第 22 章
這一天班納特全家都被盧卡斯府上請去吃飯，又多蒙盧卡斯小姐一片好意，整日陪著柯林斯先生談話。伊莉莎白利用了一個機會向她道謝。她說：”這樣可以叫他精神痛快些，我對你真是說不盡的感激。”夏綠蒂說，能夠替朋友效勞，非常樂意，雖然花了一點時間，卻得到了很大的快慰。這真是太好了；可是夏綠蒂的好意，遠非伊莉莎白所能意料；原來夏綠蒂是有意要儘量逗引柯林斯先生跟她自己談話，免得他再去向伊莉莎白獻殷勤。她這個計謀看來進行得十分順利。晚上大家分手的時候，夏綠蒂幾乎滿有把握地感覺到，要不是柯林斯先生這麼快就要離開哈福德郡，事情一定能成功。但是她這樣的想法，未免太不瞭解他那如火如荼、獨斷獨行的性格。且說第二天一大早，柯林斯就採用了相當狡猾的辦法，溜出了浪博恩，趕到盧家莊來向她屈身求愛。他唯恐給表妹們碰到了，他認為，假若讓她們看見他走開，那就必定會讓她們猜中他的打算，而他不等到事情有了成功的把握，決不願意讓人家知道。雖說他當場看到夏綠蒂對他頗有情意，因此覺得這事十拿九穩可以成功，可是從星期三那場冒險以來，他究竟不敢太魯莽了。不過人家倒很巴結地接待了他。盧卡斯小姐從樓上視窗看見他向她家裏走來，便連忙到那條小道上去接他，又裝出是偶然相逢的樣子。她萬萬想不到，柯林斯這一次竟然給她帶來了說不盡的千情萬愛。
在短短的一段時間裏，柯林斯先生說了多多少少的話，於是兩人之間便一切都講妥了，而且雙方都很滿意。一走進屋子，他就誠懇地要求她擇定吉日，使他成為世界上最幸福的人，雖說這種請求，暫應該置之不理，可是這位小姐並不想要拿他的幸福當兒戲。他天生一副蠢相，求起愛來總是打動不了女人的心，女人一碰到他求愛，總是請他碰壁。盧卡斯小姐所以願意答應他，完全是為了財產打算，至於那筆財產何年何月可以拿到手，她倒不在乎。
他們倆立刻就去請求威廉爵士夫婦加以允許，老夫婦連忙高高興興地答應了。他們本來沒有什麼嫁妝給女兒，論柯林斯先生目前的境況，真是再適合不過的一個女婿，何況他將來一定會發一筆大財。盧卡斯太太立刻帶著空前未有過的興趣，開始盤算著班納特先生還有多少年可活；威廉爵士一口斷定說，只要林斯先生一旦得到了浪博恩的財產，他夫婦倆就大有覲見皇上的希望了。總而言之，這件大事叫全家人都快活透頂。幾位小女兒都滿懷希望，認為這一來可以早一兩年出去交際了，男孩子們再也不擔心夏綠蒂會當老處女了。只有夏綠蒂本人倒相當鎮定。她現在初步已經成功，還有時間去仔細考慮一番。她想了一下，大致滿意。柯林斯先生固然既不通情達理，又不討人喜愛，同他相處實在是件討厭的事，他對她的愛也一定是空中樓閣，不過她還是要他做丈夫。雖然她對於婚姻和夫婦生活，估價都不甚高，可是，結婚到底是她一貫的目標，大凡家境不好而又受過相當教育的青年女子，總是把結婚當作僅有的一條體面的退路。儘管結婚並不一定會叫人幸福，但總算約她自己安排了一個最可靠的儲藏室日後可以不致受凍受饑。她現在就獲得這樣一個儲藏室了。她今年二十七歲，人長得又不標緻，這個儲藏室當然會使她覺得無限幸運。只有一件事令人不快──那就是說，伊莉莎白?班納特准會對這門親事感到驚奇，而她又是一向把伊莉莎白的交情看得比什麼人的交情都重要。伊莉莎白一定會詫異，說不定還要埋怨她。雖說她一經下定決心便不會動搖，然而人家非難起來一定會使她難受。於是她決定親自把這件事告訴她，囑咐柯林斯先生回到浪博恩吃飯的時候，不要在班納特家裏任何人面前透露一點風聲。對方當然唯命是從，答應保守秘密，其實秘密是很難保守，因為他出去得太久了，一定會引起人家的好奇心，因此他一回去，大家立刻向他問長問短，他得要有幾分能耐才能夠遮掩過去，加上他又巴不得把此番情場得意的情況宣揚出去，因此他好容易才克制住了。
他明天一大早就要啟程，來不及向大家辭行，所以當夜太太小姐們就寢的時候，大家便相互話別；班納特太太極其誠懇、極有禮貌地說，以後他要是有便再來浪博恩，上她們那兒去玩玩，那真叫她們太高興了。
他回答道：”親愛的太太，承蒙邀約，不勝感激，我也正希望能領受這份盛意；請你放心，我一有空就來看你們。”
大家都吃了一驚，尤其是班納特先生，根本不希望他馬上回來，便連忙說道：賢侄，你不怕珈苔琳夫人不贊成嗎？你最好把親戚關係看得淡一些，免得擔那麼大的風險，得罪了你的女施主。”
柯林斯先生回答道：”老長輩，我非常感激你這樣好心地提醒我，請你放心，這樣重大的事，不得到她老人家的同意，我決不會冒昧從事。”多小心一些隻會有益處。什麼事都不要緊，可千萬不能叫她老人家不高興。要是你想到我們這兒來，而她卻不高興讓你來（我覺得這是非常可能的），那麼就請你安分一些，待在家裏，你放心，我們決不會因此而見怪的。”老長輩，請相信我，蒙你這樣好心地關注，真叫我感激不盡。你放心好了，你馬上就會收到我一封謝函，感謝這一點，感謝我在哈福郡蒙你們對我的種種照拂。至於諸位表妹，雖然我去不了多少日子，且請恕我冒昧，就趁著現在祝她們健康幸福，連伊莉莎白表妹也不例外。”
太太小姐們便行禮如儀，辭別回房；大家聽說他竟打算很快就回來，都感到驚訝。班納特太太滿以為他是打算向她的哪一個小女兒求婚，也許能勸勸曼麗去應承他。曼麗比任何姐妹都看重他的能力。他思想方面的堅定很叫她傾心；他雖然比不上她自己那樣聰明，可是只要有一個象她這樣的人作為榜樣，鼓勵他讀書上進，那他一定會成為一個稱心如意的伴侶。只可惜一到第二天早上，這種希望就完全破滅了。盧卡斯小姐剛一吃過早飯，就來訪問，私下跟伊莉莎白把前一天的事說了出來。
早在前一兩天，伊莉莎白就一度想到，柯林斯先生可能一廂情願，自以為愛上了她這位朋友，可是，要說夏綠蒂會慫恿他，那未免太不可能，正如她自己不可能慫恿他一樣，因此她現在聽到這件事，不禁大為驚訝，連禮貌也不顧了，竟大聲叫了起來：跟柯林斯先生訂婚！親愛的夏綠蒂，那怎麼行！”
盧卡斯小姐乍聽得這一聲心直口快的責備，鎮靜的臉色不禁變得慌張起來，好在這也是她意料中事，因此她立刻就恢復了常態，從容不迫地說：你為什麼這樣驚奇，親愛的伊麗莎？柯林斯先生不幸沒有得到你的賞識，難道就不作興他得到別的女人的賞識嗎？”
伊莉莎白這時候已經鎮定下來，便竭力克制著自己，用相當肯定的語氣預祝他們倆將來良緣美滿，幸福無疆。
夏綠蒂回答道：”我明白你的心思，你一定會感到奇怪，而且感到非常奇怪，因為在不久以前，柯林斯先生還在想跟你結婚。可是，只要你空下來把這事情細細地想一下，你就會贊成我的做法。你知道我不是個羅曼諦克的人，我決不是那樣的人。我只希望有一個舒舒服服的家。論柯林斯先生的性格、社會關係和身份地位，我覺得跟他結了婚，也能夠獲得幸福，並不下於一般人結婚時所誇耀的那種幸福。”
伊莉莎白心平氣和地回答道：”毫無問題。”她們倆彆彆扭扭地在一起待了一會兒，便和家人一塊坐下。夏綠蒂沒有過多久就走了；伊莉莎白獨自把剛才聽到的那些話仔細想了一下。這樣不合適的一門親事，真使她難受了好久。說起柯林斯先生三天之內求了兩次婚，本就夠稀奇了，如今竟會有人應承他，實在是更稀奇。她一向覺得，夏綠蒂關於婚姻問題方面的見解，跟她頗不一致，卻不曾料想到一旦事到臨頭，她竟會完全不顧高尚的情操，來屈就一些世俗的利益。夏綠蒂做了柯林斯的妻子，這真是天下最丟人的事！她不僅為這樣一個朋友的自取其辱、自貶身份而感到難受，而且她還十分痛心地斷定，她朋友拈的這一個鬮兒，決不會給她自己帶來多大的幸福。
Chapter 22
THE Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again during the chief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. “It keeps him in good humour,” said she, “and I am more obliged to you than I can express.” Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte’s kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; — its object was nothing less than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins’s addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas’s scheme; and appearances were so favourable that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost sure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here, she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success could be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. His reception however was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins’s long speeches would allow, every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house, he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waved for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained.
Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent; and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr. Collins’s present circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whom they could give little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with more interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decided opinion that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife should make their appearance at St. James’s. The whole family, in short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte’s dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still, he would be her husband. — Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such disapprobation. She resolved to give her the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct questions on his return, as required some ingenuity to evade, and he was at the same time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing to publish his prosperous love.
As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his other engagements might allow him to visit them.
“My dear Madam,” he replied, “this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible.”
They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said,
“But is there not danger of Lady Catherine’s disapprobation here, my good sir? — You had better neglect your relations, than run the risk of offending your patroness.”
“My dear sir,” replied Mr. Collins, “I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her ladyship’s concurrence.”
“You cannot be too much on your guard. Risk any thing rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied that we shall take no offence.”
“Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, as well as for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Elizabeth.”
With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally surprised to find that he meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him. She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was a solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an example as her’s, he might become a very agreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this kind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before.
The possibility of Mr. Collins’s fancying himself in love with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him, seemed almost as far from possibility as that she could encourage him herself, and her astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she could not help crying out,
“Engaged to Mr. Collins! my dear Charlotte, — impossible!”
The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained her composure, and calmly replied,
“Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? — Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman’s good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?”
But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure her with tolerable firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all imaginable happiness.
“I see what you are feeling,” replied Charlotte, — “you must be surprised, very much surprised, — so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.”
Elizabeth quietly answered “Undoubtedly;” — and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins’s making two offers of marriage within three days, was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte’s opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating picture! — And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.
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