Jane Austenn

《傲慢與偏見(jiàn)》（Pride and Prejudice）是英國(guó)女小說(shuō)家簡(jiǎn)·奧斯汀的長(zhǎng)篇小說(shuō)。

小說(shuō)描寫(xiě)了鄉(xiāng)紳班納特五個(gè)待字閨中的千金的生活，主角是二女兒伊麗莎白。她在一次舞會(huì)上認(rèn)識(shí)了一位年輕的紳士達(dá)西，但是耳聞他為人傲慢，就一直對(duì)他心生排斥。經(jīng)歷了一番周折，伊麗莎白終于消除了對(duì)達(dá)西的偏見(jiàn)，達(dá)西也不再傲慢，有情人終成眷屬。

這部作品以日常生活為素材，一反當(dāng)時(shí)社會(huì)上流行的感傷小說(shuō)矯揉造作的寫(xiě)作手法，生動(dòng)地反映了18世紀(jì)末到19世紀(jì)初處于保守和閉塞狀態(tài)下的英國(guó)鄉(xiāng)鎮(zhèn)生活和人情世態(tài)。它多次被改編成電影和電視劇。

本文節(jié)選自《傲慢與偏見(jiàn)》第五十八章。

ONE morning，about a week after Bingley’s engagement with Jane had been formed，as he and the females of the family were sitting together in the dining room，their attention was suddenly drawn to the window，by the sound of a carriage；and they perceived a chaise and four driving up the lawn. It was too early in the morning for visitors，and besides，the equipage did not answer to that of any of their neighbours. The horses were post；and neither the carriage，nor the livery of the servant who preceded it，were familiar to them. As it was certain，however，that somebody was coming，Bingley instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion，and walk away with him into the shrubbery. They both set off，and the conjectures of the remaining three continued，though with little satisfaction，till the door was thrown open and their visitor entered. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

They were of course all intending to be surprised；but their astonishment was beyond their expectation；and on the part of Mrs. Bennet and Kitty，though she was perfectly unknown to them，even inferior to what Elizabeth felt.

She entered the room with an air more than usually ungracious，made no other reply to Elizabeth’s salutation than a slight inclination of the head，and sat down without saying a word. Elizabeth had mentioned her name to her mother on her ladyship’s entrance，though no request of introduction had been made.

Mrs. Bennet，all amazement，though flattered by having a guest of such high importance，received her with the utmost politeness. After sitting for a moment in silence，she said very stiffly to Elizabeth，“I hope you are well，Miss Bennet. That lady，I suppose，is your mother.”

Elizabeth replied very concisely that she was.

“And that I suppose is one of your sisters.”

“Yes，madam，”said Mrs. Bennet，delighted to speak to a Lady Catherine.“She is my youngest girl but one. My youngest of all is lately married，and my eldest is somewhere about the grounds，walking with a young man who，I believe，will soon become a part of the family.”

“You have a very small park here，”returned Lady Catherine after a short silence.

“It is nothing in comparison of Rosings，my lady，I dare say；but I assure you it is much larger than Sir William Lucas’s.”

“This must be a most inconvenient sitting room for the evening，in summer；the windows are full west.”

Mrs. Bennet assured her that they never sat there after dinner，and then added，“May I take the liberty of asking your ladyship whether you left Mr. and Mrs. Collins well.”

“Yes，very well. I saw them the night before last.”

Elizabeth now expected that she would produce a letter for her from Charlotte，as it seemed the only probable motive for her calling. But no letter appeared，and she was completely puzzled.

Mrs. Bennet，with great civility，begged her ladyship to take some refreshment；but Lady Catherine very resolutely，and not very politely，declined eating any thing；and then，rising up，said to Elizabeth，“Miss Bennet，there seemed to be a prettyish kind of a little wilderness on one side of your lawn. I should be glad to take a turn in it，if you will favour me with your company.”

“Go，my dear，”cried her mother，“and shew her ladyship about the different walks. I think she will be pleased with the hermitage.”

Elizabeth obeyed，and running into her own room for her parasol，attended her noble guest down stairs. As they passed through the hall，Lady Catherine opened the doors into the dining- parlour and drawing- room，and pronouncing them，after a short survey，to be decent looking rooms，walked on.

Her carriage remained at the door，and Elizabeth saw that her waiting-woman was in it. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse；Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable.

“How could I ever think her like her nephew？”said she，as she looked in her face.

As soon as they entered the copse，Lady Catherine began in the following manner：

“You can be at no loss，Miss Bennet，to understand the reason of my journey hither. Your own heart，your own conscience，must tell you why I come.”

Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment.

“Indeed，you are mistaken，Madam. I have not been at all able to account for the honour of seeing you here.”

“Miss Bennet，”replied her ladyship，in an angry tone，“you ought to know，that I am not to be trifled with. But however insincere you may choose to be，you shall not find me so. My character has ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness，and in a cause of such moment as this，I shall certainly not depart from it. A report of a most alarming nature reached me two days ago. I was told that not only your sister was on the point of being most advantageously married，but that you，that Miss Elizabeth Bennet，would，in all likelihood，be soon afterwards united to my nephew，my own nephew，Mr. Darcy. Though I know it must be a scandalous falsehood，though I would not injure him so much as to suppose the truth of it possible，I instantly resolved on setting off for this place，that I might make my sentiments known to you.”

“If you believed it impossible to be true，”said Elizabeth，colouring with astonishment and disdain，“I wonder you took the trouble of coming so far. What could your ladyship propose by it？”

“At once to insist upon having such a report universally contradicted.”

“Your coming to Longbourn，to see me and my family，”said Elizabeth coolly，“will be rather a confirmation of it；if，indeed，such a report is in existence.”

“If！Do you then pretend to be ignorant of it？Has it not been industriously circulated by yourselves？Do you not know that such a report is spread abroad？”

“I never heard that it was.”

“And can you likewise declare，that there is no foundation for it？”

“I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship. You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.”

“This is not to be borne. Miss Bennet，I insist on being satisfied. Has he，has my nephew，made you an offer of marriage？”

“Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible.”

“It ought to be so；it must be so，while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may，in a moment of infatuation，have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in.”

“If I have，I shall be the last person to confess it.”

“Miss Bennet，do you know who I am？I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world，and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”

“But you are not entitled to know mine；nor will such behaviour as this，ever induce me to be explicit.”

“Let me be rightly understood. This match，to which you have the presumption to aspire，can never take place. No，never. Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say？”

“Only this；that if he is so，you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.”

Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment，and then replied，“The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind. From their infancy，they have been intended for each other. It was the favourite wish of his mother，as well as of her’s. While in their cradles，we planned the union：and now，at the moment when the wishes of both sisters would be accomplished in their marriage，to be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth，of no importance in the world，and wholly unallied to the family！Do you pay no regard to the wishes of his friends？To his tacit engagement with Miss De Bourgh？Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and delicacy？Have you not heard me say that from his earliest hours he was destined for his cousin？”

“Yes，and I had heard it before. But what is that to me？If there is no other objection to my marrying your nephew，I shall certainly not be kept from it by knowing that his mother and aunt wished him to marry Miss De Bourgh. You both did as much as you could in planning the marriage. Its completion depended on others. If Mr. Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his cousin，why is not he to make another choice？And if I am that choice，why may not I accept him？”

“Because honour，decorum，prudence，nay，interest，forbid it. Yes，Miss Bennet，interest；for do not expect to be noticed by his family or friends，if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all. You will be cen- sured，slighted，and despised，by every one connected with him. Your alliance will be a disgrace；your name will never even be mentioned by any of us.”

“These are heavy misfortunes，”replied Elizabeth.“But the wife of Mr. Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness necessarily attached to her situation，that she could，upon the whole，have no cause to repine.”

“Obstinate，headstrong girl！I am ashamed of you！Is this your gratitude for my attentions to you last spring？Is nothing due to me on that score？Let us sit down. You are to understand，Miss Bennet，that I came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose；nor will I be dissuaded from it. I have not been used to submit to any person’s whims. I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment.”

“That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more pitiable；but it will have no effect on me.”

“I will not be interrupted. Hear me in silence. My daughter and my nephew are formed for each other. They are descended，on the maternal side，from the same noble line；and，on the father’s，from respectable，honourable，and ancient -- though untitled -- families. Their fortune on both sides is splendid. They are destined for each other by the voice of every member of their respective houses；and what is to divide them？The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family，connections，or fortune. Is this to be endured！But it must not，shall not be. If you were sensible of your own good，you would not wish to quit the sphere in which you have been brought up.”

“In marrying your nephew，I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman；I am a gentleman’s daughter；so far we are equal.”

“True. You are a gentleman’s daughter. But who was your mother？Who are your uncles and aunts？Do not imagine me ignorant of their condition.”

“Whatever my connections may be，”said Elizabeth，“if your nephew does not object to them，they can be nothing to you.”

“Tell me once for all，are you engaged to him？”

Though Elizabeth would not，for the mere purpose of obliging Lady Catherine，have answered this question，she could not but say，after a moment’s deliberation，

“I am not.”

Lady Catherine seemed pleased.

“And will you promise me，never to enter into such an engagement？”

“I will make no promise of the kind.”

“Miss Bennet I am shocked and astonished. I expected to find a more reasonable young woman. But do not deceive yourself into a belief that I will ever recede. I shall not go away till you have given me the assurance I require.”

“And I certainly never shall give it. I am not to be intimidated into anything so wholly unreasonable. Your ladyship wants Mr. Darcy to marry your daughter；but would my giving you the wished-for promise make their marriage at all more probable？Supposing him to be attached to me，would my refusing to accept his hand make him wish to bestow it on his cousin？Allow me to say，Lady Catherine，that the arguments with which you have supported this extraordinary application have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. You have widely mistaken my character，if you think I can be worked on by such persuasions as these. How far your nephew might approve of your interference in his affairs，I cannot tell；but you have certainly no right to concern yourself in mine. I must beg，therefore，to be importuned no farther on the subject.”

“Not so hasty，if you please. I have by no means done. To all the objections I have already urged，I have still another to add. I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister’s infamous elopement. I know it all；that the young man’s marrying her was a patched-up business，at the expence of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to be my nephew’s sister？Is her husband，is the son of his late father’s steward，to be his brother？Heaven and earth！-- of what are you thinking？Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted？”

“You can now have nothing farther to say，”she resentfully answered.“You have insulted me in every possible method. I must beg to return to the house.”

And she rose as she spoke. Lady Catherine rose also，and they turned back. Her ladyship was highly incensed.

“You have no regard，then，for the honour and credit of my nephew！Unfeeling，selfish girl！Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody？”

“Lady Catherine，I have nothing farther to say. You know my sentiments.”

“You are then resolved to have him？”

“I have said no such thing. I am only resolved to act in that manner，which will，in my own opinion，constitute my happiness，without reference to you，or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”

“It is well. You refuse，then，to oblige me. You refuse to obey the claims of duty，honour，and gratitude. You are determined to ruin him in the opinion of all his friends，and make him the contempt of the world.”

“Neither duty，nor honour，nor gratitude，”replied Elizabeth，“have any possible claim on me，in the present instance. No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr. Darcy. And with regard to the resentment of his family，or the indignation of the world，if the former were excited by his marrying me，it would not give me one moment’s concern -- and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn.”

“And this is your real opinion！This is your final resolve！Very well. I shall now know how to act. Do not imagine，Miss Bennet，that your ambition will ever be gratified. I came to try you. I hoped to find you reasonable；but，depend upon it，I will carry my point.”

In this manner Lady Catherine talked on，till they were at the door of the carriage，when，turning hastily round，she added，“I take no leave of you，Miss Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously displeased.”

Elizabeth made no answer；and without attempting to persuade her ladyship to return into the house，walked quietly into it herself. She heard the carriage drive away as she proceeded up stairs. Her mother impatiently met her at the door of the dressing-room，to ask why Lady Catherine would not come in again and rest herself.

“She did not choose it，”said her daughter，“she would go.”

“She is a very fine-looking woman！and her calling here was prodigiously civil！for she only came，I suppose，to tell us the Collinses were well. She is on her road somewhere，I dare say，and so，passing through Meryton，thought she might as well call on you. I suppose she had nothing particular to say to you，Lizzy？”

Elizabeth was forced to give into a little falsehood here；for to acknowledge the substance of their conversation was impossible.

有一天上午，大約是彬格萊和吉英訂婚之后的一個(gè)星期，彬格萊正和女眷們坐在飯廳里，忽然聽(tīng)到一陣馬車(chē)聲，大家都走到窗口去看，只見(jiàn)一輛四匹馬拉的馬車(chē)駛進(jìn)園里來(lái)。這么一大早，理當(dāng)不會(huì)有客人來(lái)，再看看那輛馬車(chē)的配備，便知道這位訪客絕不是他們的街坊四鄰。馬是驛站上的馬，至于馬車(chē)本身，車(chē)前待從所穿的號(hào)服，他們也不熟悉。彬格萊既然斷定有人來(lái)訪，便馬上勸班納特小姐跟他避開(kāi)，免得被這不速之客纏住，于是吉英跟他走到矮樹(shù)林里去了。他們倆走了以后，另外三個(gè)人依舊在那兒猜測(cè)，可惜猜不出這位來(lái)客是誰(shuí)。最后門(mén)開(kāi)了，客人走進(jìn)屋來(lái)，原來(lái)是咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人。

大家當(dāng)然都十分詫異，萬(wàn)萬(wàn)想不到會(huì)有這樣出奇的事。班納特太太和吉蒂跟她素昧生平，可是反而比伊麗莎白更感到榮幸。

客人走進(jìn)屋來(lái)的那副神氣非常沒(méi)有禮貌。伊麗莎白招呼她，她只稍微側(cè)了一下頭，便一屁股坐下來(lái)，一句話也不說(shuō)。她走進(jìn)來(lái)的時(shí)候，雖然沒(méi)有要求人家介紹，伊麗莎白還是把她的名字告訴了她母親。

班納特太太大為驚異，不過(guò)，這樣一位了不起的貴客前來(lái)登門(mén)拜訪，可又使她得意非凡，因此她便極其有禮貌地加以招待。咖苔琳夫人不聲不響地坐了一會(huì)兒工夫，便冷冰冰地對(duì)伊麗莎白說(shuō)：“我想，你一定過(guò)得很好吧，班納特小姐。那位太太大概是你母親？”

伊麗莎白簡(jiǎn)簡(jiǎn)單單地回答了一聲正是。

“那一位大概就是你妹妹吧？”

班納特太太連忙應(yīng)聲回答：“正是，夫人，”她能夠跟這樣一位貴夫人攀談，真是得意?！斑@是我第四個(gè)女兒。我最小的一個(gè)女兒最近出嫁了，大女兒正和她的好朋友在附近散步，那個(gè)小伙子不久也要變成我們自己人了。”

咖苔琳夫人沒(méi)有理睬她，過(guò)了片刻才說(shuō)：“你們這兒還有個(gè)小花園呢?！?/p>

“哪能比得上羅新斯，夫人，可是我敢說(shuō)，比威廉·盧卡斯爵士的花園卻要大得多。”

“到了夏天，這間屋子做起居室一定很不適合，窗子都朝西?！?/p>

班納特太太告訴她說(shuō)，她們每天吃過(guò)中飯以后，從來(lái)不坐在那兒，接著又說(shuō)：“我是否可以冒昧請(qǐng)問(wèn)夫人一聲，柯林斯夫婦都好嗎？”

“他們都很好，前天晚上我還看見(jiàn)他們的?！?/p>

這時(shí)伊麗莎白滿以為她會(huì)拿出一封夏綠蒂的信來(lái)；她認(rèn)為咖苔琳夫人這次到這里來(lái)，絕不可能為了別的原因?？墒遣⒉灰?jiàn)夫人拿信出來(lái)，這真叫她完全不明白是怎么回事了。

班納特太太恭恭敬敬地請(qǐng)貴夫人隨意用些點(diǎn)心，可是咖苔琳夫人什么也不肯吃，謝絕得非常堅(jiān)決，非常沒(méi)有禮貌，接著又站起來(lái)跟伊麗莎白說(shuō)：“班納特小姐，你們這塊草地的那一頭，好像頗有幾分荒野的景色，倒很好看。我很想到那兒去逛逛，可否請(qǐng)你陪我一走？”

只聽(tīng)得她母親連忙大聲對(duì)她說(shuō)：“你去吧，乖孩子，陪著夫人到各條小徑上去逛逛。我想，她一定會(huì)喜歡我們這個(gè)幽靜的小地方?！?/p>

伊麗莎白聽(tīng)從了母親的話，先到自己房間里去拿了一把陽(yáng)傘，然后下樓來(lái)侍候這位貴客。兩人走過(guò)穿堂，咖苔琳夫人打開(kāi)了那扇通到飯廳和客廳的門(mén)，稍稍打量了一下，說(shuō)這屋子還算過(guò)得去，然后繼續(xù)向前走。

她的馬車(chē)停在門(mén)口，伊麗莎白看見(jiàn)了車(chē)子里面坐著她的待女。兩人默默無(wú)聲地沿著一條通到小樹(shù)林的鵝卵石鋪道往前走。伊麗莎白只覺(jué)得這個(gè)老婦人比往常更傲慢，更令人討厭，因此拿定主意，決不先開(kāi)口跟她說(shuō)話。

當(dāng)她仔細(xì)瞧了一下老婦人的臉時(shí)，不禁想道：“她哪一點(diǎn)地方像她姨侄？”

一走進(jìn)小樹(shù)林，咖苔琳夫人便用這樣的方式跟她談話：

“班納特小姐，我這次上這兒來(lái)，你一定知道我是為了什么原因。你心里一定有數(shù)，你的良心一定會(huì)告訴你，我這次為什么要來(lái)。”

伊麗莎白大為驚訝。

“夫人，你實(shí)在想錯(cuò)了，我完全不明白你這次怎么這樣看得起我們，會(huì)到這種地方來(lái)。”

夫人一聽(tīng)此話，很是生氣：“班納特小姐，你要知道，我是絕不肯讓人家來(lái)跟我開(kāi)玩笑的。盡管你這樣不老實(shí)，我可不是那樣。我是個(gè)有名的老實(shí)坦白的人，何況遇到現(xiàn)在這樁事，我當(dāng)然更要老實(shí)坦白。兩天以前，我聽(tīng)到一個(gè)極其驚人的消息。我聽(tīng)說(shuō)不光是你姐姐將要攀上一門(mén)高親，連你，伊麗莎白·班納特小姐，也快要攀上我的姨侄，我的親姨侄達(dá)西先生。雖然我明知這是無(wú)稽的流言，雖然我不會(huì)那樣看不起他，相信他真會(huì)做這種事情，我還是當(dāng)機(jī)立斷，決定上這兒來(lái)一次，把我的意思說(shuō)給你聽(tīng)?！?/p>

伊麗莎白又是詫異，又是厭惡，滿臉漲得通紅?！拔艺嫫婀郑慵热徽J(rèn)為不會(huì)有這種事情，何必還要自找麻煩，跑到這么遠(yuǎn)的地方來(lái)？請(qǐng)問(wèn)你老人家究竟有何見(jiàn)教？”

“我一定要你立刻向大家去辟謠?！?/p>

伊麗莎白冷冷地說(shuō)：“要是外界真有這種傳說(shuō)，那么你趕到浪搏恩來(lái)看我和我家里人，反而會(huì)弄假成真?！?/p>

“要是真有這種傳說(shuō)！你難道存心要裝做不知道不成？這不全是你自己拚命傳出去的嗎？難道你不知道這個(gè)消息已經(jīng)鬧得滿城風(fēng)雨了嗎？”

“我從來(lái)沒(méi)有聽(tīng)見(jiàn)過(guò)?！?/p>

“你能不能說(shuō)一聲這是毫無(wú)根據(jù)？”

“我并不冒充我也像你老人家一樣坦白。你盡管問(wèn)好了，我可不想回答?！?/p>

“豈有此理！班納特小姐，我非要你說(shuō)個(gè)明白不可。我姨侄向你求過(guò)婚沒(méi)有？”

“你老人家自己剛剛還說(shuō)過(guò)，絕不會(huì)有這種事情?！?/p>

“不應(yīng)該有這種事情；只要他還有頭腦，那就一定不會(huì)有這種事情?？墒悄闱Х桨儆?jì)地誘惑他，他也許會(huì)一時(shí)癡迷忘了他應(yīng)該對(duì)得起自己，對(duì)得起家里人。你可能已經(jīng)把他迷住了?！?/p>

“即使我真的把他迷住了，我也絕不會(huì)說(shuō)給你聽(tīng)?！?/p>

“班納特小姐，你知道我是誰(shuí)嗎？你這種話真講得不成體統(tǒng)。我差不多是他最親近的長(zhǎng)輩，我有權(quán)利過(guò)問(wèn)他一切的切身大事?！?/p>

“你可沒(méi)有權(quán)利過(guò)問(wèn)我的事，而且你這種態(tài)度也休想把我逼供出來(lái)。”

“好好兒聽(tīng)我把話說(shuō)明白。你好大膽子，妄想攀這門(mén)親，那是絕對(duì)不會(huì)成功，一輩子也不會(huì)成功的。達(dá)西先生早跟我的女兒訂過(guò)婚了。好吧，你還有什么話要說(shuō)？”

“只有一句話要說(shuō)──如果他當(dāng)真如此，那你就沒(méi)有理由認(rèn)為他會(huì)向我求婚。”

咖苔琳夫人遲疑了一會(huì)兒，然后回答道：“他們的訂婚，跟一般情形兩樣。他們從小就配好了對(duì)，雙方的母親兩相情愿。他們?cè)趽u籃里的時(shí)候，我們就打算把他們配成一對(duì)；眼見(jiàn)他們小兩口子就要結(jié)婚，老姐妹倆的愿望就要達(dá)到，卻忽然來(lái)了個(gè)出身卑賤、門(mén)戶低微的小妮子從中作梗，何況這個(gè)小妮子跟他家里非親非眷！難道你絲毫也不顧全他親人的愿望？絲毫也不顧全他跟德·包爾小姐默認(rèn)的婚姻？難道你一點(diǎn)兒沒(méi)有分寸，一點(diǎn)兒也不知廉恥嗎？難道你沒(méi)有聽(tīng)見(jiàn)我說(shuō)過(guò)，他一生下來(lái)，就注定了要跟他表妹成親的嗎？”

“我以前確實(shí)聽(tīng)到過(guò)。可是我管它做什么？如果你沒(méi)有別的理由反對(duì)我跟你姨侄結(jié)婚，我也絕不會(huì)因此卻步。你們姐妹倆費(fèi)盡了心思籌劃這段婚姻，成功不成功可要看別人。如果達(dá)西先生既沒(méi)有責(zé)任跟他表妹結(jié)婚，也不愿意跟她結(jié)婚，那他為什么不能另外挑一個(gè)？要是他挑中了我，我又為什么不能答應(yīng)他？”

“無(wú)論從面子上講，從禮節(jié)規(guī)矩上講──不，從利害關(guān)系來(lái)講，都不允許這么做。不錯(cuò)，班納特小姐，確是為了你的利害關(guān)系著想。要是你有意跟大家都過(guò)不去，你就休想他家里人或是他的親友們看得起你。凡是和他有關(guān)的人，都會(huì)斥責(zé)你，輕視你，厭惡你。你們的結(jié)合是一種恥辱；甚至我們連你的名字都不肯提起?！?/p>

“這倒真是大大的不幸，”伊麗莎白說(shuō)?！翱墒亲隽诉_(dá)西先生的太太必然會(huì)享受到莫大的幸福，因此，歸根結(jié)底，完全用不到懊喪。”

“好一個(gè)不識(shí)好歹的小丫頭！我都替你害臊！今年春天我待你那么殷勤，你就這樣報(bào)答我嗎？難道你也沒(méi)有一點(diǎn)兒感恩之心？讓我們坐下來(lái)詳談。你應(yīng)該明白，班納特小姐，我既然上這兒來(lái)了，就非達(dá)到目的不可；誰(shuí)也攔不住我。任何人玩什么花樣，我都不會(huì)屈服。我從來(lái)不肯讓我自己失望?！?/p>

“那只有更加使你自己難堪，可是對(duì)我毫無(wú)影響?！?/p>

“我說(shuō)話不許人家插嘴！好好兒聽(tīng)我說(shuō)。我的女兒和我的姨侄是天造天設(shè)的一對(duì)。他們的母系都是高貴的出身，父系雖然沒(méi)有爵位，可也都是極有地位的名門(mén)世家。兩家都是富豪。兩家親戚都一致認(rèn)為，他們倆系前生注定的姻緣；有誰(shuí)能把他們拆散？你這樣一個(gè)小妮子，無(wú)論家世、親戚、財(cái)產(chǎn)，都談不上，難道光憑著你的癡心妄想，就可以把他們拆散嗎？這像什么話！這真是太豈有此理！假如你腦子明白點(diǎn)，為你自己的利益想一想，你就不會(huì)忘記你自己的出身啦?！?/p>

“我決不會(huì)為了要跟你姨侄結(jié)婚，就忘了我自己的出身。你姨侄是個(gè)紳士，我是紳士的女兒，我們正是旗鼓相當(dāng)。”

“真說(shuō)得對(duì)。你的確是個(gè)紳士的女兒?？墒悄銒屖莻€(gè)什么樣的人？你的姨父母和舅父母又是什么樣的人？別以為我不知道他們底細(xì)。”

“不管我親戚是怎么樣的人，”伊麗莎白說(shuō)?！爸灰阋讨恫挥?jì)較，便與你毫不相干?！?/p>

“爽爽快快告訴我，你究竟跟他訂婚了沒(méi)有？”

伊麗莎白本來(lái)不打算買(mǎi)咖苔琳夫人的情面來(lái)回答這個(gè)問(wèn)題，可是仔細(xì)考慮了一會(huì)兒以后，她不得不說(shuō)了一聲：

“沒(méi)有。”

咖苔琳夫人顯得很高興。

“你愿意答應(yīng)我，永遠(yuǎn)不跟他訂婚嗎？”

“我不能答應(yīng)這種事?！?/p>

“班納特小姐，我真是又驚駭又詫異。我沒(méi)有料到你是這樣一個(gè)不講理的小妮子?？墒悄闱f(wàn)把頭腦放清楚一些，別以為我會(huì)讓步。非等到你答應(yīng)了我的要求，我就不走?！?/p>

“我當(dāng)然決不會(huì)答應(yīng)你的。這種荒唐到極點(diǎn)的事，你休想恐嚇得我答應(yīng)。你只是一心想要達(dá)西先生跟你女兒結(jié)婚；可是，就算我如了你的意，答應(yīng)了你，你以為他們倆的婚姻就靠得住了嗎？要是他看中了我，就算我拒絕他，難道他因此就會(huì)去向他表妹求婚嗎？說(shuō)句你別見(jiàn)怪的話，咖苔琳夫人，你這種異想天開(kāi)的要求真是不近情理，你說(shuō)的許多話又是淺薄無(wú)聊。要是你以為你這些話能夠說(shuō)得我屈服，那你未免太看錯(cuò)人啦。你姨侄會(huì)讓你把他的事干涉到什么地步，我不知道，可是你無(wú)論如何沒(méi)有權(quán)利干涉我的事。因此我請(qǐng)求你不要再為這件事來(lái)勉強(qiáng)我了?！?/p>

“請(qǐng)你不必這樣性急。我的話根本沒(méi)有講完。除了我已經(jīng)說(shuō)過(guò)的你那許多缺陷以外，我還要加上一件。別以為我不知道你那個(gè)小妹妹不要臉?biāo)奖嫉氖?。我完全曉得。那個(gè)年輕小伙子跟她結(jié)婚，完全是你爸爸和舅舅花了錢(qián)買(mǎi)來(lái)的。這樣一個(gè)臭丫頭，也配做我姨侄的小姨子嗎？她丈夫是他父親生前的賬房的兒子，也配和他做連襟嗎？上有天下有地！你究竟是打是什么主意？彭伯里的門(mén)第能夠這樣給人糟蹋嗎？”

伊麗莎白恨恨地回答道：“現(xiàn)在你該講完了，你也把我侮辱得夠了。我可要回家去啦。”

她一面說(shuō)，一面便站起身來(lái)?？α辗蛉艘舱玖似饋?lái)，兩人一同回到屋子里去。老夫人真給氣壞了。

“那么，你完全不顧全我姨侄的身份和面子啦！好一個(gè)沒(méi)有心肝、自私自利的小丫頭！你難道不知道，他跟你結(jié)了婚，大家都要看不起他嗎？”

“咖苔琳夫人，我不想再講了。你已經(jīng)明白了我的意思。”

“那么，你非要把他弄到手不可嗎？”

“我并沒(méi)有說(shuō)這種話。我自有主張，怎么樣做會(huì)幸福，我就決定怎么樣做，你管不了，任何像你這樣的局外人也都管不了?！?/p>

“好啊。你堅(jiān)決不肯依我。你完全喪盡天良，不知廉恥，忘恩負(fù)義。你決心要叫他的朋友們看不起他，讓天下人都恥笑他?！?/p>

伊麗莎白說(shuō)：“目前這件事情談不到什么天良、廉恥、恩義。我跟達(dá)西先生結(jié)婚，并不觸犯這些原則。要是他跟我結(jié)了婚，他家里人就厭惡他，那我毫不在乎；至于說(shuō)天下人都會(huì)生他的氣，我認(rèn)為世界上多的是知義明理的人，不見(jiàn)得個(gè)個(gè)都會(huì)恥笑他。”

“這就是你的真心話！這就是你堅(jiān)定不移的主張！好啊?，F(xiàn)在我可知道該怎么應(yīng)付了。班納特小姐，別以為你的癡心妄想會(huì)達(dá)到目的。我不過(guò)是來(lái)試探試探你，沒(méi)想到你竟不可理喻。等著瞧吧，我說(shuō)得到一定做得到?！?/p>

咖苔琳夫人就這樣一直講下去，走到馬車(chē)跟前，她又急急忙忙掉過(guò)頭來(lái)說(shuō)道：“我不向你告辭，班納特小姐。我也不問(wèn)候你的母親。你們都不識(shí)抬舉。我真是十二萬(wàn)分不高興。”

伊麗莎白不理她，也沒(méi)有請(qǐng)她回到屋子里去坐坐，只管自己不聲不響地往屋里走。她上樓的時(shí)候，聽(tīng)到馬車(chē)離開(kāi)的聲音。她母親在化妝室門(mén)口等她等得心急了，這會(huì)兒一見(jiàn)到她，便連忙問(wèn)她為什么咖苔琳夫人不回到屋子里來(lái)休息一會(huì)兒再走。

女兒說(shuō)：“她不愿意進(jìn)來(lái)，她要走。”

“她是個(gè)多么好看的女人??！她真太客氣，竟會(huì)到我們這種地方來(lái)！我想，她這次來(lái)，不過(guò)是為了要告訴我們一聲，柯林斯夫婦過(guò)得很好。她或許是到別的什么地方去，路過(guò)麥里屯，順便進(jìn)來(lái)看看你。我想，她沒(méi)有特別跟你說(shuō)什么話吧？”

伊麗莎白不得不撒了個(gè)小謊，因?yàn)樗龑?shí)在沒(méi)有辦法把這場(chǎng)談話的內(nèi)容說(shuō)出來(lái)。