During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank -- such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen any thing but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage; where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself, -- some shelves in the closets up stairs.
"That is all very proper and civil I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, "and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?"
"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence."
"I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?"
"She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property."
"Ah!" cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? is she handsome?"
"She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that in point of true beauty, Miss De Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex; because there is that in her features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have failed of; as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies."
"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court."
"Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine myself one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornament. Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea, and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. -- These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay."
"You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet, "and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?"
"They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible."
Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure.
By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but on beholding it (for every thing announced it to be from a circulating library), he started back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. -- Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. -- Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with,
"Do you know, mama, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away Richard, and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town."
Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said,
"I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; -- for certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin."
Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his book; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon.
--正文
晚餐的时候，本内特先生几乎没有说话。当仆人都退下后，他觉得时机到了，打算跟科林斯聊一聊。本内特老爷注意到柯林斯一直在说卡瑟林夫人，对她简直是感恩戴德，滔滔不绝地说起她如何满足自己的心愿，替自己着想。本内特老爷简直找不到更好的话题了。柯林斯夸奖起卡瑟林夫人真是非常动人。这个话题使他异常严肃，他信誓旦旦的说从没见过有一个贵族，能像卡瑟林夫人这样，待人那么亲切，那么谦和。他之前有幸在卡瑟林夫人面前布过两次道，卡瑟林夫人高兴的赞赏了他。夫人之前还两次邀请他到罗星庄园吃晚饭，还会在周六召他过去打牌。他认识的很多人都认为卡瑟林夫人很高傲，但是他从来没这么觉得过，他所能感觉到的只是亲切。卡瑟林夫人跟他聊起天来，与其他客人聊天没有什么两样。她完全不反对柯林斯加入到自己的小圈子，也不反对他偶尔离岗个一两星期，去拜访亲戚。她甚至还愿意屈尊俯就，建议他尽早结婚，并谨慎挑选老婆。卡瑟林夫人甚至还去他的寒舍拜访过一回，看到他对房子的改装十分赞成，甚至自己还给他提了些建议——在楼上的壁橱上放些书架。
“你说的这位卡瑟林夫人真的是很得体，很有礼貌。”本内特太太说，“我敢说她肯定是个很谦和的夫人。可惜的是贵妇人们大多都不像她那样。她住的离你近么，先生？”
“我住的小破屋所在的花园，跟夫人住的罗星庄园只隔着一条小路。”
“我想你刚刚说她是个寡妇吧，先生？她有什么家人吗？”
“只有一个女儿，她是罗星的合法继承人，还会继承很多其它的财产。”
“艾玛！”本内特太太尖叫医生，同时还摇着头，“那她可比很多姑娘走运多了。她这女娃是哪种类型？长得漂亮么？”
“她可是个貌美如花的小姐。卡瑟林夫人之前说过，要是论真正的美，德.包儿小姐可算是比最美的女人还要美上许多。因为从她的长相上能看出是出身名门。可惜的是，她身体一直不好，要不然，她肯定能获得更多的成就。这话我是听她老师说的，现在这老师还跟他们在一起。但是德.包儿小姐本人十分可爱，她总是屈尊乘着小马车来拜访我。”
“她有觐见过国王么？觐见过姑娘里面，我好像没见过她的名字”
“不幸的是，她的身体状况不允许她进城。而我也跟卡瑟林夫人提过这件事，包尔小姐去不了的话，那皇宫装修再奢华，也要暗淡三分呢。卡瑟林夫人听了后很高兴，你们也知道我偶尔喜欢巧妙地夸姑娘们几句，她们听了都很开心。我不止一次得跟卡瑟林夫人提过，她那迷人的小姐天生就是个公爵夫人，不管是多高的头衔，咱们小姐也能给他脸上添几分光彩，而不是受他那头衔恩泽。咱们夫人就喜欢这种夸奖，而我总是在这方便特别留意。”
“你这么留心，可真是太对了。”本内特老爷说，“我可真替你高兴，懂得那么巧妙地奉承别人。我想问下，你这种讨好别人的话，是事先想好的呢，还是现场发挥的呢？”
“大部分是现场发挥的。但是我有时候也会提前准备这种巧妙的夸奖，然后再随机应变。我总是会尽量装得像临场发挥的一样。”
本内特老爷如愿了。他的堂侄跟他想的一样荒谬。他听着柯林斯侃侃而谈，心里快要笑死了，但是脸上还要竭力维持冷静的样子。除了偶尔盯一下伊丽莎白以外，他并不需要别人来分享这份快乐。
到了喝茶的时候，这份罪总算受到头了。本内特先生高兴得带着客人去客厅喝茶，喝完茶又开心地邀请他读书给几位姑娘听。柯林斯先生愉快的接受了，于是她们拿了一本书出来。可是一看到那本书（这书从哪看都是给借了很多遍），他就往后一退，请求原谅说自己从来不读小说。凯缇吃惊地盯着他，莉迪亚尖叫了生。于是她们又拿了些其他书，最终他谨慎地选了本《布道集》。莉迪亚盯着他摊开那本书，还没等到他一本正经地读三页，她就打断了他：“
妈妈你知道吗？飞利浦叔叔说要辞退理查德，如果辞了地话，福斯特上校会再聘请他做那个职位。我婶婶周六亲自告诉我的。我明天要去梅屯再打听打听这件事，再顺便问问丹尼先生什么时候从城里回来。”
莉迪亚立刻被两个姐姐喝住，要她闭嘴。但是柯林斯先生已经很生气，他放下了书，说：“我注意到年轻姑娘对正经书都不怎么感兴趣。但这些书都是为她们的好处写的。我有时候确实觉得惊讶，没有什么比基督的教导对她们更有好处了。不过我不会再勉强我年轻的堂妹了。”
然后柯林斯找到了本内特老爷，提出要跟他对战双陆棋。本内特老爷接受了挑战，同时觉得他让姑娘们自娱自乐的做法十分聪明。本内特太太和几个姐姐十分礼貌地向他道歉，请求他原谅莉迪亚打断他读书。并承诺假如他继续读的话，不会再被打断了。但是柯林斯重申了不想让表妹无聊，而且也不会认为刚才的行为是冒犯，然后他就和本内特老爷坐下，准备双陆棋大战了。
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