第 28 章

第二天旅途上的每一樣事物，伊莉莎白都感到新鮮有趣；她精神很愉快，因為看到姐姐氣色那麼好，可以不用再為她的健康擔心，加上一想到去北方的旅行，她就越發高興。當他們離開了大路，走上一條通往漢斯福的小徑時，每一隻眼睛都在尋找著那幢牧師住宅；每拐一個彎，都以為就要看到那幢房子。他們沿著羅新斯花園的柵欄往前走。伊莉莎白一想到外界所傳聞的那家人家和種種情形，不禁好笑。

　　終於看到那幢牧師住宅了。大路斜對面的花園、花園裏的房子、綠的柵欄、以及桂樹圍籬――每一樣東西好象都在宣佈他們的來到。柯林斯先生和夏綠蒂走到門口來了。在賓主頻頻點頭脈脈微笑中，客人們在一道小門跟前停下了車，從這裏穿過一條短短的鵝卵石鋪道，便能直達正屋。一刹眼工夫，他們都下了車，賓主相見，無限歡欣。柯林斯簡直手舞足蹈地歡迎自己的朋友，伊莉莎白受到這麼親切的歡迎，就越發滿意於這次的作客了。她立刻看到她表兄並沒有因為結了婚而改變態度，他還是完全和以往一樣地拘泥禮節，在門口耽擱了她好幾分鐘，問候她全家大小的起居安好。聽到她一一回答了之後，他才滿意。於是他就沒有再耽擱他們，只指給他們看看門口是多麼整潔，便把客人們帶進了屋子；等到客人一走進客廳，他又對他們作了第二次的歡迎，極其客氣地說，這次承蒙諸位光臨寒舍，真是不勝榮幸，並且刻不容緩地把他太太送上來的點心重新奉獻了一次。

　　伊莉莎白早就料到他會那樣得意非凡，因此當他誇耀那屋子的優美結構、式樣、以及一切陳設的時候，她禁不住想到他是特地講給她聽的，好象要叫她明白，她當初拒絕了他，是多麼大的一個損失。雖說樣樣東西的確都那麼整潔和舒適，她可千萬不能流露出一點點後悔的痕跡來叫他得意；她甚至帶著詫異的目光看看夏綠蒂，她弄不明白夏綠蒂和這樣的一位伴侶相處，為什麼還會那麼高興。柯林斯先生有時竟會說些很不得體的話，叫他自己的太太聽了也不免難為情，而且這類話又說得並不太少，每逢這種場合，伊莉莎白就不由自主地要向夏綠蒂望一眼。夏綠蒂有一兩次被她看得微微臉紅了，不過一般總是很聰明地裝作沒有聽見。大家在屋裏坐了好一會兒，欣賞著每一件傢俱，從食器櫥一直欣賞到壁爐架，又談了談一路上的情況以及倫敦的一切情形，然後柯林斯先生就請他們到花園裏去散散步。花園很大，佈置得也很好，一切都是由他親手料理的。他的最高尚的娛樂就是收拾花園。夏綠蒂說，這種操作有益於健康，她盡可能鼓勵他這樣做；她講起這件事的時候，非常鎮定自若，真叫伊莉莎白佩服。他領著他們走遍了花園裏的曲徑小道，看遍了每一處景物，每看一處都得瑣瑣碎碎地講一陣，美不美倒完全不在他心上，看的人即使想要讚美幾句也插不上嘴。他數得出每一個方向有多少田園，連最遠的樹叢裏有多少棵樹他也講得出來，可是，不論是他自己花園裏的景物也好，或者是這整個鄉村甚至全國的名勝古跡也好，都萬萬比不上羅新斯花園的景色。羅新斯花園差不多就在他住宅的正對面，四面是樹，從樹林的空隙處可以望見裏面。那是一幢漂亮的控建築，聳立在一片高地上。

　　柯林斯先生本來想把他們從花園裏帶去看看兩塊草地，但是太太小姐們的鞋子抵擋不住那殘餘的白霜，於是全都走回去了，只剩下威廉爵士陪伴著他。夏綠蒂陪著自己的妹妹和朋友參觀住宅，這一下她能夠撇開丈夫的幫忙，有機會讓她自己顯顯身手，真是高興極了。房子很小，但是建築結實，使用也很方便；一切都佈置得很精巧，安排得很調和，伊莉莎白對夏綠蒂誇獎備至。只要不想起柯林斯先生，便真正有了一種非常美好的氣氛。伊莉莎白看見夏綠蒂那樣得意，便不由得想到她平常一定不把柯林斯先生放在心上。

　　伊莉莎白已經打聽到咖苔琳夫人還在鄉下。吃飯的時候又談起了這樁事，當時柯林斯先生立即插嘴說：正是，伊莉莎白小姐，星期日晚上你就可以有榮幸在教學裏見到咖苔琳?德?包爾夫人，你一定會喜歡她的。她為人極其謙和，絲毫沒有架子，我相信那天做完禮拜之後，你就會很榮幸地受到她的注目。我可以毫無猶豫地說，只要你待在這兒，每逢她賞臉請我們作客的時候，總少不了要請你和我的小姨子瑪麗亞。她對待我親愛的夏綠蒂真是好極了。我們每星期去羅新斯吃兩次飯，她老人家從來沒有哪一次讓我們步行回家，總是打發自己的馬車送我們──我應該說，是打發她老人家的某一部馬車，因為她有好幾部車子呢。”

　　夏綠蒂又說：”咖苔琳夫人的確是個道貌岸然、通達情理的女人，而且是位極其殷勤的鄰居。”說得很對，親愛的，你真說到我心上去了。象她這樣一位夫人，你無論對她怎樣尊敬，依舊會感到有些欠缺。”

　　這一晚主要就談論哈福德郡的新聞，又把以前信上所說的話重新再提一遍。大家散了以後，伊莉莎白孤單單地在房間裏，不由得默默想起了夏綠蒂對於現狀究竟滿意到什麼程度，駕禦丈夫的手腕巧妙到什麼程度，容忍丈夫的肚量又大到什麼程度。她不由得承認，一切都安排得非常好。她又去想像著這次作客的時間將如何度過，無非是：平淡安靜的日常起居，柯林斯先生那種惹人討厭的插嘴打貧，再加上跟羅新斯的應酬來往等。她那豐富的想像力馬上解決了整個問題。

　　大約在第二天響午的時候，她正在房間裏準備出去散散步，忽聽得樓下一陣喧嘩，馬上這整個住宅裏的人好象都慌亂了起來；一會兒工夫，只聽得有人急急忙忙奔上樓來，大聲叫她。她開了門，在樓梯口遇見了瑪麗亞，只見她激動得氣都喘不過來，嚷道：噢，親愛的伊麗莎呀，請你趕快到餐室裏去，那兒有了不起的場面值得看呢！我可不告訴你是怎麼回事。趕快呀，馬上下樓來。”

　　伊莉莎白一遍遍問，也問不出一個究竟來；瑪麗亞多一句也不肯跟她說；於是她們倆便奔進那間面臨著大路的餐室，去探奇尋勝。原來來了兩位女客，乘著一輛低低的四輪馬車，停在花園門口。

　　伊莉莎白連忙嚷道：”就是這麼回事嗎？我還以為是豬玀闖進了花園呢，原來只不過是咖苔琳夫人母女倆。”

　　瑪麗亞聽她說錯了，不禁大吃一驚：”噍你，親愛的，那不是咖苔琳夫人。那位老夫人是姜金生太太，她跟她們住在一起的；另外一位是德?包爾小姐。你且瞧瞧她那副模樣兒吧。她真是個非常纖小的人兒。誰會想到她會這麼單薄，這麼小！”她真是太沒有禮貌，風這樣大，卻讓夏綠蒂待在門外。她為什麼不進來？”噢，夏綠蒂說，她真難得進來。德?包爾小姐要是進來一次，那可真是天大的面子。”她那副模樣兒真夠人瞧的，”伊莉莎白一面說，一面又突然起了別的種種念頭。她看上去身體不好，脾氣又壞。她配他真是再好不過呢。她做他的太太極其相稱。”

　　柯林斯先生和夏綠蒂都站在門口跟那位女客談話。伊莉莎白覺得最好笑的是，威廉爵士正必恭必敬地站在門口，虔誠地瞻仰著面前的蔚然大觀，每當德?包爾小姐朝著他這邊望的時候，他總是一鞠躬。

　　後來他們的話全說完了，兩位女客驅車而去，別人都回到屋裏。柯林斯一看到兩位小姐，就恭賀她們走了鴻運；夏綠蒂把他的意思解釋給她們聽，原來羅新斯明天又要請他們全體去吃飯了。

Chapter 28

EVERY object in the next day’s journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth; and her spirits were in a state for enjoyment; for she had seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight.
When they left the high-road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants.
At length the Parsonage was discernable. The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales and the laurel hedge, everything declared that they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at a small gate, which led by a short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing at the sight of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the liveliest pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with coming, when she found herself so affectionately received. She saw instantly that her cousin’s manners were not altered by his marriage; his formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained her some minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his enquiries after all her family. They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as they were in the parlour, he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his wife’s offers of refreshment.
Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But though every thing seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to gratify him by any sigh of repentance; and rather looked with wonder at her friend that she could have so cheerful an air, with such a companion. When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in his garden was one of his most respectable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the excercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which the country, or the kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the prospect of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome modern building, well situated on rising ground.
From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them round his two meadows, but the ladies, not having shoes to encounter the remains of a white frost, turned back; and while Sir William accompanied him, Charlotte took her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased, probably, to have the opportunity of shewing it without her husband’s help. It was rather small, but well built and convenient; and everything was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which Elizabeth gave Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was really a great air of comfort throughout, and by Charlotte’s evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten. She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining in, observed,
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship’s carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say, one of her ladyship’s carriages, for she has several.”
“Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed,” added Charlotte, “and a most attentive neighbour.”
“Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference.”
The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, and telling again what had been already written; and when it closed, Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon Charlotte’s degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding, and composure in bearing with her husband, and to acknowledge that it was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled it all. About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in confusion; and after listening a moment, she heard somebody running up stairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened the door, and met Maria in the landing place, who, breathless with agitation, cried out,
“Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment.”
Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing more, and down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane, in quest of this wonder; it was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the garden gate.
“And is this all?” cried Elizabeth. “I expected at least that the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter!”
“La! my dear,” said Maria quite shocked at the mistake, “it is not Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them. The other is Miss De Bourgh. Only look at her. She is quite a little creature. Who would have thought she could be so thin and small!”
“She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind. Why does she not come in?”
“Oh! Charlotte says, she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favours when Miss De Bourgh comes in.”
“I like her appearance,” said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. “She looks sickly and cross. — Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make him a very proper wife.”
Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth’s high diversion, was stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness before him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss De Bourgh looked that way.
At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove on, and the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked to dine at Rosings the next day.

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