pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第47章
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troop of little boys and girls； whose eagerness for their cousin’s
appearance would not allow them to wait in the drawing…room；
and whose shyness； as they had not seen her for a twelvemonth；
prevented their coming lower。 All was joy and kindness。 The day
passed most pleasantly away； the morning in bustle and shopping；
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and the evening at one of the theatres。
Elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt。 Their first subject
was her sister； and she was more grieved than astonished to hear；
in reply to her minute enquiries； that though Jane always
struggled to support her spirits； there were periods of dejection。 It
was reasonable； however； to hope； that they would not continue
long。 Mrs。 Gardiner gave her the particulars also of Miss Bingley’s
visit in Gracechurch…street； and repeated conversations occurring
at different times between Jane and herself； which proved that the
former had； from her heart； given up the acquaintance。
Mrs。 Gardiner then rallied her niece on Wickham’s desertion；
and complimented her on bearing it so well。
‘But； my dear Elizabeth；’ she added； ‘what sort of girl is Miss
King？ I should be sorry to think our friend mercenary。’
‘Pray； my dear aunt； what is the difference in matrimonial
affairs； between the mercenary and the prudent motive？ Where
does discretion end； and avarice begin？ Last Christmas you were
afraid of his marrying me； because it would be imprudent； and
now； because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand
pounds； you want to find out that he is mercenary。’
‘If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is； I shall
know what to think。’
‘She is a very good kind of girl； I believe。 I know no harm of
her。’
‘But he paid her not the smallest attention； till her grand…
father’s death made her mistress of this fortune。’
‘No—why should he？ If it was not allowable for him to gain my
affections； because I had no money； what occasion could there be
for making love to a girl whom he did not care about； and who was
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equally poor？’
‘But there seems indelicacy in directing his attentions towards
her； so soon after this event。’
‘A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those
elegant decorums which other people may observe。 If she does not
object to it； why should he？’
‘Her not objecting； does not justify him。 It only shews her being
deficient in something herself—sense or feeling。’
‘Well；’ cried Elizabeth； ‘have it as you choose。 He shall be
mercenary； and she shall be foolish。’
‘No； Lizzy； that is what I do not choose。 I should be sorry； you
know； to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in
Derbyshire。’
‘Oh！ if that is all； I have a very poor opinion of young men who
live in Derbyshire； and their intimate friends who live in
Hertfordshire are not much better。 I am sick of them all。 Thank
Heaven！ I am going to…morrow where I shall find a man who has
not one agreeable quality； who has neither manner nor sense to
recommend him。 Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing；
after all。’
‘Take care； Lizzy； that speech savours strongly of dis…
appointment。’
Before they were separated by the conclusion of the play； she
had the unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany her
uncle and aunt in a tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in
the summer。
‘We have not quite determined how far it shall carry us；’ said
Mrs。 Gardiner； ‘but perhaps to the Lakes。’
No scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth； and
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her acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful。 ‘My
dear； dear aunt；’ she rapturously cried； ‘what delight！ what felicity！
You give me fresh life and vigour。 Adieu to disappointment and
spleen。 What are men to rocks and mountains？ Oh！ what hours of
transport we shall spend！ And when we do return； it shall not be
like other travellers； without being able to give one accurate idea
of any thing。 We will know where we have gone—we will recollect
what we have seen。 Lakes； mountains； and rivers； shall not be
jumbled together in our imaginations； nor； when we attempt to
describe any particular scene； will we begin quarrelling about its
relative situation。 Let our first effusions be less insupportable than
those of the generality of travellers。’
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CHAPTER V
very object in the next day’s journey was new and
interesting to Elizabeth； and her spirits were in a state for
E
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 paling 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 discernible。 The garden sloping to
the road； the house standing in it； the green pales and the laurel
hedge； every thing declared they were arriving。 Mr。 Collins and
Charlotte appeared at the door； and the carriage stopped at the
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
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the parlour； he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious
formality to his humble abode； and punctually repeated
