第 38 章
星期六吃過早飯時，伊莉莎白和柯林斯先生在飯廳裏相遇，原來他們比別人早來了幾分鐘。柯林斯先生連忙利用這個機會向她鄭重話別，他認為這是決不可少的禮貌。
他說：”伊莉莎白小姐，這次蒙你光臨敝舍，我不知道內人有沒有向你表示感激；不過我相信她不會不向你表示一番謝意就讓你走的。老實告訴你，你這次來，我們非常領情。我們自知捨下寒傖，無人樂意光臨。我們生活清苦，居處局促，侍僕寥寥無幾，再加我們見識淺薄，象你這樣一位年輕小姐，一定會覺得漢斯福這地方極其枯燥乏味，不過我們對於你這次賞臉，實在感激萬分，並且竭盡綿薄，使你不至於過得興味索然，希望你能鑒諒。”
伊莉莎白連聲道謝，說是這次作客，非常快活，這六個星期來真是過得高興極了，跟夏綠蒂待在一起真有樂趣，加上主人家對待她又那麼殷勤懇切，實在叫她感激。柯林斯先生一聽此話，大為滿意，立刻顯出一副笑容可掬的樣子，慎重其事地回答道：聽到你並沒有過得不稱心，我真得意到極點。我們總算盡了心意，而且感到最幸運的是，能夠介紹你跟上流人來往。寒舍雖然毫不足道，但幸虧高攀了羅新斯府上，使你住在我們這種苦地方，還可以經常跟他們來往來往，可以免得單調，這一點倒使我可以聊以自慰，覺得你這次到漢斯福來不能算完全失望。咖苔琳夫人府上對我們真是特別優待，特別愛護，這種機會是別人求之不得的。你也可以看出我們是處於何等的地位。你看我們簡直無時無刻不在他們那邊作客。老實說，我這所牧師住宅雖然異常簡陋，諸多不便，可是，誰要是住到裏邊來，就可以和我們共用羅新斯的盛情厚誼，這可有能說是沒有福份吧。”
他滿腔的高興實在非言語所能形容；伊莉莎白想出了幾句簡簡單單、真心真意的客氣話來奉承他，他聽了以後，簡直快活得在屋子裏打轉。親愛的表妹，你實在大可以到哈福德郡去給我們傳播傳播好消息。我相信你一定辦得到。咖苔琳夫人對內人真是殷勤備到，你是每天都親眼看到的。總而言之，我相信你的朋友並沒有失算──不過這一點不說也好。請你聽我說，親愛的伊莉莎白小姐，我從心底裏誠懇地祝你將來的婚姻也能同樣的幸福。我親愛的夏綠蒂和我真是同心合意，無論遇到哪一件事莫不是意氣相投，心心相印。我們這一對夫婦真是天造地設。”
伊莉莎白本來可以放心大膽地說，他們夫婦這樣相處，的確是很大的幸福，而且她還可以用同樣誠懇的語氣接下去說，她完全認為他們家裏過得很舒適，她亦叨了一份光。不過話才說到一半，被說到的那位太太走了進來，打斷了她的話。她倒並不覺得遺憾。夏綠蒂好不可憐！叫她跟這樣的男人朝夕相處，實在是一種痛苦。可是這畢竟是她自己睜大了眼睛挑選的。她眼看著客人們就要走了，不免覺得難過，可是她好象並不要求別人憐憫。操作家務，飼養家禽，教區裏的形形色色，以及許許多多附帶的事，都還沒有使她感到完全乏味。
馬車終於來了，箱子給系上車頂，包裹放進車廂，一切都端整好了，只準備出發。大家戀戀不捨地告別以後，便由柯林斯先生送伊莉莎白上車。他們從花園那兒走去，他一路托她回去代他向她全家請安，而且沒有忘了感謝他去年冬天在浪搏恩受到的款待，還請他代為問候嘉丁納夫婦，其實他並不認識他們。然後他扶她上車，瑪麗亞跟著走上去，正當車門快要關上的時候，他突然慌慌張張地提醒她們說，她們還忘了給羅新斯的太太小姐們留言告別呢。不過，”他又說，”你們當然想要向她們傳話請安，還要感謝她們這許多日子來的殷勤款待。”
伊莉莎白沒有表示反對，車門這才關上，馬車就開走了。
沉默了幾分鐘以後，瑪麗亞叫道：”天呀！我們好象到這兒來才不過一兩天，可是事情倒發生了不少啊！”
她們一路上沒有說什麼話，也沒有受什麼驚，離開漢斯福不到四個鐘頭，就到了嘉丁納先生家裏。她們要在那兒耽擱幾天。
伊莉莎白看到吉英氣色很好，只可惜沒有機會仔細觀察一下她的心情是不是好，因為多蒙她舅母一片好心，早就給她們安排好了各色各樣的節目。好在吉英就要跟她一塊兒回去，到了浪搏恩，多的是閒暇的時間，那時候再仔細觀察觀察吧。
不過，她實在等不及到了浪搏恩以後，再把達西先生求婚的事情告訴吉英，她好容易才算耐住了性子。她知道她自己有本領說得吉英大驚失色，而且一說以後，還可以大大地滿足她自己那種不能從理智上加以克服的虛榮心。她真恨不得把它說出來，只是拿不定主意應該怎樣跟吉英說到適可而止，又怕一談到這個問題，就免不了多多少少要牽扯到彬格萊身上去，也許會叫她姐姐格外傷心。
Chapter 38
ON Saturday morning Elizabeth and Mr. Collins met for breakfast a few minutes before the others appeared; and he took the opportunity of paying the parting civilities which he deemed indispensably necessary.
“I know not, Miss Elizabeth,” said he, “whether Mrs. Collins has yet expressed her sense of your kindness in coming to us, but I am very certain you will not leave the house without receiving her thanks for it. The favour of your company has been much felt, I assure you. We know how little there is to tempt any one to our humble abode. Our plain manner of living, our small rooms, and few domestics, and the little we see of the world, must make Hunsford extremely dull to a young lady like yourself; but I hope you will believe us grateful for the condescension, and that we have done every thing in our power to prevent your spending your time unpleasantly.”
Elizabeth was eager with her thanks and assurances of happiness. She had spent six weeks with great enjoyment; and the pleasure of being with Charlotte, and the kind attentions she had received, must make her feel the obliged. Mr. Collins was gratified; and with a more smiling solemnity replied,
“It gives me the greatest pleasure to hear that you have passed your time not disagreeably. We have certainly done our best; and most fortunately having it in our power to introduce you to very superior society, and, from our connection with Rosings, the frequent means of varying the humble home scene, I think we may flatter ourselves that your Hunsford visit cannot have been entirely irksome. Our situation with regard to Lady Catherine’s family is indeed the sort of extraordinary advantage and blessing which few can boast. You see on what a footing we are. You see how continually we are engaged there. In truth I must acknowledge that, with all the disadvantages of this humble parsonage, I should not think any one abiding in it an object of compassion while they are sharers of our intimacy at Rosings.”
Words were insufficient for the elevation of his feelings; and he was obliged to walk about the room, while Elizabeth tried to unite civility and truth in a few short sentences.
“You may, in fact, carry a very favourable report of us into Hertfordshire, my dear cousin. I flatter myself, at least, that you will be able to do so. Lady Catherine’s great attentions to Mrs. Collins you have been a daily witness of; and altogether I trust it does not appear that your friend has drawn an unfortunate –; but on this point it will be as well to be silent. Only let me assure you, my dear Miss Elizabeth, that I can from my heart most cordially wish you equal felicity in marriage. My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in every thing a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other.”
Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was the case, and with equal sincerity could add that she firmly believed and rejoiced in his domestic comforts. She was not sorry, however, to have the recital of them interrupted by the entrance of the lady from whom they sprung. Poor Charlotte! — it was melancholy to leave her to such society! — But she had chosen it with her eyes open; and though evidently regretting that her visitors were to go, she did not seem to ask for compassion. Her home and her housekeeping, her parish and her poultry, and all their dependent concerns, had not yet lost their charms.
At length the chaise arrived, the trunks were fastened on, the parcels placed within, and it was pronounced to be ready. After an affectionate parting between the friends, Elizabeth was attended to the carriage by Mr. Collins, and as they walked down the garden, he was commissioning her with his best respects to all her family, not forgetting his thanks for the kindness he had received at Longbourn in the winter, and his compliments to Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, though unknown. He then handed her in, Maria followed, and the door was on the point of being closed, when he suddenly reminded them, with some consternation, that they had hitherto forgotten to leave any message for the ladies at Rosings.
“But,” he added, “you will of course wish to have your humble respects delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you while you have been here.”
Elizabeth made no objection; — the door was then allowed to be shut, and the carriage drove off.
“Good gracious!” cried Maria, after a few minutes silence, “it seems but a day or two since we first came! — and yet how many things have happened!”
“A great many indeed,” said her companion with a sigh.
“We have dined nine times at Rosings, besides drinking tea there twice! — How much I shall have to tell!”
Elizabeth privately added, “And how much I shall have to conceal.”
Their journey was performed without much conversation, or any alarm; and within four hours of their leaving Hunsford, they reached Mr. Gardiner’s house, where they were to remain a few days.
Jane looked well, and Elizabeth had little opportunity of studying her spirits, amidst the various engagements which the kindness of her aunt had reserved for them. But Jane was to go home with her, and at Longbourn there would be leisure enough for observation.
It was not without an effort, meanwhile, that she could wait even for Longbourn, before she told her sister of Mr. Darcy’s proposals. To know that she had the power of revealing what would so exceedingly astonish Jane, and must, at the same time, so highly gratify whatever of her own vanity she had not yet been able to reason away, was such a temptation to openness as nothing could have conquered but the state of indecision in which she remained as to the extent of what she should communicate; and her fear, if she once entered on the subject, of being hurried into repeating something of Bingley which might only grieve her sister farther.
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