The discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, his feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her, and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself, were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility in listening to him, was a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to her friend.
The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill humour or ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he still meant to stay.
After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton, to inquire if Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town and attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and vexation, and the concern of every body was well talked over. -- To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self imposed.
"I found," said he, "as the time drew near, that I had better not meet Mr. Darcy; -- that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself."
She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to her. His accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the compliment it offered to herself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing him to her father and mother.
Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and was opened immediately. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw her dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected herself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane invited her to follow her up stairs. When they had gained their own room, Jane taking out the letter, said,
"This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains, has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town; and without any intention of coming back again. You shall hear what she says."
She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that day in Grosvenor street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. The next was in these words. "I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; but we will hope at some future period, to enjoy many returns of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the mean while may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that." To these high flown expressions, Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must soon cease to regard it, in the enjoyment of his.
"It is unlucky," said she, after a short pause, "that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks forward, may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends, will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? -- Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by them."
"Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you --"
"When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London, might be concluded in three or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the croud, but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you."
"It is evident by this," added Jane, "that he comes back no more this winter."
"It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he should."
"Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. -- He is his own master. But you do not know all. I will read you the passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from you." "Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already, he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing, her relations all wish the connection as much as his own, and a sister's partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?"
"What think you of this sentence, my dear Lizzy?" -- said Jane as she finished it. "Is it not clear enough? -- Does it not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference, and that if she suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?"
"Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. -- Will you hear it?"
"Most willingly."
"You shall have it in few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you."
Jane shook her head.
"Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. -- No one who has ever seen you together, can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley I am sure cannot. She is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is this. We are not rich enough, or grand enough for them; and she is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion that when there has been one intermarriage, she may have less trouble in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and I dare say it would succeed, if Miss de Bourgh were out of the way. But, my dearest Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest degree less sensible of your merit than when he took leave of you on Tuesday, or that it will be in her power to persuade him that instead of being in love with you, he is very much in love with her friend."
"If we thought alike of Miss Bingley," replied Jane, "your representation of all this, might make me quite easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is, that she is deceived herself."
"That is right. -- You could not have started a more happy idea, since you will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to be deceived by all means. You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer."
"But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry elsewhere?"
"You must decide for yourself," said Elizabeth, "and if, upon mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him."
"How can you talk so?" -- said Jane faintly smiling, -- "You must know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could not hesitate."
"I did not think you would; -- and that being the case, I cannot consider your situation with much compassion."
"But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never be required. A thousand things may arise in six months!"
The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the utmost contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of Caroline's interested wishes, and she could not for a moment suppose that those wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young man so totally independent of every one.
She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she felt on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect. Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart.
They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct; but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern, and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen to go away, just as they were all getting so intimate together. After lamenting it however at some length, she had the consolation of thinking that Mr. Bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at Longbourn, and the conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration that, though he had been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full courses.
--正文
柯林斯求婚的事情现在基本告一段落。而伊丽莎白有时难免要提起这事，她虽然难受感。有时候还要被老娘含沙射影的说两句。至于那位先生呢（指柯林斯），并没有感到尴尬，或者垂头丧气，也没有躲着伊丽莎白，他的感受通过他的沉默，他那无声的谴责表达了出来。他几乎再没有跟她说话，在剩余的时间里，他把自己那浓浓的热情都转移到卢卡斯小姐身上。卢卡斯小姐客客气气得听柯林斯说话，让大家都如释重负，对伊丽莎白来说尤其是这样。
第二天，本内特太太的心情并没有好多少，身体也是一样。柯林斯也是生着闷气，拧着不理人。伊丽莎白希望柯林斯对自己的憎恶，能让他早点走，但是柯林斯没有一点要早点动身的样子。他之前打算周日就走，现在还打算待到那时候。
早餐后，姑娘们又走去梅屯打听维克汉姆有没有回来，顺便去告诉他耐热屯的舞会他不来，她们可真是太遗憾了。她们刚一进镇就遇到了维克汉姆，维克汉姆就送她们去姨妈家。在那儿，姑娘们都十分关心的问他没去的原因，维克汉姆好好说了自己没能去是有多么遗憾，多么恼火。而他也明白自己在伊丽莎白面前暴露了，她知道不去的原因。
在维克汉姆和另一个军官送他们回蘑菇屯的路上，他说：“我发现离舞会越近，我越觉得没必要见达西。想到要和他在一个屋，在一个舞会上要待好几个小时，我就不寒而栗。场面可能很难看，可能也会让别人难受。”
伊丽莎白十分赞赏他的礼让，和维克汉姆好好聊了这件事，他们也礼貌地互相夸奖对方，一路上维克汉姆对伊丽莎白照料有加。他送姐妹几个回去可真是好上加好：一好是维克汉姆快把伊丽莎白夸上天了，二好是正好可以趁这个机会把他介绍给父母认识。
他们回到蘑菇屯没多久，简就收到了一份信。信是从耐热屯寄过来的，简立刻打开了。信封里装着一张精致，小巧，热乎的信纸，字迹是一位小姐的漂亮流畅手笔。伊丽莎白看到姐姐对着信，表情一下变了，看她把几段话反复的读了几遍。简很快镇静了下来，把信放在了一边，努力想往常一样开心。但是伊丽莎白却有些焦虑，甚至对维克汉姆都不感兴趣了。维克汉姆和同伴一走，简就看了伊丽莎白一眼，邀请她到楼上去。她们一进自己的房间（原来简和伊丽莎白住一个房间啊，嘻嘻），简就拿出信说：“这是卡罗琳.宾利寄来的，信上说的事可是吓了我一大跳。这时候，耐热屯的一大帮子人都已经走了，回城里去了。而且再也不回来了，你自己看看她怎么说的吧。”
伊丽莎白就大声读了第一句话，这话是说她们打算跟着宾利直接回城里了，赫斯特先生在格罗思文罗大街上有座宅子，他们当天就在那吃晚饭了。下一句就是说，“亲爱的朋友，我离开赫特福德啥都不想（蘑菇屯和耐热屯都是赫特福德下面的村子），就想念你的陪伴。希望未来某个时间，我们还能再续前缘，好好玩一玩。同时呢，也希望我们能常来往，用心来往，以减轻离别之苦。希望你能多给我写信。”看着这些浮华的辞藻，伊丽莎白脸上写满了不信。尽管他们突然离开，让她有些意外，但是她觉得这事实在没啥可遗憾的。他们一大帮子走了，不代表宾利不回来啊。至于这些朋友，最好还是早些忘掉，只记得宾利就行了。
顿了一下，伊丽莎白接着说：“这群朋友走之前，咱也没见到，确实有点不幸。但是我们希望宾利小姐所期盼的在未来招手的幸福，会比她想象的更早一些到来，到时候你的这些好友，不就能与你再续前缘了么？宾利先生不会被他们留在伦敦的。”
“卡罗琳可是很确切的说了，这个冬天他们都不会再回来了。我读给你听。”
“我弟弟昨天走的时候，还以为这次去伦敦办的事，三四天就能结束。但是我们知道不可能的，我们还知道查尔斯去了伦敦应该不会急着走了，我们也就跟他一起待着，这样他就不会无聊的时候只能在旅馆里待着了。正好我在那也认识几个朋友，冬天正好有人陪着。我亲爱的朋友，我真诚的希望你也能过来交个朋友，但是我看恐怕不行。真诚的祝愿你在赫特福德的圣诞节过的愉快，希望你能多交几个男朋友，好忘掉我们几个老朋友。”
“这很明显了，”简接着说，“他这个冬天不会再回来了。”
“这只能看出，宾利小姐不想她弟弟回来。”
“你为什么会这么想？这肯定是宾利自己的主意，他肯定自己做得了主啊。你信还没读完，我给你读读这段，这段真是太伤人了。我话不跟你藏着掖着。” “达西先生等不及见他的妹妹，实话跟你说，我们也同样想见她。我觉得这世上在美貌，优雅和才华上，没人比得上乔治安娜.达西。路易莎和我对这个小姑娘，哎呀，可真的是喜欢的不得了，我们都把她当自己妹妹看待。我不知道之前跟你提过这事没，但是我走之前一定要告诉你，希望你知道我的感受都是有理由的。我的弟弟十分喜欢她，现在抓住一切机会想见她，她的家属也像宾利一样，像成全这门亲事。我虽然是宾利的姐姐，但是我对他没有任何偏袒，我觉得查尔斯能赢得所有女人的芳心。这事有那么人想着它成，没人想它不成，我亲爱的简，告诉我，此刻我想想这件成人之美的喜事错了吗？”
“亲爱的伊利，你怎么解释这句话呢？”简一读完就说，“这说得还不明白吗？难道卡罗琳还没说明白，既不想也不愿我做她的妹妹？她还没说明白她弟弟对我完全无所谓吗？还没说明白假如她知道我对他有感情，她想让我（十分善良的）留心些吗？这件事还有其它解释吗？”
“有的，因为我的解释完全不同，你想听听吗？”
“十分乐意。”
“我几句话说完。宾利小姐看到她弟弟跟你相爱了，但是又想她娶达西小姐。她跟着宾利去伦敦，是想把他留在那，然后又想哄骗你说达西对你一点不在乎。”
简摇了摇头。
“真的是这样，简，你应该相信我。任何见过你们在一起的人，都不会怀疑他对你的感情。宾利小姐也不能。她可没傻到这份上。达西要是像宾利爱你的一半那样爱她，她早就把婚纱订好了。事情实际上是这样。对他们来说，我们不够有钱，也不够有地位。她十分希望宾利能娶达西小姐，这样的话将来她要嫁给达西先生，阻力可能会小一些。这个算盘打得确实有点聪明，如果卡瑟林.德.包尔夫人要不管的话，这事也就成了。我的好姐姐，你可不能因为宾利小姐说她弟弟喜欢达西小姐，你就真的相信了。上周二他跟你分别的时候，可是想着你的好呢。你也别以为她有那能耐，让她弟弟喜欢达西小姐，不喜欢你。”
“如果我们对宾利小姐的看法相同，”简说，“你说的这些话确实让我轻松了不少。但我也知道你说的话有些偏心。卡罗琳可是不会故意骗人的，这件事上我只希望她是自己想错了。”
“对对对，你可以想得更乐观一点嘛，你又不信我说的话。就信她是自己想错的吧。你对她也做到位了，现在别再心急了。”
“可是，好妹妹，就算是这种情况，我嫁给一个姐姐朋友都不希望娶我的人，我会幸福吗？”
“这可得你自己做主了，”伊丽莎白说，“如果你仔细想过的话，觉得得罪了他两个姐姐的痛苦，比嫁给他的幸福远远要大的话，那我建议你还是拒绝他吧。”
“你怎么能这么说？”简浅浅的笑道，“你知道就算她们不同意会让我很痛苦，我也会毫不犹豫的嫁的。”
“我也没觉得你会犹豫。既然这样的话，我也不用太担心了。”
“但如果他这个冬天不回来的话，我也用不着左思右想了。六个月时间可能发生很多事情的。”
说宾利再也不回来这事，伊丽莎白可是完全不屑一顾的。在她眼里，这不过是卡罗琳一厢情愿，她觉得不管卡罗琳是直接讲，还是含蓄的讲，都不可能影响一个思想独立的年轻人。
她把自己的这种想法，强势的说给她姐姐听，很快就起了良好的效果。简并不是容易沮丧的性格，尽管她对于这段感情的不自信有时候会压倒希望，但她还是渐渐充满希望——宾利会回到耐热屯，并满足她的每个愿望。
姐妹俩商量好了，本内特太太只能听到这一家子走了，而不能说宾利的行为，以免她有所警觉。但就是这部分的现实也让她担心不已，她在那哀叹几个姑娘突然就走了，可真是不走运，说的好像她们之前关系很好一样。但她抱怨了一会，又自我安慰道宾利先生很快就会回来，到蘑菇屯吃饭。最后她满意得总结道，尽管只是邀请宾利过来吃顿便饭，但还是要准备两道硬菜。
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