Laugh as much as you chuse,but you will not laugh me out of my opinion.My dearest Lizzy,do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr Darcy,to be treating his father's favourite in such a manner,-one,whom his father had promised to provide for.-It is impossible.No man of common humanity,no man who had any value for his character,could be capable of it.Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him?oh!no.’

同类推荐
  • Zhongshan Road 中山路:追寻近代中国的现代化脚印

    Zhongshan Road 中山路:追寻近代中国的现代化脚印

    《中山路:追寻近代中国的现代化脚印》讲述了孙中山先生将中华民族引上了一条民族、民权、民生三大主义并重的现代化之路的历程。回顾了中国在追求现代化过程中的艰难与曲折,试图洞彻历史的幽微。
  • 当幸福来敲门(英文爱藏双语系列)

    当幸福来敲门(英文爱藏双语系列)

    幸福瞬间的确存在。每天,它们在我们身边徘徊,像银光闪闪的游鱼,等待我们去捕捉。即使你没有找到幸福,它们也会找上你。快乐似乎就是简单地做事,是一种能从最简单的事物中提炼出乐趣的能力。万事万物都绽放着美。漫步于田野或者树林,闲荡在夏日海边或山涧,细碎的困惑和忧虑都会烟消云散。
  • 世界上最美的情诗

    世界上最美的情诗

    《世界上最美的情诗》从诗歌宝库中精选了百余篇具有代表性的篇章,所选篇目皆出自于名家之手,它们语言优美,意境深邃,篇篇可谓人类文明的共同财富。同时在本书内容的选择上也力求广泛,它们或讴歌大自然,或吟咏爱情,或感叹人生,可谓包罗人生的方方面面。
  • 商务英语情景口语王

    商务英语情景口语王

    语言的学习是一个循序渐进的过程。它需要我们牢记单词的含义,理解常用句型及其应用,更需要我们把所学到的语言知识,灵活自如地应用到各种现实场景中,发挥语言的交际作用。最好的方法,莫过于提前了解这些场景,知道母语使用者在这些场景中是如何使用语言的,模仿他们的语言,最后在不知不觉中提高了自己的语言表达能力。
  • 那些美好而忧伤的记忆(每天读一点英文)

    那些美好而忧伤的记忆(每天读一点英文)

    《那些美好而忧伤的记忆》选取亲情、友谊、爱情等主题美文,让你在阅读中,感恩那些你爱的、爱你的人们!《每天读一点英文》是一套与美国人同步阅读的中英双语丛书。该丛书由美国英语教师协会推荐,讲解单词、精华句型、翻译、检验阅读成果,升级英语能力!
热门推荐
  • 责任关键在于落实

    责任关键在于落实

    全面升级企业的落实力,打造负责高效的执行者。没有落实,最简单的工作任务也不可能完成,没有落实,再好的制度也是一纸空文,没有落实,再理想的目标也不会实现,没有落实,再正确的决策也不会发挥其应有的作用。 所以,落实便是关键所在。
  • 忏悔录

    忏悔录

    奥古斯丁的《忏悔录》是迄今为止对罪恶、神的显现以及拯救探索最为深入的著作之一,它激扬地宣告:信仰具有改变人生的力量。本书对我们思想的影响至今未衰。
  • 快穿之男主是大仇家

    快穿之男主是大仇家

    布思雯倒了八辈子血霉进了游戏系统,最让她头疼的事男主设定都是敌对方的!系统爹爹,能不能让我好好追个男神,谈个恋爱?系统爹爹:好的美女,谈恋爱吗?布思雯:!!!!系统爹爹居然不是计算机,而是男主本人!【百变男主X疯癫放肆小女主,每段都是披着砒霜假皮的甜宠,1v1,坚持逗比风格,天打雷劈都不动摇!】
  • 苍茫青藏

    苍茫青藏

    西部军旅风情纪实文丛,本书以纪实的手法记录了建设青藏的军人的生活,包括《生命亲禁区的保护神》、《一对军人夫妻和他们的儿子》、《情系天边那条线》等。
  • 不抱怨地工作

    不抱怨地工作

    调查显示,有八成的职场人会习惯性地表达哀伤、痛苦或不满。65.7 %的职场人表示自己一天抱怨次数在1~5次之间。抱怨与工作相关的人达 80.5%。没有老板喜欢爱抱怨的员工,积极地解决问题才是职场生存之道。
  • 重生一等妻:悠个老公去领证

    重生一等妻:悠个老公去领证

    结婚三年,从未同房,那夜,她被他联合亲姐,找人玷污她。面对满屋的狼藉,她第一次如此仇恨一个人。重生一世,她性子突变,发誓让前世欠她之人,血债血偿。
  • 海洋馆漫游:海上历险探险

    海洋馆漫游:海上历险探险

    放眼全球,世界上最发达的国家都是海洋大国,经济最活跃的地区都在沿海地区。在当今国际社会,开发海洋、拓展生存和发展空间,已成为世界沿海各国的发展方向和潮流。海洋是一个富饶而未充分开发的自然资源宝库。海洋自然资源包括海域(海洋空间)资源、海洋生物资源、海洋能源、海洋矿产资源、海洋旅游资源、海水资源等。这一切都等待着我们去发现、去开采。青少年认真学习海洋知识,不仅能为未来开发海洋及早储备知识,还能海洋研究事业做出应有的贡献。
  • 我们对世界的认识(爱智书系)

    我们对世界的认识(爱智书系)

    世界有没有一个开端?宇宙有没有一个边界?世界上究竟是先有鸡还是先有蛋、还有那至今令人类百思不得其解的时间之谜:在这些亘古谜团之外,还有一些至关重要的问题:我们能不能提出“世界”是什么一这个问题?人的感觉是否可靠?语言能不能传达思想?我们能否认识他人的心灵?经过理性的反思和省察后,我们会发现所有我们习以为常的问题和答案,原来都小是这么理所当然,闪此在自然面前永远保持谦恭的姿态就成了唯一正确选怿!
  • 桃源记之凡尘

    桃源记之凡尘

    痴痴寻觅数年的梦中圣境,便如此轻易地降临了。桃源美景,世间再无其二,旷世祥和,天地别无它处。是何缘由嫉妒与欺诈在圣境之中滋生,贪欲和杀戮于三源之地蔓延?在恶兽天灾横行的逆境之中,唯有智慧与爱是永恒不灭的黎明之火,是挽救万世的惊鸿之剑。致敬,烂漫凄美的爱情,矢志不渝的恋人。
  • 农家悍妻来种田

    农家悍妻来种田

    一朝穿越,她变成了农门小媳妇,还摊上一个俊美俏相公。婆婆刻薄,大嫂刁蛮,三嫂算计,极品亲戚一堆,苏青瑶撸了撸袖子,“大不了就是干!”极品消停了,日子富裕了,人也变美了,只不过这越来越大的肚子是怎么回事?