pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第30节
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are so daring as to risk their happiness on the chance of being
asked a second time。 I am perfectly serious in my refusal。—You
could not make me happy； and I am convinced that I am the last
woman in the world who would make you so。—Nay； were your
friend Lady Catherine to know me； I am persuaded she would find
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me in every respect ill qualified for the situation。
‘Were it certain that Lady Catherine would think so；’ said Mr。
Collins very gravely—‘but I cannot imagine that her ladyship
would at all disapprove of you。 And you may be certain that when I
have the honour of seeing her again I shall speak in the highest
terms of your modesty； economy； and other amiable qualifications。’
‘Indeed； Mr。 Collins； all praise of me will be unnecessary。 You
must give me leave to judge for myself； and pay me the compliment
of believing what I say。 I wish you very happy and very rich； and by
refusing your hand； do all in my power to prevent your being
otherwise。 In making me the offer； you must have satisfied the
delicacy of your feelings with regard to my family； and may take
possession of Longbourn estate whenever it falls； without any self…
reproach。 This matter may be considered； therefore； as finally
settled。’ And rising as she thus spoke； she would have quitted the
room； had not Mr。 Collins thus addressed her；
‘When I do myself the honour of speaking to you next on this
subject I shall hope to receive a more favourable answer than you
have now given me； though I am far from accusing you of cruelty at
present； because I know it to be the established custom of your sex
to reject a man on the first application； and perhaps you have even
now said as much to encourage my suit as would be consistent
with the true delicacy of the female character。’
‘Really； Mr。 Collins；’ cried Elizabeth with some warmth； ‘you
puzzle me exceedingly。 If what I have hitherto said can appear to
you in the form of encouragement； I know not how to express my
refusal in such a way as may convince you of its being one。’
‘You must give me leave to flatter myself； my dear cousin； that
your refusal of my addresses is merely words of course。 My reasons
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for believing it are briefly these：—It does not appear to me that my
hand is unworthy your acceptance； or that the establishment I can
offer would be any other than highly desirable。 My situation in life；
my connections with the family of De Bourgh； and my relationship
to your own； are circumstances highly in my favour； and you
should take it into farther consideration that in spite of your
manifold attractions； it is by no means certain that another offer of
marriage may ever be made you。 Your portion is unhappily so
small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness
and amiable qualifications。 As I must therefore conclude that you
are not serious in your rejection of me； I shall chuse to attribute it
to your wish of increasing my love by suspense； according to the
usual practice of elegant females。’
‘I do assure you； Sir； that I have no pretension whatever to that
kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man。 I
would rather be paid the compliment of being believed sincere。 I
thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in
your proposals； but to accept them is absolutely impossible。 My
feelings in every respect forbid it。 Can I speak plainer？ Do not
consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you； but
as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart。’
‘You are uniformly charming！’ cried he； with an air of awkward
gallantry； ‘and I am persuaded that when sanctioned by the
express authority of both your excellent parents； my proposals will
not fail of being acceptable。’
To such perseverance in wilful self…deception Elizabeth would
make no reply； and immediately and in silence withdrew；
determined； that if he persisted in considering her repeated
refusals as flattering encouragement； to apply to her father； whose
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negative might be uttered in such a manner as must be decisive；
and whose behaviour at least could not be mistaken for the
affectation and coquetry of an elegant female。
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CHAPTER XX
r。 Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation
of his successful love； for Mrs。 Bennet； having dawdled
M
about in the vestibule to watch for the end of the
conference； no sooner saw Elizabeth open the door and with quick
step pass her towards the staircase； than she entered the
breakfast…room； and congratulated both him and herself in warm
terms on the happy prospect of their nearer connection。 Mr。
Collins received and returned these felicitations with equal
pleasure； and then proceeded to relate the particulars of their
interview； with the result of which he trusted he had every reason
to be satisfied； since the refusal which his cousin had stedfastly
given him would naturally flow from her bashful modesty and the
genuine delicacy of her character。
This information； however； startled Mrs。 Bennet；—she would
have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant
to encourage him by protesting against his proposals； but she
dared not to believe it； and could not help saying so。
‘But depend upon it； Mr。 Collins；’ she added； ‘that Lizzy shall be
brought to reason。 I will speak to her about it myself directly。 She
is a very headstrong foolish girl； and does not know her own
interest； but I will make her know it。’
‘Pardon me for interrupting you； Madam；’ cried Mr。 Collins；
‘but if she is really headstrong and foolish； I know not whether she
would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation；
who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state。 If
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therefore she actually persists in rejecting my suit； perhaps it were
better not to force her into accepting me； because if liable to such
defects of temper； she could not contribute much to my felicity。’
‘Sir； you quite misunderstand me；’ said Mrs。 Bennet； alarmed。
‘Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these。 In every thing
else she is as good natured a girl as ever lived。 I will go directly to
Mr。 Bennet； and we shall very soon settle it with her； I am sure。’
She would not give him time to reply； but hurrying instantly to
her husband； called out as she entered the library；
‘Oh！ Mr。 Bennet； you are wanted immediately； we are all in an
uproar。 You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr。 Collins； for she
vows she will not have him； and if you do not make haste he will
change his mind and not have her。’
Mr。 Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered； and
fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern which was not in
the least altered by her communication。
‘I have not the pleasure of understanding you；’ said he； when
she had finished her speech。 ‘Of what are you talking？’
‘Of Mr。 Collins and L
