Mr. Collins's triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he knew not how to admire enough.
"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation moreover including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!"
"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, "from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the Court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon."
Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day, or next morning, but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them.
When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth,
"Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for any thing more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."
While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. -- Such formidable accounts of her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas, who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension, as her father had done to his presentation at St. James's.
As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park. -- Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh.
When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. -- Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation.
From the entrance hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and finished ornaments, they followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. -- Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should be her's, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary.
In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. -- Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented.
When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her being so thin, and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between the ladies. Miss De Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a low voice to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes.
After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking at in the summer.
The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants, and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh -- the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss De Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.
When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted. She enquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all; told her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as her's, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the least, and who, she observed to Mrs. Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her at different times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? -- Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions, but answered them very composedly. -- Lady Catherine then observed,
"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. -- It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. -- Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?"
"A little."
"Oh! then -- some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to -- You shall try it some day. -- Do your sisters play and sing?"
"One of them does."
"Why did not you all learn? -- You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as your's. -- Do you draw?"
"No, not at all."
"What, none of you?"
"Not one."
"That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters."
"My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London."
"Has your governess left you?"
"We never had any governess."
"No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! -- I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education."
Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her that had not been the case.
"Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess you must have been neglected."
"Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might."
"Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe's calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. "Lady Catherine," said she, "you have given me a treasure." Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?"
"Yes, Ma'am, all."
"All! -- What, all five out at once? Very odd! -- And you only the second. -- The younger ones out before the elder are married! -- Your younger sisters must be very young?"
"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, Ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. -- The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind."
"Upon my word," said her ladyship, "you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. -- Pray, what is your age?"
"With three younger sisters grown up," replied Elizabeth smiling, "your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it."
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence!
"You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, -- therefore you need not conceal your age."
"I am not one and twenty."
When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille; and as Miss De Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss De Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the other table, Lady Catherine was generally speaking -- stating the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to every thing her Ladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noble names.
When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the tables were broke up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted, and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival of the coach, and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. Collins's side, and as many bows on Sir William's, they departed. As soon as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise into his own hands.
--正文
伊丽莎白一行人被邀请到罗星吃晚饭，对于柯林斯来说可是彻头彻尾的大胜利。能够向这些好奇的客人展示女金主的气派，让他们看看德.包尔夫人是对自己和夫人是多么客气，这本来就是他所渴求的。而这个机会如此快得就给与了柯林斯，这正是卡瑟林夫人迁就自己的例证，而他不知道如何感谢才好。
“我承认，”柯林斯说，“对于卡瑟林夫人邀请我们周日去罗星喝茶再待到晚上，我一点也不惊讶。以我对她亲切性格的了解，我早就猜到了她会这么做。但是谁能预想到卡瑟林夫人那么给面子？谁又能想得到你们刚到这一会，我们就全都被邀请去吃晚饭呢？”
“对于这件事我倒没那么惊讶，”威廉姆爵士说，“因为我之前与这些高贵人物有些交际，了解她们待人的方式。对于这些高官贵族，有这样涵养的人可是不罕见的。”
这一整天，一直到第二天早上，除了去罗星拜访的事情，他们几乎什么都没聊。柯林斯在小心的讲解可能遇到的事情，以免那些富丽堂皇的房间，人数众多的仆从，以及丰盛华丽的菜肴吓坏了他们。
当姑娘们前去打扮时，柯林斯对伊丽莎白说：“
你可千万别因为自己穿的随意而不自在，亲爱的堂妹。卡瑟林夫人可不会要求我们穿得多么高雅，她们娘俩会穿得很高雅。我建议你穿上自己最好的衣服就行，不必太过打扮。卡瑟林夫人不会因为穿着简单就低看你一眼的。她还是喜欢穿着能看出地位的。”
大家正在换衣服的时候，柯林斯到每个人的门前催了两三次，让她们快点，因为卡瑟林夫人可不喜欢等着人吃晚饭。卡瑟林夫人这种吓人的风格，以及她生活的方式，可是吓坏了玛丽亚.卢卡斯。她不太适应这种应酬。她一想起去罗星就有些诚惶诚恐，就跟他父亲当年觐见国王一样。
恰逢天气晴好，她们在公园里惬意地走了大约半里路。每个公园都有自己的独到之处，伊丽莎白见到这些美景心情也是大好，但是她没有像柯林斯期待地那样狂喜。她听着柯林斯挨个介绍房子前的窗户，听他说之前安装这些窗户就花了刘易斯.德.包尔先生不少钱，伊丽莎白听了并没有什么感觉。
他们走楼梯去客厅的时候，玛丽亚变得愈加警觉了起来，就连威廉姆爵士看起来也有些紧张。伊丽莎白却不害怕。她没听说这位卡瑟林夫人有什么过人的才能，或者高尚的品格能让自己敬畏，而她也自信那些钱财地位并不会让自己惊慌失措。
柯林斯激动地指出门厅，告诉大家到了，门厅布局合理，装修也很漂亮，一行人跟着仆人从这里穿过一个休息室，来到了一个房间，卡瑟林夫人和女儿，詹金森夫人都坐在那里。卡瑟林夫人屈尊站起来欢迎他们。根据柯林斯夫人和她丈夫之前商量好的结果，由柯林斯夫人来做介绍，而她也做得什么得体，没有像柯林斯那样到处道歉又感谢什么的。
尽管去过皇宫，威廉姆爵士还是被这周围的奢华震惊了，他只有稍微欠身的勇气，然后就一言不发的坐了下来。而他的闺女呢，几乎被吓得失去意识，坐在凳子边上，眼睛不知道该朝哪儿看。伊丽莎白没有被这景象所吓到，镇定地观察着面前的三位女士。卡瑟林夫人是一个高大的女人，相貌令人印象深刻，她以前可能是个漂亮的姑娘。她并不是随和的人，而她屈尊迎接众人也不是为了让他们忘记自己的身份。她的威严并不是通过沉默体现的。她说的每句话都充满威严以彰显自己的重要性，这让伊丽莎白立刻想起来了维克汉姆。从那一天的观察来看，她觉得卡瑟林夫人就跟维克汉姆描述的一模一样。
伊丽莎白检查完卡瑟林夫人后，她发现卡瑟林夫人的长相举止有点像达西。然后她就观察德.包尔小姐，她几乎跟玛丽亚一样惊讶于德.包尔小姐那么瘦小。这对母女之间无论身材上，或者长相上面，都没有什么相似的地方。德.包尔小姐苍白而又体弱，她的样貌虽说不至于毫无特色，但是也没什么出众的地方。德.包尔小姐除了偶尔跟詹金森太太小声聊两句，基本不说什么话。詹金森太太看起来没有什么特别的地方，她专注地听着德.包尔小姐讲话，而且在她眼前遮挡着。
坐了一会后，大家都去窗前欣赏美景。柯林斯也加入进来，给大家介绍美在何处。卡瑟林夫人则好心地告诉大家夏天的景观要更动人一些。
晚餐极为丰盛，仆人成群，餐具都是一套套的，正如柯林斯所说。而且跟他之前说的一样，他应卡瑟林夫人的要求坐在了桌子的下首，而他看起来就像到达了人生的巅峰。他一会儿切肉，一会进食，而且开心的称赞每一道菜。每一道菜都被大加赞赏，先是柯林斯夸奖一番，然后又是威廉姆爵士再夸一番。威廉姆爵士现在终于缓了过来，不停地附和女婿说的话，伊丽莎白觉得卡瑟林夫人可能都听不下去了。但是卡瑟林夫人看起来好像挺满意，这种过度夸奖对她来说很受用，她一直露出慈祥的笑容，尤其是当桌上出现大家没见过的菜的时候，她便格外满意。晚餐上没啥可以聊的。伊丽莎白一直等着人开个头，自己好说两句，但是她坐在夏洛特和德.包尔小姐中间，夏洛特一直在听卡瑟林夫人说话；而德.包尔小姐在晚餐上一句话都没跟她说。詹金森太太主要关注着小德.包尔小姐吃得怎么样，还让她试点其它菜，害怕她不舒服。玛丽亚害怕说话，而男人们则一直吃着东西，夸着东西。
吃完饭，女士们都回到了客厅，大家都听着卡瑟林夫人说话，而她一直说个不停，说自己对每件事情得看法，语气是如此的独断，好像她的说话从没有被反驳过，就这样一直到咖啡被送了进来。卡瑟林夫人又详细得问起夏洛特家里的情况，然后又给了她很多建议，教她如何处理事情。教导她像她这样的小家庭，事情应该怎么管；又指导她如何照看牛和其它家畜。伊丽莎白发现这位夫人是面面俱到，什么都要管，这也让伊丽莎白有机会跟其他人聊聊天。在卡瑟林夫人和柯林斯夫人聊天的间隙，卡瑟利夫人又问了玛丽亚和伊丽莎白很多问题，但主要是问伊丽莎白问题。她对伊丽莎白的关系了解最少，而她跟夏洛特也说过，伊丽莎白看起来是那种彬彬有礼，漂亮的姑娘。她问了伊丽莎白很多次，家里面到底几个姐妹，是比她大还是小，有几个要结婚了，长得漂不漂亮，读过书没有啊，她老爸的马车啥样啊，她老妈的女佣叫啥名字啊？（翻译官：七大姑八大姨的灵魂拷问....）伊丽莎白感觉到了问题中的无礼，但还是镇静地回答了这些问题。卡瑟林夫人随后说：“
我听说，你爸的地产应该给柯林斯继承了。对于你来说，“她转后夏洛特，”我很高兴。但是我觉得不应该自己家的闺女继承不了遗产，却要给别人。刘易斯.德.包尔爵士就没这么做。你会弹奏唱歌嘛，本内特小姐？“
“会一点。”
“是嘛！那后面我们找个机会听你演奏。我们这儿的乐器都是一流的，可能比你们的要高级...哪天你应该试试。你的姐妹们会弹唱吗？”
“有一个会的”
“你们为什么不都学一下呢？你们都应该学的。韦伯家的姑娘都会乐器的，她们的父亲还没有你们的有钱。你会画画吗？”
“不会，一点都不会。”
“啥？你们姐妹一个都不会吗？”
“是的，一个都不会。”
“这太奇怪了。我估计你们是没机会学。你们的母亲应该早点带你们来城里，每个春天都来找老师学一下。”
“我母亲倒没什么意见，但是我父亲很讨厌伦敦。”
“你们家的家庭教师还在么？”
“我们家没有家庭教师。”
“没有家庭教师！这怎么可能呢？在家里养了5个闺女还没有家庭教师。我可从没听说过这样的事。你们的母亲为了教育你们，肯定像个奴隶一样忙了。”
伊丽莎白差点忍不住笑出来。她跟卡瑟林夫人确认没有这回事。
“那是谁教育你们？又是谁照顾你们呢？没有家庭教师的话，你们的教育肯定是被疏忽了。”
“跟一些家庭相比，我觉得是这样；但我们姐妹想要学习，绝不会没有办法。家里人总是鼓励我们读书，而且各种老师我们也都有。如果你无所事事，那也可以。”
“是啊，必须的。但家庭教师正是用来防止无所事事的。我要是早认识你们母亲，肯定早早建议她给你们请个家庭教师了。我总是说——没有日常的管教，教育这件事肯定是做不好的，而且只有家庭教师能管教好。很好的是，很多家庭都采取了我这种方法。我总是很开心能给年轻人安顿好。詹金森太太的四个外甥女靠我的方法，现在都安顿地挺好的。还有之前有个年轻人，只是偶然别人跟我提起过她，我立即推荐了她做家庭教师，那家人现在都对她很满意。柯林斯太太，我跟你提起过迈特咖妃太太昨天登门感谢的事情吗？她觉得波普小姐是个宝贝。‘卡瑟林夫人，’她说，‘你送给我了一个珍宝。’你的妹妹们都出来交际了吗，本内特小姐？”
“是的，太太，都出来了。”
“都出来了。五个一次都出来了？奇怪。而你只是老二。妹妹倒比姐姐先结婚？你妹妹肯定很年轻吧。”
“是的，最小的妹妹才16岁。可能她还不够大，不能早早去交朋友。但是说真的，太太，我觉得做个妹妹不容易。就因为姐姐们不想，或者不能先结婚，她们就不能有社交和娱乐。最后出生的，跟先出生的一样，都有享受青春的权利。如果因为晚出生就要被困在家里，我觉得这样对培养姐妹感情不利，也不利于她们养成细腻的性格”
“真想不到，”卡特琳夫人说，“你那么年轻就能有这种独到的见解。请问你多大了？”
“我有3个成年的妹妹，”伊丽莎白笑着说，“您老人家可不至于让我自己说出来吧”
没能得到一个直接的回答，卡瑟林夫人看起来很惊讶。敢怠慢这样没有礼貌的贵妇人，伊丽莎白觉得自己可能是第一个。
“你不可能超过20岁，我确定。所以你不需要说自己的年龄了。”
“我不是21岁。”
等茶喝完了，男人们也加入了她们，大家支起了牌桌。卡瑟林夫人，威廉姆绝世，柯林斯夫妇坐下来玩quadrille(翻译：这种玩法搜半天没搜到)。而德.包尔小姐则选择玩cassino，伊丽莎白和玛利亚就陪着詹金森太太，跟德.包尔小姐凑了一桌。她们这桌超级无敌无聊。除了打牌，大家基本什么话都不说，除了詹金森太太时不时担心德.包尔小姐太热了，或者太冷了；灯太亮了，或者太暗了。另一个牌桌就有意思多了，基本都是卡瑟林夫人在说话——一会儿说其他人哪儿打错了，一会说自己以前的趣事。柯林斯忙着同意卡瑟林夫人说的每一句话，自己赢条鱼就感谢她，感觉赢得多了就道歉。威廉姆爵士则没说什么话。他在忙着记卡瑟林夫人说的趣事，和那些有身份人的名字。
卡瑟林夫人和她闺女玩够了后，牌桌终于散了。卡瑟林夫人提出让马车送柯林斯太太回去，她感激地接受了，然后立刻就安排人准备马车了。然后一群人聚在火堆旁边，听卡瑟林夫人断定明天会是啥样的天气。马车到了之后，他们被叫去上车，他们这才算远离了卡瑟林夫人的训话。柯林斯是感恩戴德得道谢，威廉姆绝世鞠了很多躬，他们才离开。他们刚驶离大门，柯林斯就问伊丽莎白对罗星的看法怎么样。因为碍着夏洛特的面子，她刻意说了些好话。尽管她已经迁就说了些好话，但是却并不能让柯林斯满意。他很快就亲自上场，开始夸奖起卡瑟林夫人来。（翻译官：瞧瞧这样。。。。）
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