第 15 章
柯林斯先生並不是個通情達理的人，他雖然也受過教育，也踏進了社會，但是先天的缺陷卻簡直沒有得到什麼彌補。他大部分日子是在他那守財奴的文盲父親的教導下度過的。他也算進過大學，實際上不過照例住了幾個學期，並沒有結交一個有用的朋友。他的父親管束得他十分嚴厲，因此他的為人本來很是謙卑，不過他本是個蠢材，現在生活又過得很優閑，當然不免自高自大，何況年紀輕輕就發了意外之財，更其自視甚高，哪里還談得上謙卑。當時漢斯福教區有個牧師空缺，他鴻運享通，得到了咖苔琳?德?包爾夫人的提拔。他看到他的女施主地位頗高，便悉心崇拜，備加尊敬；另方面又自命不凡，自以為當上了教士，該有怎樣怎樣的權利，於是他一身兼有了驕傲自大和謙卑順從的兩重性格。
他現在已經有了一幢好房子，一筆可觀的收入，想要結婚了。他所以要和浪博恩這家人家講和修好，原是想要在他們府上找個太太。要是這家人家的幾位小姐果真象大家所傳聞的那麼美麗可愛，他一定要挑選一個。這就是他所謂補償的計畫，贖罪的計畫，為的是將來繼承她們父親的遺產時可以問心無愧。他認為這真是個獨出心裁的辦法，既極其妥善得體，又來得慷慨豪爽。
他看到這幾位小姐之後，並沒有變更本來的計畫。一看到吉英那張可愛的臉蛋兒，他便拿定了主張，而且更加確定了他那些老式的想法，認為一切應當先娶最大的一位小姐。頭一個晚上他就選中了她。不過第二天早上他又變更了主張，因為他和班納特夫人親親密密地談了一刻鐘的話，開頭談談他自己那幢牧師住宅，後來自然而然地把自己的心願招供了出來，說是要在浪博恩找一位太太，而且要在她的令嬡們中間找一位。班納特太太親切地微笑著，而且一再鼓勵他，不過談到他選定了吉英，她就不免要提請他注意一下子了。”講到我幾個小女兒，我沒有什麼意見──當然也不能一口答應──不過我還沒有聽說她們有什麼物件；至於我的大女兒，我可不得不提一提──我覺得有責任提醒你一下──大女兒可能很快就要訂婚了。”
柯林斯先生只得撇開吉英不談，改選伊莉莎白，一下子就選定了──就在班納特太太撥火的那一刹那之間選定的。伊莉莎白無論是年齡，美貌，比吉英都只差一步，當然第二個就要輪到她。
班納特太太得到這個暗示，如獲至寶，她相信很快就可以嫁出兩個女兒了；昨天她提都不願意提到的這個人，現在卻叫她極為重視了。
麗迪雅原說要到麥裏屯支走走，她這個念頭到現在還沒有打消。除了曼麗之外，姐姐們都願意跟她同去；班納特先生為了要把柯林斯先生攆走，好讓自己在書房裏清淨一陣，便請他也跟著她們一起去。原來柯林斯先生吃過早飯以後，就跟著他到書房來了，一直待到那時候還不想走，名義上在看他所收藏的那本大型的對開本，事實上卻在滔滔不絕地跟班納特先生大談他自己在漢斯福的房產和花園，弄得班納特先生心煩意亂。他平常待在書房裏就是為了要圖個悠閒清淨。他曾經跟伊莉莎白說過，他願意在任何一間房間裏，接見愚蠢和自高自大的傢伙，書房裏可就不能讓那些人插足了。因此他立刻恭恭敬敬地請柯林斯先生伴著他女兒們一塊兒去走走，而柯林斯先生本來也只配做一個步行家，不配做一個讀書人，於是非常高興地合上書本走了。
他一路廢話連篇，表妹們只得客客氣氣地隨聲附和，就這樣打發著時間，來到了麥裏屯。幾位年紀小的表妹一到那裏，就再也不去理會他了。她們的眼睛立刻對著街頭看來看去，看看有沒有軍官們走過，此外就只有商店櫥窗裏的極漂亮的女帽，或者是最新式的花洋布，才能吸引她們。
不到一會兒工夫，這許多小姐都注意到一位年輕人身上去了。那人她們從來沒見過，一副道地的紳士氣派，正跟一個軍官在街道那邊散步。這位軍官就是丹尼先生，麗迪雅正要打聽他從倫敦回來了沒有。當她們打那兒走過的時候，他鞠了一個躬。大家看到那個陌生人風度翩翩，都楞了一下，只是不知道這人是誰。吉蒂和麗迪雅決定想法子去打聽，便藉口要到對面鋪子裏去買點東西，帶頭走到街那邊去了。也正是事有湊巧，她們剛剛走到人行道上，那兩個男人也正轉過身來，走到那地方。丹尼馬上招呼她們，並請求她們讓他把他的朋友韋翰先生介紹給她們。他說韋翰是前一天跟他一塊兒從城裏回來的，而且說來很高興，韋翰已經被任命為他們團裏軍官。這真是再好也沒有了，因為韋翰這位青年，只要穿上一身軍裝，便會十全十美。他的容貌舉止確實討人喜歡。他沒有一處長得不漂亮，眉目清秀，身材魁梧，談吐又十分動人。一經介紹之後，他就高高興興，懇懇切切地談起話來──既懇切，又顯得非常正派，而且又有分寸。他們正站在那兒談得很投機的時候，忽然聽到一陣得得的馬蹄聲，只見達西和彬格萊騎著馬從街上過來。這新來的兩位紳士看見人堆裏有這幾位小姐，便連忙來到她們跟前，照常寒喧了一番，帶頭說話的是彬格萊，他大部分的話都是對班納特小姐說的。他說他正要趕到浪博恩去拜訪她。達西證明他沒有撒謊，同時鞠了個躬。達西正打算把眼睛從伊莉莎白身上移開，這時突然看到了那個陌生人。只見他們兩人面面相覷，大驚失色，伊莉莎白看到這個邂逅相遇的場合，覺得很是驚奇。兩個人都變了臉色，一個慘白，一個通紅，過了一會兒，韋翰先生按了按帽子，達西先生勉強回了一下禮。這是什麼意思呢？既叫人無從想像，又叫人不能不想去打聽一下。又過了一會兒，彬格萊先生若無其事地跟她們告別了，騎著馬跟他朋友管自走了。
丹呢先生和韋翰先生陪著幾位年輕的小姐，走到腓力普家門口，麗迪雅小姐硬要他們進去，甚至腓力普太太也打開了窗戶，大聲地幫著她邀請，他們卻鞠了個躬告辭而去。
腓力普太太一向喜歡看到她的侄女們，那大的兩個新近不常見面，因此特別受歡迎。她懇切地說。她們姐妹倆突然回家來，真叫她非常驚奇，要不是碰巧在街上遇到鐘斯醫生的藥鋪子裏那個跑街的小夥子告訴她，說是班納特家的兩位小姐都已回家了呢，這是因為她們家裏沒有打發馬車去接她們的緣故，正當她們這樣閒談的時候，吉英向她介紹柯林斯先生，她不得不跟他寒喧幾句，她極其客氣地表示歡迎他，他也加倍客氣地應酬她而且向她道歉，說是素昧生平，不該這麼冒冒失失闖到她府上來，又說他畢竟還是非常高興，因為介紹他的那幾位年輕小姐和他還有些親戚關係，因此他的冒昧前來也還勉強說得過去。這種過分的禮貌使腓力普太太受寵若驚。不過，正當她仔細量著這一位生客的時候，她們姐妹倆卻又把另一位生客的事情，大驚小怪地提出來向她問長問短，她只得又來回答她們的話，可是她能夠說給侄女兒們聽的，也無非是她們早已知道了的一些情形。她說那位生客是丹尼先生剛從倫敦帶來的，他將要在某某郡擔任起一個中尉的職責，又說，他剛剛在街上走來走去的時候，她曾經對他望了整整一個鐘頭之久。這時如果韋翰先生從這兒經過，吉蒂和麗迪雅一定還要繼續張望他一番；可惜現在除了幾位軍官之外，根本沒有人從視窗走過，而這些軍官們同韋翰先生一比較，都變成一些”愚蠢討厭的傢伙”了。有幾個軍官明天要上腓力普家裏來吃飯。姨母說，倘若她們一家人明天晚上能從浪博恩趕來，那麼她就要打發她的丈夫去拜訪韋翰先生一次，約他也來。大家都同意了；腓力普太太說，明天要給她們來一次熱鬧而有趣的抓彩票的玩藝兒，玩過之後再吃一頓晚飯。想到了明天這一場歡樂真叫人興奮，因此大家分別的時候都很快樂。柯林斯先生走出門來，又再三道謝，主人也禮貌周全地請他不必過分客氣。
回家的時候，伊莉莎白一路上把剛剛親眼看見的那兩位先生之間的一幕情景說給吉英聽。假使他們兩人之間真有什麼宿怨，吉英一定要為他們兩人中間的一人辯護，或是為兩人辯護，只可惜她跟她妹妹一樣，對於這兩個人的事情完全摸不著頭腦。
柯林斯先生回來之後，大大稱讚腓力普太太的殷勤好客，班納特太太聽得很滿意。柯林斯說，除了咖苔琳夫人母女之外，他生平從來沒見過更風雅的女人，因為他雖然和她素昧生平，她卻對他禮貌周全，甚至還指明要請他明天一同去吃晚飯。他想，這件事多少應該歸功於他和她們的親戚關係。可是這樣殷勤好客的事，他還是生平第一次碰到呢。
Chapter 15
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 chuse 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 te^te-a`-te^te 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.
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