第 16 章
年輕的小姐們跟她們姨媽的約會，並沒有遭受到反對。柯林斯只覺得來此作客，反而把班納特夫婦整晚丟在家裏，未免有些過意不去，可是他們叫他千萬不要放在心上。於是他和他的五個表妹便乘著馬車，準時到了麥裏屯。小姐們一走進客廳，就聽說韋翰先生接受了她們姨爹的邀請，而且已經駕到，覺得很是高興。
大家聽到這個消息之後，便都坐了下來。柯林斯先生悠閒自在地朝四下望望，瞻仰瞻仰一切；屋子的尺寸和裏面的傢俱使他十分驚羨，他說他好象進了咖苔琳夫人在羅新斯的那間消夏的小飯廳。這個比喻開頭並不怎麼叫主人家滿意，可是接下來腓力普太太弄明白了羅新斯是一個什麼地方，它的主人是誰，又聽他說起咖苔琳夫人的一個會客間的情形，光是一隻壁爐架就要值八百英鎊，她這才體會到他那個譬喻實在太恭維她了，即使把她家裏比作羅新斯管家奶奶的房間，她也不反對了。
柯林斯在講述咖苔琳夫人和她公館的富麗堂皇時，偶然還要穿插上幾句話，來誇耀他自己的寒舍，說他的住宅正在裝璜改善中等，他就這樣自得其樂地一直扯到男客們進來為止。他發覺腓力普太太很留心聽他的話，她愈聽就愈把他看得了不起，而且決定一有空就把他的話傳播出去。至於小姐們，實在覺得等得太久了，因為她們不高興聽她們表兄的閒扯，又沒事可做，想彈彈琴又不成，只有照著壁爐架上那些瓷器的樣子，漫不經心地畫些小玩藝兒消遺消遺。等待的時間終於過去了，男客們來了。韋翰先生一走進來，伊莉莎白就覺得，無論是上次看見他的時候也好，從上次見面以來想起他的時候也好，她都沒有錯愛了他。某某郡的軍官們都是一批名譽很好的紳士氣派的人物，參加這次宴會的尤其是他們之中的精華。韋翰先生無論在人品上，相貌上，風度上，地位上，都遠遠超過他們，正如他們遠遠超過那位姨爹一樣──瞧那位肥頭大耳，大腹便便的姨爹，他正帶著滿口葡萄酒味，跟著他們走進屋來。
韋翰先生是當天最得意的男子，差不多每個女人的眼睛都朝著他看；伊莉莎白是當天最得意的女子，韋翰終於在她的身旁坐了下來。他馬上就跟她攀談，雖然談的只是些當天晚上下雨和雨季可能就要到來之類的話，可是他那麼和顏悅色，使她不禁感覺到即使最平凡、最無聊、最陳舊的話，只要說話的人有技巧，還是一樣可以說得動聽。
說起要博得女性的青眼，柯林斯先生遇到象韋翰先生和軍官們這樣的勁敵，真變得無足輕重了。他在小姐們眼睛裏實在算不上什麼，幸虧好心的腓力普太太有時候還聽聽他談主，她又十分細心，儘量把咖啡和松餅敬給他吃。
一張張牌桌擺好以後，柯林斯便坐下來一同玩”惠斯脫”，總算有了一個機會報答她的好意。
他說：”我對這玩藝兒簡直一竅不通，不過我很願意把它學會，以我這樣的身份來說──”腓力普太太很感激他的好意可是卻不願意聽他談論什麼身份地位。
韋翰先生沒有玩”惠斯脫”，因為他被小姐們高高興興地請到另一張桌子上去玩牌，坐在伊莉莎白和麗迪雅之間。開頭的形勢很叫人擔憂，因為麗迪雅是個十足的健談家，大有把他獨佔下來的可能；好在她對於摸獎也同樣愛好，立刻對那玩藝兒大感興趣，一股勁兒下注，得獎之後又大叫大嚷，因此就無從特別注意到某一個人身上去了。韋翰先生一面跟大家應付這玩藝兒，一面從容不迫地跟伊莉莎白談話。伊莉莎白很願意聽他說話，很想瞭解一下他和達西先生過去的關係，可是她要聽的他未必肯講。於是她提也不敢提到那位先生。後來出人意料之外，韋翰先生竟自動地談到那個問題上去了。因此她的好奇心到底還是得到了滿足。韋翰先生問起尼日斐花園離開麥裏屯有多遠。她回答了他以後，他又吞吞吐吐地問起達西先生已經在那兒待了多久。
伊莉莎白說：”大概有一個月了。”為了不願意讓這個話題放鬆過去，她又接著說：”據我所知，他是德比郡一個大財主。”是的，”韋翰回答道。”他的財產很可觀──每年有一萬鎊的淨收入。說起這方面，誰也沒有我知道得確實，因為我從小就和他家裏有特別的關係。”
伊莉莎白不禁顯出詫異的神氣。班納特小姐，你昨天也許看到我們見面時那種冷冰冰的樣子了吧，難怪你聽了我的話會覺得詫異。你同達西先生很熟嗎？”我也只希望跟他這麼熟就夠了，”伊莉莎白冒火地叫道。”我和他在一起待了四天，覺得他很討厭。”
韋翰說：”他究竟討人喜歡還是討人厭，我可沒有權利說出我的意見。我不便發表意見。我認識他太久，跟他也處得太熟，因此很難做個公正的判斷人。我不可能做到大公無私。不過我敢說，你對他的看法大致可以說是駭人聽聞的，或許你在別的地方就不會說得這樣過火吧。這兒都是你自己人呢。”老實說，除了在尼日斐花以外，我到附近任何人家去都會這樣說。哈福德郡根本就沒有人喜歡他。他那副傲慢的氣派，哪一個見了都討厭。你絕不會聽到人家說他一句好話。”
歇了一會兒，韋翰說：”說句問心無愧的話，不管是他也好，是別人也好，都不應該受到人家過分的抬舉。不過他這個人，我相信不大會有人過分抬舉他的。他的有錢有勢蒙蔽了天下人的耳目，他那目空一切、盛氣淩人的氣派又嚇壞了天下人，弄得大家只有順著他的心意去看待他。”我雖然跟他並不太熟，可是我認為他是個脾氣很壞的人。”韋翰聽了這話，只是搖頭。
等到有了說話的機會，他又接下去說：”我不知道他是否打算在這個村莊裏多住些時候。”我完全不知道；不過，我在尼日斐花園的時候，可沒有聽說他要走。你既然喜歡某某郡，打算在那裏工作，我但願你不要因為他在附近而影響了你原來的計畫。”噢，不；我才不會讓達西先生趕走呢。要是他不願意看到我，那就得他走。我們兩個人的交情搞壞了，我見到他就不好受，可是我沒有理由要避開他，我只是要讓大家知道他是怎樣虧待了我，他的為人處世怎樣使我痛心。班納特小姐，他那去世的父親，那位老達西先生，卻是天下最好心的人，也是我生平最最真心的朋友；每當我同現在這位達西先生在一起的時候就免不了逗起千絲萬縷溫存的回憶，從心底裏感到苦痛。他對待我的行為真是惡劣萬分；可是我千真萬確地相信，我一切都能原諒他，只是不能容忍他辜負他先人的厚望，辱沒他先人的名聲。”
伊莉莎白對這件事越來越感到興趣，因此聽得很專心。但是這件事很蹊蹺，她不便進一步追問。
韋翰先生又隨便談了些一般的事情。他談到麥裏屯，談到四鄰八舍和社交之類的事，凡是他所看到的事情，他談起來都非常欣喜，特別是談到社交問題的時候，他的談吐舉止更顯得溫雅殷勤。
他又說：”我所以喜愛某某郡，主要是為了這兒的社交界都是些上等人，又講交情，我又知道這支部隊名聲很好，受到大家愛護，加上我的朋友丹尼為了勸我上這兒來，又講起他們目前的營房是多麼好，麥裏屯的眾對待他們又多麼殷勤，他們在麥裏屯又結交了多少好朋友。我承認我是少不了社交生活的。我是個失意的人。精神上受不了孤寂。我一定要有職業和社交生活。我本來不打算過行伍生活，可是由於環境所迫，現在也只好去參加軍隊了。我本應該做牧師的，家裏的意思本來也是要培養我做牧師；要是我博得了我們剛剛談到的這位先生的喜歡，說不定我現在也有一份很可觀的牧師俸祿呢。”是嗎？”怎麼會不是！老達西先生遺囑上說明，牧師職位一有了最好的空缺就給我。他是我的教父，非常疼愛我。他待我的好意，我真無法形容。他要使我衣食豐裕，而且他自以為已經做到了這一點，可是等到牧師職位有了空缺的時候，卻落到別人名下去了。”天哪！”伊莉莎白叫道；”怎麼會有那種事情，怎麼能夠不依照他的遺囑辦事？你幹嗎不依法申訴？”遺囑上講到遺產的地方，措辭很含混，因此我未必可以依法申訴。照說，一個要面子的人是不會懷疑先人的意圖的；可是達西先生偏偏要懷疑，或者說，他認為遺囑上也只是說明有條件地提拔我，他硬要說我浪費和荒唐，因此要取消我一切的權利。總而言之，不說則已，說起來樣樣壞話都說到了。那個牧師位置居然在兩年前空出來了，那正是我夠年齡掌握那份俸祿的那年，可是卻給了另一個人。我實在無從責備我自己犯了什麼過錯而活該失掉那份俸祿，除非說我性子急躁，心直口快，有時候難免在別人面前說他幾句直話，甚至還當面頂撞他。也不過如此而已。只不過我們完全是兩樣的人，他因此懷恨我。”這真是駭人聽聞！應該公開地叫他丟丟臉。”遲早總會有人來叫他丟臉，可是我決不會去難為他的。除非我對他的先人忘恩負義，我決不會揭發我，跟他作對。”
伊莉莎白十分欽佩他這種見地，而且覺得他把這種同見地講出來以後，他越發顯得英俊了。
歇了一會兒，她又說道：”可是他究竟是何居心？他為什麼要這樣作踐人呢？”無非是決心要跟我結成不解的怨恨，人認為他這種結怨是出於某種程度上的嫉妒。要是老達西先生對待我差一些，他的兒子自然就會跟我處得好一些。我相信就是因為他的父親太疼愛我了，這才使他從小就感到所氣惱。他肚量狹窄，不能容忍我跟他競爭，不能容忍我比他強。我想不到達西先生竟會這麼壞。雖說我從來沒有對他有過好感，可也不十分有惡感。我只以為他看不起人，卻不曾想到他卑鄙到這樣的地步──竟懷著這樣惡毒的報復心，這樣的不講理，沒有人道！”
她思索了一會兒，便接下去說：”我的確記得，有一次他還在尼日斐花園裏自鳴得意地說起，他跟人家結下了怨恨就無法消解，他生性就受記仇。他的性格上一定叫人家很厭惡。”
韋翰回答道：”在這件事情上，我的意見不一定靠得住，因為我對他難免有成見。”
伊莉莎白又深思了一會兒，然後大聲說道：”你是他父親的教子，朋友，是他父親所器重的人，他怎麼竟這樣作踐你！”她幾乎把這樣的話也說出口來：”他怎麼竟如此對待象你這樣一個青年，光是憑你一副臉蛋兒就准會叫人喜愛。”不過，她到底還是改說了這樣幾句話：”何況你從小就和他在一起，而且象你所說的，關係非常密切。”我們是在同一個教區，同一個花園裏長大的。我們的少年時代部分是在一起過的──同住一幢房子，同在一起玩耍，受到同一個父親的疼愛。我父親所幹的行業就是您姨爹腓力普先生得心應手的那門行業，可是先父管家有方，使他受惠非淺，因此在先父臨終的時候，他便自動提出負擔我一切的生活費用。我相信他所以這樣做，一方面是對先父感恩，另一方面是為了疼愛我。”
伊莉莎白叫道：”多奇怪！多可惡！我真不明白，這位達西先生既然這樣有自尊心，怎麼又這樣虧待你！要是沒有別的更好的理由，那麼，他既是這麼驕傲，就應該不屑於這樣陰險――我一定要說是陰險。”的確稀奇，”韋翰回答道：”歸根結底來說，差不多他的一切行動都是出於傲慢，傲慢成了他最要好的朋友。照說他既然傲慢，就應該最講求道德。可是人總免不了有自相矛盾的地方，他對待我就是意氣用事多於傲慢。”象他這種可惡的傲慢，對他自己有什麼好處？”有好處；常常使他做起人來慷慨豪爽──花錢不吝嗇，待人殷勤，資助佃戶，救濟貧苦人。他所以會這樣，都是因為門第祖先使他感到驕傲，他對於他父親的為人也很引為驕傲。他主要就是為了不要有辱家聲，有違眾望，不要失掉彭伯裏族的聲勢。他還具有做哥哥身份的驕傲，這種驕傲，再加上一些手足的情份，使他成了他妹妹的親切而細心的保護人；你自會聽到大家都一致贊他是位體貼入微的最好哥哥。”達西小姐是個怎麼樣的姑娘？”
韋翰搖搖頭。”我但願能夠說她一聲可愛。凡是達西家裏的人，我都不忍心說他們一句壞話。可是她的確太象她的哥哥了──非常非常傲慢。她小時候很親切，很討人喜愛，而且特別喜歡我。我常常陪她接連玩上幾個鐘頭。可是現在我可不把她放在心上了。她是個漂亮姑娘，大約十五六歲，而且據我知道，她也極有才幹。她父親去世以後，她就住在倫敦，有位太太陪她住在一起，教她讀書。”
他們又東拉西扯地談了好些別的話，談談歇歇，後來伊莉莎白不禁又扯到原來的話題上來。她說：我真奇怪，他竟會和彬格萊先生這樣知已。彬格萊先生的性情那麼好，而且他的為人也極其和藹可親，怎麼會跟這樣一個人交起朋友來？他們怎麼能夠相處呢？你認識彬格萊先生嗎？”我不認識。”他的確是個和藹可親的好性子的人。他根本不會明白達西先生是怎樣一個人。”也許不明白；不過達西先生討人歡喜的時候，他自有辦法。他的手腕很高明。只要他認為值得跟人家攀談，他也會談笑風生。他在那些地位跟他相等的人面前，在那些處境不及他的人面前，完全是兩個人。他處處傲慢，可是跟有錢的闊人在一起的時候，他就顯得胸襟磊落、公正誠實、講道理、要面子、也許還會和和氣氣，這都是看在人家的身價地位的份上。”惠斯脫”牌散場了，玩牌的人都圍到另一張桌子上來，柯林斯先生站在他的表妹伊莉莎白和腓力普太太之間。腓力普太太照例問他贏了沒有。他沒有贏，他完全輸了。腓力普太太表示為他惋惜，於是他慎重其事地告訴她說，區區小事何必擺在心上，因為他根本不看重錢，請她不要覺得心裏不安。
他說：”我很明白，太太，人只要坐上了牌桌，一切就得看自己的運氣了，幸虧我並不把五個先令當作一回事。當然好些人就不會象我這樣說法，也是多虧咖苔琳?德?包爾夫人，有了她，我就不必為這點小數目心痛了。”
這話引起了韋翰先生的注意。韋翰看了柯林斯先生幾眼，便低聲問伊莉莎白，她這位親戚是不是同德?包爾家很相熟。
伊莉莎白回答道：”咖苔琳?德?包爾夫人最近給了他一個牧師職位。我簡直不明白柯林斯先生是怎麼受到她常識的，不過他一定沒有認識她多久。”想你一定知道咖苔琳?德?包爾夫人和安妮?達西夫人是姐妹吧。咖苔琳夫人正是現在這位達西先生的姨母呢。”不知道，我的確不知道。關於咖苔琳夫人的親戚，我半點兒都不知道。我還是前天才曉得有她這個人的。”她的女兒德?包爾小姐將來會承受到一筆很大的財產，大家都相信她和她的姨表兄將來會把兩份家產合併起來。”
這話不禁叫伊莉莎白笑了起來，因為這使她想起了可憐的彬格萊小姐。要是達西果真已經另有心上人，那麼，彬格萊小姐的百般殷勤都是枉然，她對達西妹妹的關懷以及對達西本人的讚美，也完全白費了。柯林斯先生對咖苔琳夫人母女倆真是讚不絕口，可是聽他講起那位夫人來，有些地方真叫我不得不懷疑他說得有些過分，對她感激得迷住了心竅。儘管她是他的恩人，她仍然是個既狂妄又自大的女人。”我相信她這兩種毛病都很嚴重，”韋翰回答道。”我有多少年沒見過她了，可是我刻我自己一向討厭她，因為她為人處世既專橫又無禮。大家都說她非常通情達理；不過我總以為人家所以誇她能幹，一方面是因為她有錢有勢，一方面因為她盛氣淩人，加上她又有那麼了不起的一個姨侄，只有那些具有上流社會教養的人，才巴結上他。”
伊莉莎白承認他這番話說得很有理。他們倆繼續談下去，彼此十分投機，一直談到打牌散場吃晚飯的時候，別的小姐們才有機會分享一點韋翰先生的殷勤。腓力普太太宴請的這些客人們正在大聲喧嘩，簡直叫人無法談話，好在光憑他的舉止作風，也就足以博得每個人的歡心了。他一言一語十分風趣，一舉一動非常溫雅。伊莉莎白臨走時，腦子裏只想到他一個人。她在回家的路上一心只想到韋翰先生，想到他跟她說過的那些話，可是一路上麗迪雅和柯林斯先生全沒有住過嘴，因此她連提到他名字的機會也沒有。麗迪雅不停地談到抓彩票，談到她哪一次輸了又哪一次贏了；柯林斯先生盡說些腓力普先生和腓力普太太的殷勤款待，又說打”惠斯脫”輸了幾個錢他毫不在乎，又把晚餐的菜肴一盤盤背出來，幾次三番地說是怕自己擠了表妹們。他要說的話太多，當馬車停在浪博恩的屋門口時，他的話還沒有說完。
Chapter 16
As no objection was made to the young people’s engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins’s scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle’s invitation, and was then in the house.
When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification; but when Mrs. Philips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor, when she had listened to the description of only one of Lady Catherine’s drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper’s room.
In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode and the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs. Philips a very attentive listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantlepiece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. The gentlemen did approach; and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the —–shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk, as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy uncle Philips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room.
Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, and on the probability of a rainy season, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.
With such rivals for the notice of the fair, as Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed likely to sink into insignificance; to the young ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind listener in Mrs. Philips, and was, by her watchfulness, most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin.
When the card tables were placed, he had an opportunity of obliging her in return, by sitting down to whist.
“I know little of the game, at present,” said he, “but I shall be glad to improve myself, for in my situation of life –” Mrs. Philips was very thankful for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason.
Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed danger of Lydia’s engrossing him entirely for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes, to have attention for any one in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in an hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.
“About a month,” said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, “He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand.”
“Yes,” replied Wickham; — “his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself — for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy.”
Elizabeth could not but look surprised.
“You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. — Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?”
“As much as I ever wish to be,” cried Elizabeth warmly, — “I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable.”
“I have no right to give my opinion,” said Wickham, “as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and to well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish — and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. — Here you are in your own family.”
“Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Every body is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by any one.”
“I cannot pretend to be sorry,” said Wickham, after a short interruption, “that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts; but with him I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chuses to be seen.”
“I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man.” Wickham only shook his head.
“I wonder,” said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, “whether he is likely to be in this country much longer.”
“I do not at all know; but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the —-shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.”
“Oh! no — it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim to all the world; a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him any thing and every thing, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the memory of his father.”
Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented farther inquiry.
Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter especially, with gentle but very intelligible gallantry.
“It was the prospect of constant society, and good society,” he added, “which was my chief inducement to enter the —-shire. I knew it to be a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me farther by his account of their present quarters, and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton had procured them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society. A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it eligible. The church ought to have been my profession — I was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in possession of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we were speaking of just now.”
“Indeed!”
“Yes — the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere.”
“Good heavens!” cried Elizabeth; “but how could that be? — How could his will be disregarded? — Why did not you seek legal redress?”
“There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it — or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence, in short any thing or nothing. Certain it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done any thing to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and I may perhaps have sometimes spoken my opinion of him, and to him, too freely. I can recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very different sort of men, and that he hates me.”
“This is quite shocking! — He deserves to be publicly disgraced.”
“Some time or other he will be — but it shall not be by me. Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose him.”
Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than ever as he expressed them.
“But what,” said she after a pause, “can have been his motive? — what can have induced him to behave so cruelly?”
“A thorough, determined dislike of me — a dislike which I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me better; but his father’s uncommon attachment to me, irritated him I believe very early in life. He had not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood — the sort of preference which was often given me.”
“I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this — though I have never liked him, I had not thought so very ill of him — I had supposed him to be despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as this!”
After a few minutes reflection, however, she continued, “I do remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability of his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His disposition must be dreadful.”
“I will not trust myself on the subject,” replied Wickham, “I can hardly be just to him.”
Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time exclaimed, “To treat in such a manner, the godson, the friend, the favourite of his father!” — She could have added, “A young man too, like you, whose very countenance may vouch for your being amiable” — but she contented herself with “And one, too, who had probably been his own companion from childhood, connected together, as I think you said, in the closest manner!”
“We were born in the same parish, within the same park, the greatest part of our youth was passed together; inmates of the same house, sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care. My father began life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Philips, appears to do so much credit to — but he gave up every thing to be of use to the late Mr. Darcy, and devoted all his time to the care of the Pemberley property. He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy, a most intimate, confidential friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged. himself to be under the greatest obligations to my father’s active superintendance, and when immediately before my father’s death, Mr. Darcy gave him a voluntary promise of providing for me, I am convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him, as of affection to myself.”
“How strange!” cried Elizabeth. “How abominable! — I wonder that the very pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you! — If from no better motive, that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest, — for dishonesty I must call it.”
“It is wonderful,” — replied Wickham, — “for almost all his actions may be traced to pride; — and pride has often been his best friend. It has connected him nearer with virtue than any other feeling. But we are none of us consistent; and in his behaviour to me, there were stronger impulses even than pride.”
“Can such abominable pride as his, have ever done him good?”
“Yes. It has often led him to be liberal and generous, — to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor. Family pride, and filial pride, for he is very proud of what his father was, have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also brotherly pride, which with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister; and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers.”
“What sort of a girl is Miss Darcy,?”
He shook his head. — “I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy. But she is too much like her brother, — very, very proud. — As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely fond of me; and I have devoted hours and hours to her amusement. But she is nothing to me now. She is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I understand, highly accomplished. Since her father’s death, her home has been London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her education.”
After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not help reverting once more to the first, and saying,
“I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley! How can Mr. Bingley, who seems good humour itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable, be in friendship with such a man? How can they suit each other? — Do you know Mr. Bingley?”
“Not at all.”
“He is a sweet tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Mr. Darcy is.”
“Probably not; — but Mr. Darcy can please where he chuses. He does not want abilities. He can be a conversible companion if he thinks it worth his while. Among those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous. His pride never deserts him; but with the rich, he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, rational, honourable, and perhaps agreeable, — allowing something for fortune and figure.”
The whist party soon afterwards breaking up, the players gathered round the other table, and Mr. Collins took his station between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs. Philips. — The usual inquiries as to his success were made by the latter. It had not been very great; he had lost every point; but when Mrs. Philips began to express her concern thereupon, he assured her with much earnest gravity that it was not of the least importance, that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged she would not make herself uneasy.
“I know very well, madam,” said he, “that when persons sit down to a card table, they must take their chance of these things, — and happily I am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object. There are undoubtedly many who could not say the same, but thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters.”
Mr. Wickham’s attention was caught; and after observing Mr. Collins for a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation were very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh.
“Lady Catherine de Bourgh,” she replied, “has very lately given him a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not known her long.”
“You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters; consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy.”
“No, indeed, I did not. — I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine’s connections. I never heard of her existence till the day before yesterday.”
“Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates.”
This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss Bingley. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already self-destined to another.
“Mr. Collins,” said she, “speaks highly both of Lady Catherine and her daughter; but from some particulars that he has related of her ladyship, I suspect his gratitude misleads him, and that in spite of her being his patroness, she is an arrogant, conceited woman.”
“I believe her to be both in a great degree,” replied Wickham; “I have not seen her for many years, but I very well remember that I never liked her, and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent. She has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever; but I rather believe she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune, part from her authoritative manner, and the rest from the pride of her nephew, who chuses that every one connected with him should have an understanding of the first class.”
Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it, and they continued talking together with mutual satisfaction till supper put an end to cards; and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. Wickham’s attentions. There could be no conversation in the noise of Mrs. Philips’s supper party, but his manners recommended him to every body. Whatever he said, was said well; and whatever he did, done gracefully. Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all the way home; but there was not time for her even to mention his name as they went, for neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins were once silent. Lydia talked incessantly of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won, and Mr. Collins, in describing the civility of Mr. and Mrs. Philips, protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses at whist, enumerating all the dishes at supper, and repeatedly fearing that he crouded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage before the carriage stopped at Longbourn House.
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