chapter 13-《pride and prejudice 傲慢与偏见》精读
Chapter 13
Sir William stayed only a week at Mr. Collins’s house, but his visit was long enough to convince (使确信) him that his daughter was comfortably settled.
The first two weeks of Elizabeth’s visit passed quietly. On most days, Mr. Collins and his wife would walk to Rosings to visit Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Occasionally Lady Catherine would also visit them, look at their work and advise them to do it differently,
then go on to criticize (批评) the arrangement of the furniture, the way the house was cleaned, and even what they had to eat.
The week before Easter was to bring another member of the family to Rosings. Elizabeth had heard soon after her arrival that Mr. Darcy was expected there in a few weeks.
Even though he was very far from being a favorite of hers, his arrival would at least provide someone new for their Rosings parties.
His arrival was soon heard of at Mr. Collins’s house, and the following morning Mr. Collins hurried to Rosings to welcome the gentleman.
Mr. Darcy had brought with him a man named Colonel Fitzwilliam, who was the younger son of his uncle.
To the great surprise of everyone, when Mr. Collins returned he brought these two gentlemen with him.
Charlotte had seen them from her husband’s room, and immediately ran to tell the girls what an honor they might expect, adding:
“I should thank you, Eliza, for this visit. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon just to visit me.”
Elizabeth barely had time to deny (否认) the compliment (赞美) , before the doorbell announced the gentlemen’s arrival. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty.He was not handsome, but he was most truly a gentleman in speech and appearance.
Mr. Darcy looked just as he had looked at Netherfield, and whatever his feelings might be toward Elizabeth, he greeted her with every appearance of calm.
Elizabeth curtseyed to him without saying a word.
::Colonel Fitzwilliam spoke with the readiness and ease of a well-mannered man::, and talked very pleasantly. His cousin, however, sat for some time without speaking to anybody.
Eventually the rules of polite behavior forced him to ask Elizabeth about the health of her family.
She answered him in the usual way, and after a moment’s pause, added:
“My elder sister has been in town for three months. Have you never happened to see her there?”
She was perfectly aware that he never had, but she wished to see whether he would show any knowledge of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane.She thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had not had the good fortune to meet Miss Bennet.She asked no more on the subject, and the gentlemen soon afterward went away.It was some days before the Collinses and their guests received an invitation to Rosings.hey were clearly** not nearly** as welcome as when there were no other guests to entertain Lady Catherine.It was only on Easter Sunday that they were invited to visit Rosings after church, an invitation which they of course accepted.
Colonel Fitzwilliam was obviously very pleased to see them all, especially Mrs. Collins’s very pretty friend,
He asked Elizabeth to play the piano, but when she sat down Mr. Darcy came over so that he could look at her closely as she played.
“Do you mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming over like this to hear me?
I am not afraid of you—I am a stubborn person, and my courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate (恐吓) me.”
“I shall not argue with you,” he replied, “because you could not really believe that I want to frighten you,
and I have known you long enough to know that you sometimes express opinions that are not your own.”
Elizabeth laughed heartily (衷心地) at this picture of herself, and said, “Mr. Darcy, it is very ungenerous (胸襟狭窄的) of you to mention all that you know to my disadvantage—and unwise too—
for it is_ provoking (激怒) me to retaliate _(报复) , and say things that may shock your relations.”
“I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly.
“Very well—but you should all prepare yourself for something very dreadful (可怕地) .The first time I ever saw him was at a ball—and at this ball, what do you think he did?He danced only four dances, though gentlemen were scarce;
and more than one young lady was sitting down because she had no partner. Mr. Darcy, you cannot deny (否认) the fact.”
“Perhaps,” said Darcy, “I should have done better, had I asked for an introduction, but I cannot bring myself to talk to strangers.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam,” said Elizabeth, “shall we ask him why a man of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, cannot bring himself to talk to strangers?”
“I can answer your question,” said Fitzwilliam, “without consulting him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble.”
“I certainly do not have the talent which some people possess,” said Darcy, “of talking easily with those I have never seen before.
I cannot catch their tone (语气) of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see other people do.”
“My fingers,” said Elizabeth, “do not move over this piano in the masterly manner which I see so many women’s do.They do not have the same force or speed, and do not produce the same expression.But then I have always supposed it to be my own fault—::because I will not take the trouble of practicing.it is not that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman’s of playing well.::”
Here Lady Catherine** interrupted with** many criticisms (批评) of Elizabeth’s piano playing, which Elizabeth, being a guest, put up with as politely as she could. At the request of the gentlemen, she continued playing until her ladyship (淑女) ’s carriage was ready to take them all home.
