第 30 章
威廉爵士在漢斯福只待了一個星期，可是經過了這一次短短的拜訪，他大可以為了：女兒嫁得極其稱心如意，而且有了這樣不可多得的丈夫和難能可貴的鄰居。威謙爵士在這兒作客的時候，柯林斯先生總是每天上午同他乘著雙輪馬車，帶他到郊野去漫遊；他走了以後，家裏又恢復了日常生活。伊莉莎白真要謝天謝地。因為這一次作客，跟她表兄柯林斯朝夕相見的次數並不多。原來他從吃早飯到吃午飯那一段時間裏，不是在收拾花園，就是在自己那間面臨著大路的書房裏看書寫字，憑窗遠眺，而女客的起坐間又在後面那一間。伊莉莎白開頭很奇怪：這裏的餐廳比較大，地位光線也比較好，為什麼夏綠蒂不願意把餐廳兼作起居室？可是她立刻看出了她朋友所以要這樣做，的確非常有理由，因為：假如女客也在一間同樣舒適的起坐間裏，那麼柯林斯先生待在自己房間裏的時間就要比較少了；她很讚賞夏綠蒂這樣的按排。
她們從會客室裏根本看不見外面大路的情形，幸虧每逢有什麼車輛駛過，柯林斯先生總是要告訴她們；特別是德?包爾小姐常常乘著小馬車駛過，差不多天天駛過，他沒有哪一次不告訴她們的。小姐常在牧師的門前停下車來，跟夏綠蒂閒談幾分鐘，可是主人從來不請她下車。
柯林斯先生差不多每天要到羅新斯去一趟，他的太太也是隔不了幾天就要去一次。伊莉莎白總以為他們還有些別的應得的俸祿要去處理一下，否則她就不懂得為什麼要犧牲那麼多的時間。有時候夫人也會光臨他們的住宅，來了以後就把屋子裏無論什麼事都看在眼裏。她查問他們的日常生活，察看他們的家務，勸他們換個方式處置；又吹毛求疵地說，他們的傢俱擺得不對，或者是他們的傭人在偷懶；要是她肯在這裏吃點東西，那好象只是為了要看看柯林斯太太是否持家節儉，不濫吃濫用。
伊莉莎白立刻就發覺，這位貴婦人雖然沒有擔任郡裏的司法職使，可是事實上她等於是她自己這個教區裏最積極的法官，一點點芝麻大的事都由柯林斯先生報告給她；只要哪一個窮苦人在吵架，鬧意氣，或是窮得活不下去，她問題親自到村裏去調解處理，鎮壓制服，又罵得他們一個個相安無事，不再叫苦歎窮。
羅新斯大約每星期要請她們吃一兩次飯；儘管缺少了威廉爵士，而且只有一桌牌，不過每有一次這樣的宴會，都依照第一次如法炮製。他們簡直沒有別的宴會，因為附近一般人家的那種生活派頭，柯林斯還高攀不上。不過伊莉莎白並不覺得遺憾，因為她在這裏大體上是過得夠舒服了：經常和夏綠蒂作半個鐘點的交談，加上這個季節裏又是天氣睛朗，可以常常到戶外去舒暢一下。別人去拜訪咖苔琳夫人的時候，她總是愛到花園旁邊那座小林子裏去散散步，那兒有一條很美的綠蔭小徑，她覺得那地方只有她一人懂得欣賞，而且到了那兒，也就可以免得惹起咖苔琳夫人的好奇心。
她開頭兩個星期的作客生涯，就這樣安靜地過去了。復活節快到了，節前一星期，羅新斯府上要添一個客人。在這麼一個小圈子裏，這當然是件大事。伊莉莎白一到那兒，便聽說達西先生最近幾個星期裏就要到來，雖然她覺得在她所認識的人裏面，差不多沒有一個象達西這樣討厭，不過他來了卻能給羅新斯的宴會上添一個面貌比較新鮮的人，同時可以從他對他表妹的態度看出彬格萊小姐在他身上的打算要完全落空，那更有趣極了。咖苔琳夫人顯然已經把他安排給他的表妹，一談到他要來，就得意非凡，對他讚美備至，可是一聽說盧卡斯小姐和伊莉莎白早就跟他認識，又時常見面，就幾乎好象生起氣來。
不久，柯林斯家裏就知道達西來了；因為牧師先生那天整個上午都在漢斯福旁的門房附近走動，以便儘早獲得確鑿的消息；等到馬車駛進花園，他就一鞠躬，連忙跑進屋去報告這重大的新聞。第二天上午，他趕快到羅新斯去拜會。他一共要拜會咖苔琳夫人的兩位姨侄，因為達西先生還帶來了一位費茨威廉上校，是達西舅父（某某爵士）的小兒子。柯林斯先生回家來的時候，把那兩位貴賓也帶來了，大家很是吃驚。夏綠蒂從她丈夫的房間裏看到他們一行三人從大路那邊走過來，便立刻奔進另外一個房間，告訴小姐們說，她們馬上就會有貴客降臨，接著又說：伊麗莎，這次貴客光臨，我得感謝你呀。否則達西先生才不會一下子就來拜訪我呢。”
伊莉莎白聽到這番恭維話，還沒有來得及申辯，門鈴就響了，宣佈貴賓光臨。不大一會兒工夫，賓主三人一同走進屋來。帶頭的是費茨威廉上校，大約三十歲左右，人長得不漂亮，可是從儀錶和談吐看來，倒是個地道的紳士。達西先生完全是當初在哈福德郡的那副老樣子，用他往常一貫的矜持態度，向柯林斯太太問好。儘管他對她的朋友伊莉莎白可能另有一種感情，然而見到她的時候，神色卻極其鎮定。伊莉莎白只對他行了個屈膝禮，一句話也沒說。
費茨威廉上校立刻就跟大家攀談起來，口齒伶俐，象個有教養的人，並且談得頗有風趣；可是他那位表兄，卻只跟柯林斯太太把房子和花園稍許評賞了幾句，就坐那兒沒有跟任何人說話。過了一會兒，他重新想到了禮貌問題，便向伊莉莎白問候她和她全家人的安好。伊莉莎白照例敷衍了他幾句，停了片刻，她又說：我姐姐最近三個月來一直在城裏。你從來沒有碰到過她嗎？”
其實她明明知道他從來沒有碰到過吉英，只不過為了想要探探他的口氣，看看他是否知道彬格萊一家人和吉英之間的關係。他回答說，不幸從來未曾碰到過班納特小姐，她覺得他回答這話時神色有點慌張。這件事沒有再談下去，兩位貴賓立刻就告辭了。
Chapter 30
SIR WILLIAM staid only a week at Hunsford; but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughter’s being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often met with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving him out in his gig and shewing him the country; but when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden, or in reading and writing, and looking out of window in his own book room, which fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a pleasanter aspect; but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.
From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss De Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes’ conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed on to get out.
Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then, they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture, or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins’s joints of meat were too large for her family.
Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in the commission of the peace for the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.
The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few; as the style of living of the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Collinses’ reach. This, however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably enough; there were half hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year, that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine’s curiosity.
In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. Elizabeth had heard, soon after her arrival, that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of her acquaintance whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley’s designs on him were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine; who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.
His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage, for Mr. Collins was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it; and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle, Lord —-; and to the great surprise of all the party, when Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte had seen them, from her husband’s room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, adding,
“I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me.”
Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Collins; and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtseyed to him, without saying a word.
Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to any body. At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and after a moment’s pause, added,
“My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?”
She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane; and she thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.
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