"I HOPE my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife as they were at breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."
"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home."
"The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger."
Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. -- "A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. Why Jane -- you never dropt a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. -- But -- good lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment."
"It is not Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."
This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained. "About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."
"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it."
Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.
"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."
"No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him?"
"Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear."
"Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent,
15th October.
DEAR SIR,
THE disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance." -- "There, Mrs. Bennet." -- "My mind however is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, -- but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,
WILLIAM COLLINS."
"At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemaking gentleman," said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. "He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again."
"There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him."
"Though it is difficult," said Jane, "to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit."
Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required.
"He must be an oddity, I think," said she. "I cannot make him out. -- There is something very pompous in his stile. -- And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail? -- We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. -- Can he be a sensible man, sir?"
"No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him."
"In point of composition," said Mary, "his letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed."
To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters.
Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet, indeed, said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers, but Mrs. Bennet who quarrelled with no compliments, answered most readily,
"You are very kind, sir, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so; for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly."
"You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate."
"Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things, I know, are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed."
"I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, -- and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but perhaps when we are better acquainted --"
He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture were examined and praised; and his commendation of every thing would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too, in its turn, was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins, the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour.
--正文
第二天吃早饭的时候，本内特老爷跟太太说，“亲爱的，我希望你已为今晚准备了一场丰盛的晚餐，今晚家里要来个人。”
“哦，亲爱的本内特老爷，你这是什么意思？今晚可没人要过来啊，除非夏洛特小姐突然拜访，就算是她来了，我这顿晚饭也不亏待了她。咱这晚餐，她在家里可不能经常见到。”
“我说的这个人，是位先生，而且是个你们不认识的先生。”
本内特太太的眼睛突然冒出了火花，“我不认识的先生！肯定是宾利先生！简，你这个调皮的丫头，你咋一句话也不说呢。哦！见到宾利我可是开心极了！可是老天爷啊，我可真不走运，今天可是一点鱼都没买到。莉迪亚，我的小宝贝，给我按一下铃，我现在就得跟希尔说句话。”
“不是宾利先生，”本内特老爷说，“这个人我这辈子都没见过。”
这一下全家人都很好奇。而本内特老爷开心的享受着，被老婆和五个女儿迫切追问的乐趣。
在吊足了大家胃口后，本内特老爷解释道：“大约一月前我收到一份信，两周前我回复了它。因为我觉得这件事比较棘手，需要早些留意。这是我表兄柯林斯先生寄来的，在我死后，只要他愿意的话，这个人有权利把你们都赶出这个家。”
“苍天呐，”他老婆大吼一声，“你可快别提那件事了。再也别说那个恶心男人了。自己的房产却没有办法被自己的孩子继承，这可真是这个世界上最让人无法接受的事情了。我要是你，肯定早早就想办法做点什么。”
简和伊丽莎白试图跟本内特太太解释，继承本来就是要传给男丁。她们之前也试图给她解释过了，但是本内特太太却根本不听，她总是恨恨地骂有自己的五个女儿不传，却传给一个无关紧要的男人。
“这事儿说起来，确实很不公平，”本内特老爷说，“柯林斯先生要继承蘑菇屯，确实怎么也说不过去。但如果听听他信上面说的话，看他怎么解释这件事的缘由，可能也会心软一些。”
“不可能，怎么也不可能。我觉得他敢写信给你，就已经十分无礼了，而且还十分虚伪。我可不喜欢这种虚伪的朋友。为什么他非得跟他老爸以前一样，天天跟你吵吵个没完呢？”
“为什么？那我跟你说下吧，他似乎是顾忌到长辈的面子，你听完这份信就知道了。”
“尊敬的伯父：
您与我尊贵的父亲之间的矛盾，一直让我内心不安。现在我父亲不幸去世了，我时常希望能有机会弥补你们之间的裂痕。但之前有段时间，我的一些顾虑又让我不敢这么做。我父亲生前与您关系疏远，而我现在与您重修于好，我害怕会对他有失尊敬。“就是这儿，本内特太太，这就是他的顾忌，“但现在我已经决意要这么做了，因为复活节我收到了一个任命。多蒙路易斯.德.伯尔爵士的遗孀，卡瑟林.德.伯尔夫人恩泽，选择了我做这片教区的牧师。我将尽我所能，时刻准备履行英格兰教会所规定的一切仪式和典礼，以示对爵士夫人的尊敬。此外，作为一个牧师，我也觉得有责任在所到之处传播福祉。在现在这块地界，鄙人不才，但是在传播福祉上来说也可以说是广受欢迎。至于我继承蘑菇屯财产一事，还请您不要介怀，还请要答应我这件事。对于这对您女儿所造成的损失，我感到十分抱歉，请允许我为此事道歉。我向您保证，我愿意尽我所能补偿她们，此事容日后再详谈。如果您不反对我拜访尊府，我提议在11月18日，周一，下午四点前拜访您。如果方便的话，我可能要在尊府上叨扰一周，待到周六。卡瑟林夫人那边不介意我周日偶尔缺席，那边有其他牧师可以主持相关事宜。
谨向尊贵的伯父，夫人及令媛致以尊敬的问候。
您忠心的朋友威廉姆.柯林斯“
10月15日写于 夯斯屯，外斯特汉姆附近的肯特屯”
“所以四点钟，我们要准备见这位讲和的先生。”本内特老爷重新叠好信，说，“我敢保证，他像是个很有责任心、懂礼貌的年轻人。我可毫不怀疑，这会是个宝贵的朋友，要是卡瑟林夫人能开开恩让他常来就更好了。”
“他说得那些跟我们女儿有关的话，倒还是有些道理。他要是决心给她们补偿，我可是一点不反对。”本内特太太说。
“虽然很难他说，他说要给我们补偿是什么意思，”简回复说，“但是这片心确实难得。”
伊丽莎白一下注意到他对卡瑟林夫人的尊敬，以及他总是好心给别人行洗礼啊，主持婚礼、葬礼啊，这令她印象深刻。
“我觉得他肯定是个怪人，”伊丽莎白说，“我不太明白这个人，他写信的风格有些浮夸。他说要为继承了遗产而道歉是什么意思？我觉得假如他真能放弃财产，他还是会继承的。老爸，你觉得他会是个明事理的人么？”
“恐怕不是，亲爱的，我觉得可能他完全是相反的。我觉得他写信有些卑躬屈膝，又有些自视甚高，从这点上就可以看出来。我可等不及要见他了。”
“从写作的角度讲，”玛丽说，“他的信没什么毛病。橄榄枝的引用说不上新奇，但是用在这里也是相当好了。”
而对于卡瑟林和莉迪亚来说，不论是信，还是作者，对她们都没有吸引力。她们的表兄又不可能穿个猩红大衣过来，而这几周来，她们对穿其他颜色衣服的男人又都不敢兴趣（此处指民兵制服）。对于科林斯太太来说，科林斯的来信让她的怨气打消不少，她准备以平和到让丈夫和女儿惊讶的心态去见他。
科林斯先生来的很准时，而且被一大家子极其礼貌地欢迎了。本内特老爷聊了些。姑娘们则早早准备好好好聊聊。科林斯先生似乎既不侃侃而谈，也不沉默不语。他是个二十五岁的男亲人，个子高且表情严肃。他的气质很庄重高贵，举止也很正式。他进屋就夸本内特太太有五个这么漂亮的女儿，还说早就听说她们的美貌。今天一见，可真是外面传的还给说丑了。说完他才坐下来。然后又补充说，相信本内特太太都应该给几位姑娘安排好了婚事。这番恭维不太合几位姑娘的胃口，但是本内特太太，这位之前还恶语相向的人，现在十分欢快的回答说：”你可真是太好心了，我可真心希望能像你说得这样，不然的话她们可就得穷苦下去了。现在这世道可太古怪了。“
”你大概是说继承这块产业的事情吧。“
”是啊，大侄儿。我确实是说的这事。你得承认，这对我们的姑娘来说可真是太悲惨了。我倒不是说这事你有什么错误，这种事情，我知道的世界上哪儿都可能发生。财产要被继承的时候，谁都不知道它会落到谁手里。“
”夫人，我十分明白这对我表姊妹所造成的痛苦。我对这事有很多话可以说，但我不想仓促行事。但是我可以像姑娘们保证，我此番前来是有所准备的，表达我的仰慕的。现在我不能说太多，也许我们更熟悉一些的时候，我们可以再谈...“
突然大家被叫去吃晚餐，他被打断了。姑娘们相视而笑。科林斯表兄可不止仰慕她们几个。大厅，餐厅，还有所有家具都被细看了一番，又被好好赞美了一番。科林斯的这番恭维，本来是正中本内特太太心的，但想到他应该是把房子当作未来财产看的，心里又变得郁闷了。晚饭也是一样，被高度赞扬了一番。他又开始问应该赞美哪个表姊妹的精彩厨艺，但是几个姑娘们根本没做今晚的晚餐。他又因为说了不开心的话，请求本内特太太原谅。本内特太太语气缓和些说，自己没有怎么被冒犯。结果他又一直道歉了大约15分钟。
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