c15-第1章

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Chapter　XV　of　Volume　III　（Chap。　57）
　THE　discomposure　of　spirits　which　this　extraordinary　visit　threw　Elizabeth　into；　could　not　be　easily　overcome；　nor　could　she；　for　many　hours；　learn　to　think　of　it　less　than　incessantly。　Lady　Catherine；　it　appeared；　had　actually　taken　the　trouble　of　this　journey　from　Rosings；　for　the　sole　purpose　of　breaking　off　her　supposed　engagement　with　Mr。　Darcy。　It　was　a　rational　scheme；　to　be　sure！　but　from　what　the　report　of　their　engagement　could　originate；　Elizabeth　was　at　a　loss　to　imagine；　till　she　recollected　that　his　being　the　intimate　friend　of　Bingley；　and　her　being　the　sister　of　Jane；　was　enough；　at　a　time　when　the　expectation　of　one　wedding　made　every　body　eager　for　another；　to　supply　the　idea。　She　had　not　herself　forgotten　to　feel　that　the　marriage　of　her　sister　must　bring　them　more　frequently　together。　And　her　neighbours　at　Lucas　lodge；　therefore　（for　through　their　communication　with　the　Collinses；　the　report；　she　concluded；　had　reached　Lady　Catherine）；　had　only　set　that　down　as　almost　certain　and　immediate；　which　she　had　looked　forward　to　as　possible　at　some　future　time。
In　revolving　Lady　Catherine's　expressions；　however；　she　could　not　help　feeling　some　uneasiness　as　to　the　possible　consequence　of　her　persisting　in　this　interference。　From　what　she　had　said　of　her　resolution　to　prevent　their　marriage；　it　occurred　to　Elizabeth　that　she　must　meditate　an　application　to　her　nephew；　and　how　he　might　take　a　similar　representation　of　the　evils　attached　to　a　connection　with　her；　she　dared　not　pronounce。　She　knew　not　the　exact　degree　of　his　affection　for　his　aunt；　or　his　dependence　on　her　judgment；　but　it　was　natural　to　suppose　that　he　thought　much　higher　of　her　ladyship　than　she　could　do；　and　it　was　certain　that；　in　enumerating　the　miseries　of　a　marriage　with　one　whose　immediate　connections　were　so　unequal　to　his　own；　his　aunt　would　address　him　on　his　weakest　side。　With　his　notions　of　dignity；　he　would　probably　feel　that　the　arguments；　which　to　Elizabeth　had　appeared　weak　and　ridiculous；　contained　much　good　sense　and　solid　reasoning。
If　he　had　been　wavering　before　as　to　what　he　should　do；　which　had　often　seemed　likely；　the　advice　and　intreaty　of　so　near　a　relation　might　settle　every　doubt；　and　determine　him　at　once　to　be　as　happy　as　dignity　unblemished　could　make　him。　In　that　case　he　would　return　no　more。　Lady　Catherine　might　see　him　in　her　way　through　town；　and　his　engagement　to　Bingley　of　coming　again　to　Netherfield　must　give　way。
‘‘If；　therefore；　an　excuse　for　not　keeping　his　promise　should　come　to　his　friend　within　a　few　days；''　she　added；　‘‘I　shall　know　how　to　understand　it。　I　shall　then　give　over　every　expectation；　every　wish　of　his　constancy。　If　he　is　satisfied　with　only　regretting　me；　when　he　might　have　obtained　my　affections　and　hand；　I　shall　soon　cease　to　regret　him　at　all。''
The　surprise　of　the　rest　of　the　family；　on　hearing　who　their　visitor　had　been；　was　very　great；　but　they　obligingly　satisfied　it；　with　the　same　kind　of　supposition　which　had　appeased　Mrs。　Bennet's　curiosity；　and　Elizabeth　was　spared　from　much　teazing　on　the　subject。
The　next　morning；　as　she　was　going　down　stairs；　she　was　met　by　her　father；　who　came　out　of　his　library　with　a　letter　in　his　hand。
‘‘Lizzy；''　said　he；　‘‘I　was　going　to　look　for　you；　come　into　my　room。''
She　followed　him　thither；　and　her　curiosity　to　know　what　he　had　to　tell　her　was　heightened　by　the　supposition　of　its　being　in　some　manner　connected　with　the　letter　he　held。　It　suddenly　struck　her　that　it　might　be　from　Lady　Catherine；　and　she　anticipated　with　dismay　all　the　consequent　explanations。
She　followed　her　father　to　the　fire　place；　and　they　both　sat　down。　He　then　said；
‘‘I　have　received　a　letter　this　morning　that　has　astonished　me　exceedingly。　As　it　principally　concerns　yourself；　you　ought　to　know　its　contents。　I　did　not　know　before；　that　I　had　two　daughters　on　the　brink　of　matrimony。　Let　me　congratulate　you　on　a　very　important　conquest。''
The　colour　now　rushed　into　Elizabeth's　cheeks　in　the　instantaneous　conviction　of　its　being　a　letter　from　the　nephew；　instead　of　the　aunt；　and　she　was　undetermined　whether　most　to　be　pleased　that　he　explained　himself　at　all；　or　offended　that　his　letter　was　not　rather　addressed　to　herself；　when　her　father　continued；
‘‘You　look　conscious。　Young　ladies　have　great　penetration　in　such　matters　as　these；　but　I　think　I　may　defy　even　your　sagacity；　to　discover　the　name　of　your　admirer。　This　letter　is　from　Mr。　Collins。''
‘‘From　Mr。　Collins！　and　what　can　he　have　to　say？''
‘‘Something　very　much　to　the　purpose　of　course。　He　begins　with　congratulations　on　the　approaching　nuptials　of　my　eldest　daughter；　of　which；　it　seems；　he　has　been　told　by　some　of　the　good…natured；　gossiping　Lucases。　I　shall　not　sport　with　your　impatience；　by　reading　what　he　says　on　that　point。　What　relates　to　yourself；　is　as　follows。''
‘‘Having　thus　offered　you　the　sincere　congratulations　of　Mrs。　Collins　and　myself　on　this　happy　event；　let　me　now　add　a　short　hint　on　the　subject　of　another；　of　which　we　have　been　advertised　by　the　same　authority。　Your　daughter　Elizabeth；　it　is　presumed；　will　not　long　bear　the　name　of　Bennet；　after　her　elder　sister　has　resigned　it；　and　the　chosen　partner　of　her　fate　may　be　reasonably　looked　up　to　as　one　of　the　most　illustrious　personages　in　this　land。''
‘‘Can　you　possibly　guess；　Lizzy；　who　is　meant　by　this？''
‘‘This　young　gentleman　is　blessed；　in　a　peculiar　way；　with　every　thing　the　heart　of　mortal　can　most　desire；　　splendid　property；　noble　kindred；　and　extensive　patronage。　Yet　in　spite　of　all　these　temptations；　let　me　warn　my　cousin　Elizabeth；　and　yourself；　of　what　evils　you　may　incur　by　a　precipitate　closure　with　this　gentleman's　proposals；　which；　of　course；　you　will　be　inclined　to　take　immediate　advantage　of。''
‘‘Have　you　any　idea；　Lizzy；　who　this　gentleman　is？　But　now　it　comes　out。''
‘‘My　motive　for　cautioning　you　is　as　follows。　We　have　reason　to　imagine　that　his　aunt；　Lady　Catherine　de　Bourgh；　does　not　look　on　the　match　with　a　friendly　eye。''　‘‘Mr。　Darcy；　you　see；　is　the　man！　Now；　Lizzy；　I　think　I　have　surprised　you。　Could　he；　or　the　Lucases；　have　pitched　on　any　man　within　the　circle　of　our　acquaintance；　whose　name　would　have　given　the　lie　more　effectually　to　what　they　related？　Mr。　Darcy；　who　never　looks　at　any　woman　but　to　see　a　blemish；　and　who　probably　never　looked　at　you　in　his　life！　It　is　admirable！''
Elizabeth　tried　to　join　in　her　father's　pleasantry；　but　could　only　force　one　most　reluctant　smile。　Never　had　his　wit　been　directed　in　a　manner　so　little　agreeable　to　her。
‘‘Are　you　not　diverted？''
‘‘Oh！　yes。　Pray　read　on。''
‘‘After　mentioning　the　likelihood　of　this　marriage　to　her　ladyship　last　night；　she　immediately；　with　her　usual　condescension；　expressed　what　she　felt　on　the　occasion；　when　it　become　apparent；　that　on　the　score　of　some　family　objections　on　the　part　of　my　cousin；　she　would　never　give　her　consent　to　what　she　termed　so　disgraceful　a　match。　I　thought　it　my　duty　to　give　the　speediest　intelligence　of　this　to　my　cousin；　that　she　and　her　noble　admirer　may　be　aware　of　what　they　are　about；　and　not　run　hastily　into　a　marriage　which　has　not　been　properly　sanctioned。''　‘‘Mr。　Collins　moreover　adds；''　‘‘I　am　truly　rejoiced　that　my　cousin　Lydia's　sad　business　has　been　so　well　hushed　up；　and　am　only　concerned　that　their　living　together　before　the　marriage　took　place　should　be　so　generally　known。　I　must　not；　however；　neglect　the　duties　of　my　station；　or　refrain　from　declaring　my　amazement　at　hearing　that　you　received　the　young　couple　into　your　house　as　soon　as　they　were　married。　It　was　an　encouragement　of　vice；　and　had　I　been　the　rector　of　Longbourn；　I　should　very　strenuously　have　opposed　it。　You　ought　certainly　to　forgive　them　as　a　Christian；　but　never　to　admit　them　in　your　sight；　or　allow　their　names　to　be　mentioned　in　your　hearing。''　‘‘That　is　his　notion　of　Christian　forgiveness！　The　rest　of　his　letter　is　only　about　his　dear　Charlotte's　situation；　and　his　expectation　of　a　young　olive…branch。　But；　Lizzy；　you　look　as　if　you　did　not　enjoy　it。　You　are　not　going　to　be　Missish；　I　hope；　and　pretend　to　be　affronted　at　an　idle　report。　For　what　do　we　live；　but　to　make　sport　for　our　neighbours；　and　laugh　at　them