pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第95节
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gravel walk that led to the copse； Elizabeth was determined to
make no effort for conversation with a woman； who was now more
than usually insolent and disagreeable。
‘How could I ever think her like her nephew？’ said she； as she
looked in her face。
As soon as they entered the copse； Lady Catherine began in the
following manner：—
‘You can be at no loss； Miss Bennet； to understand the reason of
my journey hither。 Your own heart； your own conscience； must tell
you why I come。’
Elizabeth looked with unaffected astonishment。
‘Indeed； you are mistaken； Madam。 I have not been at all able to
account for the honour of seeing you here。’
‘Miss Bennet；’ replied her ladyship； in an angry tone； ‘you ought
to know； that I am not to be trifled with。 But however insincere
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you may choose to be； you shall not find me so。 My character has
ever been celebrated for its sincerity and frankness； and in a cause
of such moment as this； I shall certainly not depart from it。 A
report of a most alarming nature； reached me two days ago。 I was
told； that not only your sister was on the point of being most
advantageously married； but that you； that Miss Elizabeth Bennet；
would； in all likelihood； be soon afterwards united to my nephew；
my own nephew； Mr。 Darcy。 Though I know it must be a
scandalous falsehood； though I would not injure him so much as to
suppose the truth of it possible； I instantly resolved on setting off
for this place； that I might make my sentiments known to you。’
‘If you believed it impossible to be true；’ said Elizabeth；
colouring with astonishment and disdain； ‘I wonder you took the
trouble of coming so far。 What could your ladyship propose by it？’
‘At once to insist upon having such a report universally
contradicted。’
‘Your coming to Longbourn； to see me and my family；’ said
Elizabeth； coolly； ‘will be rather a confirmation of it； if； indeed；
such a report is in existence。’
‘If！ do you then pretend to be ignorant of it？ Has it not been
industriously circulated by yourselves？ Do you not know that such
a report is spread abroad？’
‘I never heard that it was。’
‘And can you likewise declare； that there is no foundation for
it？’
‘I do not pretend to possess equal frankness with your ladyship。
You may ask questions； which I shall not choose to answer。’
‘This is not to be borne。 Miss Bennet； I insist on being satisfied。
Has he； has my nephew； made you an offer of marriage？’
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‘Your ladyship has declared it to be impossible。’
‘It ought to be so； it must be so； while he retains the use of his
reason。 But your arts and allurements may； in a moment of
infatuation； have made him forget what he owes to himself and to
all his family。 You may have drawn him in。’
‘If I have； I shall be the last person to confess it。’
‘Miss Bennet； do you know who I am？ I have not been
accustomed to such language as this。 I am almost the nearest
relation he has in the world； and am entitled to know all his
dearest concerns。’
‘But you are not entitled to know mine； nor will such behaviour
as this； ever induce me to be explicit。’
‘Let me be rightly understood。 This match； to which you have
the presumption to aspire； can never take place。 No； never。 Mr。
Darcy is engaged to my daughter。 Now what have you to say？’
‘Only this； that if he is so； you can have no reason to suppose he
will make an offer to me。’
Lady Catherine hesitated for a moment； and then replied；
‘The engagement between them is of a peculiar kind。 From
their infancy； they have been intended for each other。 It was the
favourite wish of his mother； as well as of her’s。 While in their
cradles； we planned the union： and now； at the moment when the
wishes of both sisters would be accomplished； in their marriage； to
be prevented by a young woman of inferior birth； of no importance
in the world； and wholly unallied to the family！ Do you pay no
regard to the wishes of his friends？ To his tacit engagement with
Miss De Bourgh？ Are you lost to every feeling of propriety and
delicacy？ Have you not heard me say； that from his earliest hours
he was destined for his cousin？’
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‘Yes； and I had heard it before。 But what is that to me？ If there
is no other objection to my marrying your nephew； I shall certainly
not be kept from it； by knowing that his mother and aunt wished
him to marry Miss De Bourgh。 You both did as much as you could；
in planning the marriage。 Its completion depended on others。 If
Mr。 Darcy is neither by honour nor inclination confined to his
cousin； why is not he to make another choice？ And if I am that
choice； why may not I accept him？’
‘Because honour； decorum； prudence； nay； interest； forbid it。
Yes； Miss Bennet； interest； for do not expect to be noticed by his
family or friends； if you wilfully act against the inclinations of all。
You will be censured； slighted； and despised； by every one
connected with him。 Your alliance will be a disgrace； your name
will never even be mentioned by any of us。’
‘These are heavy misfortunes；’ replied Elizabeth。 ‘But the wife
of Mr。 Darcy must have such extraordinary sources of happiness
necessarily attached to her situation； that she could； upon the
whole； have no cause to repine。
‘Obstinate； headstrong girl！ I am ashamed of you！ Is this your
gratitude for my attentions to you last spring？ Is nothing due to
me on that score？
‘Let us sit down。 You are to understand； Miss Bennet； that I
came here with the determined resolution of carrying my purpose；
nor will I be dissuaded from it。 I have not been used to submit to
any person’s whims。 I have not been in the habit of brooking
disappointment。’
‘That will make your ladyship’s situation at present more
pitiable； but it will have no effect on me。’
‘I will not be interrupted。 Hear me in silence。 My daughter and
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my nephew are formed for each other。 They are descended on the
maternal side； from the same noble line； and； on the father’s； from
respectable； honourable； and ancient； though untitled families。
Their fortune on both sides is splendid。 They are destined for each
other by the voice of every member of their respective houses； and
what is to divide them？ The upstart pretensions of a young woman
without family； connections； or fortune。 Is this to be endured！ But
it must not； shall not be。 If you were sensible of your own good；
you would not wish to quit the sphere； in which you have been
brought up。’
‘In marrying your nephew； I should not consider myself as
quitting that sphere。 He is a gentleman； I am a gentleman’s
daughter； so far we are equal。’
‘True。 You are a gentleman’s daughter。 But who was your
mother？ Who are your uncles and aunts？ Do not imagine me
ignorant of their condition。’
‘Whatever my connections may be；’ said Elizabeth； ‘if your
nephew does not object to them； they can be nothing to you。’
‘Tell me once for all； are you engaged to him？’
Though Elizabeth would not； for the mere purpose of obliging
Lady Catherine； have
