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第四十四章

第四十四章

作者: 赵红旗 | 来源:发表于2019-08-05 22:56 被阅读0次

    Elizabeth had settled it that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit her the very day after her reaching Pemberley; and was consequently resolved not to be out of sight of the inn the whole of that morning. But her conclusion was false; for on the very morning after their own arrival at Lambton, these visitors came. They had been walking about the place with some of their new friends, and were just returned to the inn to dress themselves for dining with the same family, when the sound of a carriage drew them to a window, and they saw a gentleman and lady in a curricle, driving up the street. Elizabeth, immediately recognising the livery, guessed what it meant, and imparted no small degree of surprise to her relations by acquainting them with the honour which she expected. Her uncle and aunt were all amazement; and the embarrassment of her manner as she spoke, joined to the circumstance itself, and many of the circumstances of the preceding day, opened to them a new idea on the business. Nothing had ever suggested it before, but they now felt that there was no other way of accounting for such attentions from such a quarter than by supposing a partiality for their niece. While these newly-born notions were passing in their heads, the perturbation of Elizabeth's feelings was every moment increasing. She was quite amazed at her own discomposure; but amongst other causes of disquiet, she dreaded lest the partiality of the brother should have said too much in her favour; and more than commonly anxious to please, she naturally suspected that every power of pleasing would fail her. 

    She retreated from the window, fearful of being seen; and as she walked up and down the room, endeavouring to compose herself, saw such looks of enquiring surprise in her uncle and aunt as made every thing worse. 

    Miss Darcy and her brother appeared, and this formidable introduction took place. With astonishment did Elizabeth see that her new acquaintance was at least as much embarrassed as herself. Since her being at Lambton, she had heard that Miss Darcy was exceedingly proud; but the observation of a very few minutes convinced her that she was only exceedingly shy. She found it difficult to obtain even a word from her beyond a monosyllable.

    Miss Darcy was tall, and on a larger scale than Elizabeth; and, though little more than sixteen, her figure was formed, and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother, but there was sense and good humour in her face, and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth, who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been, was much relieved by discerning such different feelings.

    They had not been long together before Darcy told her that Bingley was also coming to wait on her; and she had barely time to express her satisfaction, and prepare for such a visitor, when Bingley's quick step was heard on the stairs, and in a moment he entered the room. All Elizabeth's anger against him had been long done away; but, had she still felt any, it could hardly have stood its ground against the unaffected cordiality with which he expressed himself on seeing her again. He enquired in a friendly, though general way, after her family, and looked and spoke with the same good-humoured ease that he had ever done.

    To Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner he was scarcely a less interesting personage than to herself. They had long wished to see him. The whole party before them, indeed, excited a lively attention. The suspicions which had just arisen, of Mr. Darcy and their niece, directed their observation towards each with an earnest, though guarded, enquiry; and they soon drew from those enquiries the full conviction that one of them at least knew what it was to love. Of the lady's sensations they remained a little in doubt; but that the gentleman was overflowing with admiration was evident enough.

    Elizabeth, on her side, had much to do. She wanted to ascertain the feelings of each of her visitors, she wanted to compose her own, and to make herself agreeable to all; and in the latter object, where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she endeavoured to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favour. Bingley was ready, Georgiana was eager, and Darcy determined to be pleased.

    In seeing Bingley, her thoughts naturally flew to her sister; and oh! how ardently did she long to know whether any of his were directed in a like manner. Sometimes she could fancy that he talked less than on former occasions, and once or twice pleased herself with the notion that as he looked at her, he was trying to trace a resemblance. But though this might be imaginary, she could not be deceived as to his behaviour to Miss Darcy, who had been set up as a rival of Jane. No look appeared on either side that spoke particular regard. Nothing occurred between them that could justify the hopes of his sister. On this point she was soon satisfied; and two or three little circumstances occurred ere they parted which, in her anxious interpretation, denoted a recollection of Jane not untinctured by tenderness, and a wish of saying more that might lead to the mention of her, had he dared. He observed to her, at a moment when the others were talking together, and in a tone which had something of real regret, that it "was a very long time since he had had the pleasure of seeing her --" and, before she could reply, he added, "It is above eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November, when we were all dancing together at Netherfield."

    Elizabeth was pleased to find his memory so exact; and he afterwards took occasion to ask her, when unattended to by any of the rest, whether all her sisters were at Longbourn. There was not much in the question, nor in the preceding remark, but there was a look and manner which gave them meaning.

    It was not often that she could turn her eyes on Mr. Darcy himself; but, whenever she did catch a glimpse, she saw an expression of general complaisance, and in all that he said she heard an accent so far removed from hauteur or disdain of his companions, as convinced her that the improvement of manners which she had yesterday witnessed, however temporary its existence might prove, had at least outlived one day. When she saw him thus seeking the acquaintance and courting the good opinion of people, with whom any intercourse a few months ago would have been a disgrace; when she saw him thus civil, not only to herself, but to the very relations whom he had openly disdained, and recollected their last lively scene in Hunsford Parsonage, the difference, the change was so great, and struck so forcibly on her mind, that she could hardly restrain her astonishment from being visible. Never, even in the company of his dear friends at Netherfield, or his dignified relations at Rosings, had she seen him so desirous to please, so free from self-consequence or unbending reserve, as now, when no importance could result from the success of his endeavours, and when even the acquaintance of those to whom his attentions were addressed would draw down the ridicule and censure of the ladies both of Netherfield and Rosings.

    Their visitors staid with them above half an hour, and when they arose to depart, Mr. Darcy called on his sister to join him in expressing their wish of seeing Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner and Miss Bennet to dinner at Pemberley before they left the country. Miss Darcy, though with a diffidence which marked her little in the habit of giving invitations, readily obeyed. Mrs. Gardiner looked at her niece, desirous of knowing how she, whom the invitation most concerned, felt disposed as to its acceptance, but Elizabeth had turned away her head. Presuming, however, that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment, than any dislike of the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of society, a perfect willingness to accept it, she ventured to engage for her attendance, and the day after the next was fixed on.

    Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Elizabeth again, having still a great deal to say to her, and many enquiries to make after all their Hertfordshire friends. Elizabeth, construing all this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister, was pleased; and on this account, as well as some others, found herself, when their visitors left them, capable of considering the last half hour with some satisfaction, though while it was passing the enjoyment of it had been little. Eager to be alone, and fearful of enquiries or hints from her uncle and aunt, she staid with them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Bingley, and then hurried away to dress.

    But she had no reason to fear Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's curiosity; it was not their wish to force her communication. It was evident that she was much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had before any idea of; it was evident that he was very much in love with her. They saw much to interest, but nothing to justify enquiry.

    Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well; and, as far as their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They could not be untouched by his politeness, and, had they drawn his character from their own feelings and his servant's report, without any reference to any other account, the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known would not have recognised it for Mr. Darcy. There was now an interest, however, in believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years old, and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be hastily rejected. Neither had any thing occurred in the intelligence of their Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight. They had nothing to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not, it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town where the family did not visit. It was acknowledged, however, that he was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor.

    With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was not held there in much estimation; for though the chief of his concerns with the son of his patron were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well known fact that on his quitting Derbyshire he had left many debts behind him, which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged.

    As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that mansion; and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out. She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings; and it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature by the testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. -- Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride excited not only astonishment but gratitude -- for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as such, its impression on her was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly defined. She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him; she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his addresses.

    It had been settled in the evening, between the aunt and niece, that such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's, in coming to them on the very day of her arrival at Pemberley -- for she had reached it only to a late breakfast -- ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled, by some exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that it would be highly expedient to wait on her at Pemberley the following morning. They were, therefore, to go. -- Elizabeth was pleased, though, when she asked herself the reason, she had very little to say in reply.

    Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme had been renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley by noon. 

    --正文

    伊丽莎白以为达西会在她造访彭伯里的第二天就带妹妹去拜访她。为此,她还决定第二天早上一直待在旅馆周围。但是她错了。因为他们那天早上到莱姆顿之后,这些客人就到了。伊丽莎白他们正在附近和新朋友们闲逛,然后回到旅馆换衣服准备晚上跟刚才的朋友吃晚饭,正好一辆马车的声音把他们吸引到了窗户旁边,他们看到马车里载着位俊先生和俊小姐,在街上走着。伊丽莎白立刻认出了马车的样式,知道是谁过来了,便有些吃惊地跟叔叔婶婶说有贵客来拜访了。叔叔婶婶十分惊讶,他们看到伊丽莎白尴尬的样子,还有昨天发生的种种事情,让他们突然明白了这个事情。之前他们没有看出来,但是现在他们明白了达西肯定是喜欢上了自己的侄女,不然没法解释他如此殷勤。他们正回味着这种新想法时,伊丽莎白的不安愈发强烈。她惊讶于自己无法镇静。但是相比与其它的烦恼,她最害怕达西因为偏爱她,而在达西小姐面前过分夸她。她十分想取悦达西小姐,但是又怕会弄巧成拙。

    她从窗户旁边退下来,害怕被人见到。她在屋里走来走去,想让自己平静下来,然后就看到自己叔叔婶婶惊讶的神色,而这让事情变得更糟了。

    达西小姐和她哥哥出现,然后这个让人生畏的介绍开始了。但是令伊丽莎白惊讶的是,自己的这个新朋友至少跟自己一样尴尬。她在莱姆顿的时候听人说过达西小姐是很傲慢的人。但是经过几分钟的相处,伊丽莎白确信她只是很害羞。她几乎听不到达西小姐说超过两个字。

    达西小姐个子很高,而且比伊丽莎白要高得多。尽管只有十六岁多,但是她的身材已经有模有样了,而且长相也很女性化,很优雅。她不想他哥哥那么俊,但是她的长相给人明事理和快乐的感觉,而且她的举止十分谦逊,温和。伊丽莎白原来以为要对付一个跟达西一样机灵又平静的观察者,但是结果恰恰相反,她也放松了下来。

    他们聚在一起没多久,达西就告诉伊丽莎白宾利也在等着见她。她还没有来得及表达喜悦,准备好见这位客人时,就已经听到宾利快速得踩着楼梯上来了,很快就到了房间里面。伊丽莎白对他的愤怒早就消失了。但是就算她还有些恨意,见到他一如既往地热情跟自己打招呼,也恨不起来他吧。宾利友好地,但是简单地问候了她的家人,他还是像以前一样友善地看着她,跟她说话。

    对于加德纳夫妇来说,跟伊丽莎白一样,宾利可是个有趣的名人。他们很早就想见他了。这一伙人很快让屋里热闹了起来。他们对达西和自己侄女之间关系的疑心,驱使他们向两个人做了热情的,小心的调查。然后他们很快就得出结论——这两人中间至少有一个尝到了爱情的滋味。女士这边呢可能还有些犹豫,但是男士这边很明显已经是情意绵绵。

    至于伊丽莎白,则有很多工作要做。她想确认每位客人是怎么想的,同时控制住自己,保持镇静,并微笑待人。最后这个目标她最怕失败,但是却是肯定会成功的,因为这些她想取悦的人早就准备好了。宾利已做好准备,乔治安娜十分渴望,而达西是坚定地要被取悦。

    一见到宾利,伊丽莎白就自然得想到了自己的姐姐。老天!她多么想知道宾利是不是也在想着自己的姐姐。有时候她甚至回想宾利并平时少说几句,会看一两次自己,寻找自己和姐姐之间相似的地方。但是就算这是想象的东西,她却不会搞错宾利对待达西小姐的样子,达西小姐应该是简的情敌。但是从两边来看都没有什么互相爱慕的情况。他们之间什么都没发生,这说明自己的姐姐还有希望。在这点上,她很快就满意了。在客人们走之前还发生了两三件小事,伊丽莎白爱姐心切,发现简并没有被宾利以往。如果宾利当时要是有胆量的话,她也许就会直接提到简了。当其他人都在聊天的时候,宾利看了下伊丽莎白,带着十分遗憾的语气说,他已经很久没有见到她了。而伊丽莎白还没来得及回答,他就说:“已经超过八个月了。我们从十一月二十六号之后,就再也没见过了,当时我们都在耐热屯跳舞。”

    伊丽莎白发现他记得那么清楚很高兴。宾利后来又趁别人不注意,找机会问她现在她的姐妹是不是都还住在蘑菇屯。这个问题本身没什么,问之前说的事情也没什么,但是他的眼神和举止让这个问题有了意义。

    伊丽莎白不怎么有机会瞧瞧达西。但是她一有机会看到的都是达西和颜悦色的样子,而且从他的言语中再也听不到对自己家人的傲慢和鄙视的神气,这也让伊丽莎白相信了,昨天见证的达西的改变,不管怎么短暂,至少坚持了一天。她看着达西主动跟人交际,给人留下好印象,而这些人几个月之前他还不屑于认识。她见到达西的礼貌,不仅是对于她自己,对之前他曾公开鄙视的亲戚也是如此,然后又想到之前在夯斯屯柯林斯家里面的情景,这个前后的差距如此巨大,给了伊丽莎白巨大的冲击,以至于她无法控制地表现了出来。她从没有见过,即使是跟自己最好的朋友在一起,或者是跟罗星那些高贵的亲戚们在一起,达西像现在这样迫切的去讨好别人,不带一点傲慢和克制的神气。尽管他现在结识的人对于他的未来没有一点帮助,甚至他现在结识的人会惹来耐热屯和罗星的姑娘们的嘲弄和批评。

    几位客人待了超过半小时,他们临走的时候,达西叫来自己妹妹一起邀请加德纳夫妇和本内特小姐在他们离开农村之前,到彭伯里吃顿晚饭。尽管从达西小姐害羞的样子上看的出,她不经常邀请别人,但是她还是愉快地照做了。加德纳夫人看着自己的侄女,知道她一定很在意这份邀请,便想知道她是否愿意接受这份邀请,但是伊丽莎白早早地把头扭了过去。但是,加德纳夫人猜测这种有意的躲避更多的是因为暂时的害羞,而不是讨厌这个邀请,她又看了下自己喜欢社交的丈夫,看出他十分愿意接受,最终加德纳夫人决定接受邀请,双方约好了后天赴约。

    宾利表达了自己十分想再见到伊丽莎白的愿望,他还有很多东西想跟她说,还有很多关于赫特福德朋友们的事情要询问。但是伊丽莎白认为宾利只是想听她说说自己的姐姐,想到这里她就很开心。客人们离开了以后,在这点以及很多其它事情上,伊丽莎白觉得后半个小时还是有满意的地方的,尽管当时她并不很享受这个过程。因为很想一个人待着,又害怕自己叔叔婶婶问东问西,所以她只是听他们夸了下宾利,然后就赶紧去换衣服了。

    但是她没有理由害怕加德纳夫妇的好奇心,因为他们并没有逼伊丽莎白坦白。很明显的是,跟她们俩想象中的情况相比,她跟达西要熟得多了。很明显达西已经深深爱上了伊丽莎白。他们看到了很好奇,但是并不急于询问。

    现在是否要对达西抱有好的想法是个问题。在他们认识的人里,没听说过达西的坏话。他们无法对达西的礼貌无动于衷,而且但是仅从他们自己的感受和一个仆人的观点就认定了达西的性格,而不参考别的东西的话,那么熟知他的赫特福德圈子也不会认可这就是达西的。现在他们有意相信管家的话,而且他们很快明白了一个从四岁就认识达西的仆人,一个举止值得尊敬的仆人,话语还是有点公信力的,不能匆忙否定。而且莱姆顿的朋友们也没有减轻这些话的分量。除了傲慢,他们认为达西无可指摘。他也许是傲慢的,但如果不是,这可能是因为达西家族不常拜访莱姆顿的原因。但是大家公认的是——达西是个慷慨的人, 他为穷人做了很多好事。

    至于维克汉姆,莱姆顿的游客们很快就发现,他在这块儿评价不高。因为尽管他那档子跟达西的事情,大家伙不太了解。但是每个人都知道他离开德比郡的时候,他可是欠了一屁股债,而这些债后来都被达西免除了。

    至于伊丽莎白,相比于昨晚,她今晚的心思更在彭博里上面。尽管时间好像过得很慢,但是却不够她确定对于那个大宅子里面某人的感情,她躺在床上两个小时,试图忘掉这些事情。她肯定是不讨厌达西的,这点可以确定。对于达西的恨意,也很早前就消失了,甚至后来她会因为对达西有恨意而感到羞愧。从证实了达西是个品质优秀的人之时,伊丽莎白就对他充满尊敬,尽管她一开始还不太乐意接受,后来花了些时间调整了自己的反抗心理也就接受了。而现在她昨天听说了那么多他说的好话,达西的性格又变得那么讨喜,她对达西的感觉就更加友好了。但是除了自尊和尊重之外,她还有一个好心的动机不能被忽视掉。这就是感激,不仅是感激达西之前爱过她,而且还感激他在自己如此任性而尖酸地拒绝她之后,对他做了那么多不公正的指责之后,还依然爱着她。尽管之前伊丽莎白还说要做他最大的仇人,但是在这次意外会面的时候,达西似乎还很想跟她做朋友,而且提到两人之间关系的时候,他没有任何不尊重她的行为,也没有什么古怪的举止,而只是想讨好她的朋友,还决定介绍她给自己的妹妹认识。一个如此自傲的男人做出了这样的改变,带给伊丽莎白的感受除了惊讶,更有感激,因为这种行为只能归功于爱,热烈的爱。因此,尽管这件事给伊丽莎白的印象还无法定义,但是肯定不会是负面的,而且会有更多提升的空间。她尊重达西,敬重达西,而且感激达西。她现在很在意达西的幸福。她现在确定只要自己想,还能让达西重新求婚,但是她只想知道自己要如何施展这样的本事,还有自己要让双方达到怎样的幸福。

    晚上婶婶和侄女商议好了,达西小姐那么给面子,一回来彭博里就来拜访他们,之所以这么说是因为刚吃完早饭的时候她就到了,尽管她们可能没办法做到别人那样周全,但是也应该还之以礼。因此于情于理,应该第二天早上去彭博里回访达西小姐,她们就这么决定了。伊丽莎白很开心,但是她问自己开心的原因,但是却又说不出来。

    加德纳先生吃完早饭就走了,因为昨天他又跟人家重新商议了下钓鱼的事情,就决定了中午到彭博里和几位先生碰面。

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