第15章
Mr. Collins was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming 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 a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, 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; and the respect which he felt for her high rank and his veneration 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 obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.
Having now a good house and 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-of atonement-for inheriting their father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, 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 established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration;for in a quarter of an hour's tete-a-tete with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. -“As to her younger daughters she could not take upon her to say-she could not positively answer-but she did not know of any prepossession; -her eldest daughter, she must just mention-she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged.”
Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth-and it was soon done-done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.
Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and 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 high in her good graces.
Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and 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 thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his large book, and go.
In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him.Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them.
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 an 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 if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence 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 entreated 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 corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty-a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation-a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; 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, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, 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 return. What could be the meaning of it? -It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know.
In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.
Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips’throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation.
Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces, and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the —shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who in comparison with the stranger, were become“stupid, disagreeable fellows.”Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested 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. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless.
As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister.
Mr. Collins, on his return, highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He protested 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 civility, but had even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something he supposed might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life.
柯林斯先生并不是一个通情达理的人，他接受的教育或结交的圈子对他的先天不足没有多少帮助；他有生以来的大部分时间都是在没有文化、守财奴似的父亲的指导下度过的；尽管他上过一所大学，但他只是度过了几个必要的学期，没有交到任何有用的朋友。父亲抚养他时的严格管教使他原本养成了极其谦恭的态度，但现在他意志薄弱的大脑被自负大大削弱了，因为他生活悠闲，早期意外发财，所以感到自命不凡。当亨斯福德牧师空缺时，幸运的机遇就把他交给了凯瑟琳·德柏格夫人；他一方面尊重夫人的高位，敬重她这个恩人，另一方面他自高自大，认为自己是牧师，不可一世，作为教区长的种种权利使他傲慢与谄媚、自负与谦卑兼而有之。
他现在有了一座好房子和非常充足的收入，打算结婚，试图跟朗伯恩家握手言和，想在他们家找一位太太。如果他发现朗伯恩家的几个女儿像普通传说的那样美丽亲切，他就想选择其中一个。这就是他所谓补偿的计划——赎罪的计划——是为了将来继承她们父亲的遗产时可以问心无愧。他认为这真是一个独出心裁的方法，既名正言顺，又慷慨豪爽。
见到她们时，他的计划没有改变。——贝内特小姐的可爱脸蛋进一步证实了他的看法，也确立了他一切都应归于老大的最严格观念；第一天晚上，简就被他选中了。然而，第二天上午作了变更；因为早饭前，他跟贝内特太太私下交谈了一刻钟之后，话题从他的牧师府开始，自然转到了他的希望上，声明要在朗伯恩物色一位太太。贝内特太太一边非常谦恭地微笑，给予希望，一边告诫他不要选简。——“至于她的几个小女儿，她不能贸然说——她当然不能回答——可她还不知道她们有什么对象；——她一定要提一下——她觉得有责任暗示，她的大女儿很可能马上就要订婚了。”
柯林斯先生只好从简转向了伊丽莎白——说做就做——在贝内特太太拨火的当儿，就选定了。伊丽莎白无论在年龄还是在美貌上都仅次于简，当然要继任了。
贝内特太太记下了这个暗示，如获至宝，相信她马上就会嫁出去两个女儿了；昨天她连说都不愿说起的这个人，现在她却大有好感。
丽迪雅到魅力屯去的打算没被忘记；除了玛丽之外，每个姐姐都同意陪她去；柯林斯先生要陪她们去，这是应贝内特先生的要求，因为他迫不及待地想摆脱柯林斯先生，独自待在书房。原来柯林斯先生早饭后就跟他来到了书房，一直待到那时还不想走，名义上在看他收藏的那个大型对开本，其实却在跟贝内特先生滔滔不绝地谈他在亨斯福德的房子和花园。这样做让贝内特先生心烦意乱。他总是守在书房里，就是为了确保悠闲清净；他对伊丽莎白说过，尽管他愿意随时准备在庄园的任何一个其他房间里会见愚蠢和自高自负的人，但在书房里习惯不受他们的影响；因此，他立刻彬彬有礼地请柯林斯先生跟他的女儿们一起散步，其实柯林斯先生更适合做一个散步人，而不是做一个读书人，就非常高兴地合上大书走了。
一路上，他装模作样，空话连篇，几个表妹都礼貌地随声附和，他们不知不觉地走进了魅力屯。到了那里，年龄小的几个表妹就不再理他了。她们的目光马上在街上溜来溜去，寻找那些军官，其实只有橱窗里非常漂亮的女帽或确实时新的棉布，才能让她们收回目光。
但是，一个小伙子很快就吸引了每个小姐的注意，她们以前从来没有见过他。只见他举止高雅，跟一位军官走在街对面。那位军官正是丽迪雅过来打听是不是从伦敦返回的丹尼先生。她们经过时，他鞠了个躬。四姐妹都被这个陌生人的风采打动了，都想知道他是谁，基蒂和丽迪雅决心尽可能打听，就穿过大街，假装到街对面的一家商店买东西。碰巧的是，她们刚上人行道，那两位先生就往回走，到达了同一地点。丹尼先生马上向她们打招呼，恳求她们允许，把他的朋友威克汉姆先生介绍给她们。他们前一天刚从伦敦回来，威克汉姆先生很高兴地说，他接受了民兵团的委任状。就应该是这样，因为这个小伙子只要有一身军服，就会使他完美迷人了。他的外貌非常让人喜欢；他面容姣好，身材匀称，谈吐格外可人，处处都占上风。介绍过后，威克汉姆先生马上开心地谈了起来——同时又恰如其分、毫不做作；所有人都还站在一起说得十分投机，这时一阵马蹄声引起了他们的注意，随后看到达西和宾利骑着马沿街而来。这两位先生在人群中认出了贝内特家的几位小姐，径直朝她们奔来，然后开始相互寒暄。宾利是主要说话人，贝内特小姐是主要对象。他说，他当时正要去朗伯恩专门看望她。达西先生鞠了一躬，表示确认，并开始决定不把目光定在伊丽莎白的身上，这时突然看到了那个陌生人。伊丽莎白碰巧看到了两个人面面相觑时的脸色，都是相逢时那种万分惊讶的表情。两个人都变了脸色，一个发白，一个发红。过了一会儿，威克汉姆先生碰了碰帽子——达西先生也屈尊回礼。这可能会是什么意思呢？——这既不可能设想，也不可能不渴望知道。
又过了一会儿，宾利先生似乎并没有注意到这个情景，就告辞，跟朋友骑马继续前进。
丹尼先生和威克汉姆先生陪着几位年轻小姐，走到菲利普家门口；尽管丽迪雅小姐硬要他们进去，甚至菲利普太太也打开了窗户，大声地帮她邀请，但他们还是鞠躬告辞。
菲利普斯太太见到外甥女们总是非常高兴，两个大外甥女最近没有见过面，所以格外受欢迎。她热心地说她对她们姐妹俩突然回家感到惊讶，因为她们家里没有派马车去接她们，要不是碰巧在街上遇到琼斯大夫店里那个跑街的伙计，她本应该一无所知，是他告诉她说不要再去内瑟菲尔德庄园送药了，因为贝内特家的几位小姐回家去了，这时简向她介绍柯林斯先生，她才跟他寒暄了几句。她极其礼貌地欢迎他，他更加礼貌地回敬她，并向她道歉说，素不相识，不该冒昧登门；然而，他又禁不住自鸣得意，因为介绍他的那几位年轻小姐跟他是亲戚，所以他这样打扰并不冒昧。这种过分良好的教养使菲利普太太肃然起敬；但是，她对这位陌生人的注视很快就被另一位陌生人的惊叹和询问打住了；不过，她能告诉她们的只是她们早已知道的情况。他是丹尼先生从伦敦带来的，要在某郡担任中尉之职。她还说，他在街上走来走去时，她一直望了他一个小时。如果威克汉姆先生出现，基蒂和丽迪雅肯定还会继续望着他；但不巧的是，现在除了几位军官之外，没有人从窗口走过，跟威克汉姆先生比较，这些军官都变成了一些“愚蠢讨厌的家伙”。其中一些军官明天要去菲利普家吃饭。她们的姨妈说，如果她们一家人明天晚上能从朗伯恩赶来，她就答应派她的丈夫去拜访威克汉姆先生，并邀请他来。大家都表示同意；菲利普太太说，明天她们要进行一次热闹有趣的彩票游戏，之后再吃点热腾腾的晚饭。想到明天这些乐趣真让人高兴，因此大家分别时都兴高采烈。柯林斯先生出门时又连连道歉，主人也以不厌其烦的礼貌态度说这完全不必客气。
她们走回家时，伊丽莎白向简谈起了她见到的那两位先生之间发生的事儿；不过，即使他们出现什么过错，简也会为其中一个或两个辩解，她跟妹妹一样说不清他们两人的行为到底是什么意思。
柯林斯先生回来时，称赞菲利普太太的礼貌好客，贝内特太太听了非常满意。柯林斯声称，除了凯瑟琳夫人和她的女儿之外，他从来没有见过这样优雅的女人，因为尽管她以前从来不认识他，但她不仅极其礼貌地接待了他，而且甚至特地邀请他参加明天晚上的聚会。他认为，这件事可能多少要归功于他和她们的亲戚关系，但他这辈子还从来没有遇到过如此多的关心。