Chapter38ONSaturdaymorningElizabethandMr.Collinsmetforbreakfastafewminutesbeforetheothersappeared;andhetooktheopportunityofpayingthepartingcivilitieswhichhedeemedindispensablynecessary."Iknownot,MissElizabeth,"saidhe, "whetherMrs.Collinshasyetexpressedhersenseofyourkindnessincomingtous,butIamverycertainyouwillnotleavethehousewithoutreceivingherthanksforit.Thefavourofyourcompanyhasbeenmuchfelt,Iassureyou.Weknowhowlittlethereistotemptanyonetoourhumbleabode.Ourplainmannerofliving,oursmallrooms,andfewdomestics,andthelittleweseeoftheworld,mustmakeHunsfordextremelydulltoayoungladylikeyourself;butIhopeyouwillbelieveusgratefulforthecondescension,andthatwehavedoneeverythinginourpowertopreventyourspendingyourtimeunpleasantly."Elizabethwaseagerwithherthanksandassurancesofhappiness.Shehadspentsixweekswithgreatenjoyment;andthepleasureofbeingwithCharlotte,andthekindattentionsshehadreceived,mustmakeherfeeltheobliged.Mr.Collinswasgratified;andwithamoresmilingsolemnityreplied,"Itgivesmethegreatestpleasuretohearthatyouhavepassedyourtimenotdisagreeably.Wehavecertainlydoneourbest;andmostfortunatelyhavingitinourpowertointroduceyoutoverysuperiorsociety,and,fromourconnectionwithRosings,thefrequentmeansofvaryingthehumblehomescene,IthinkwemayflatterourselvesthatyourHunsfordvisitcannothavebeenentirelyirksome.OursituationwithregardtoLadyCatherine'sfamilyisindeedthesortofextraordinaryadvantageandblessingwhichfewcanboast.Youseeonwhatafootingweare.Youseehowcontinuallyweareengagedthere.IntruthImustacknowledgethat,withallthedisadvantagesofthishumbleparsonage,IshouldnotthinkanyoneabidinginitanobjectofcompassionwhiletheyaresharersofourintimacyatRosings."Wordswereinsufficientfortheelevationofhisfeelings;andhewasobligedtowalkabouttheroom,whileElizabethtriedtounitecivilityandtruthinafewshortsentences."Youmay,infact,carryaveryfavourablereportofusintoHertfordshire,mydearcousin.Iflattermyself,atleast,thatyouwillbeabletodoso.LadyCatherine'sgreatattentionstoMrs.Collinsyouhavebeenadailywitnessof;andaltogetherItrustitdoesnotappearthatyourfriendhasdrawnanunfortunate--;butonthispointitwillbeaswelltobesilent.Onlyletmeassureyou,mydearMissElizabeth,thatIcanfrommyheartmostcordiallywishyouequalfelicityinmarriage.MydearCharlotteandIhavebutonemindandonewayofthinking.Thereisineverythingamostremarkableresemblanceofcharacterandideasbetweenus.Weseemtohavebeendesignedforeachother." 第三十八章 星期六吃过早饭时，伊丽莎白和柯林斯先生在饭厅里相遇，原来他们比别人早来了几分钟。柯林斯先生连忙利用这个机会向她郑重话别，他认为这是决不可少的礼貌。他说：“伊丽莎白小姐，这次蒙你光临敝舍，我不知道内人有没有向你表示感激；不过我相信她不会不向你表示一番谢意就让你走的。老实告诉你，你这次来，我们非常领情。我们自知舍下寒伧，无人乐意光临。我们生活清苦，居处局促，侍仆寥寥无几，再加我们见识浅薄，象你这样一位年轻小姐，一定会觉得汉斯福这地方极其枯燥乏味，不过我们对于你这次赏脸，实在感激万分，并且竭尽绵薄，使你不至于过得兴味索然，希望你能鉴谅。”伊丽莎白连声道谢，说是这次作客，非常快活，这六个星期来真是过得高兴极了，跟夏绿蒂待在一起真有乐趣，加上主人家对待她又那么殷勤恳切，实在叫她感激。柯林斯先生一听此话，大为满意，立刻显出一副笑容可掬的样子，慎重其事地回答道：“听到你并没有过得不称心，我真得意到极点。我们总算尽了心意，而且感到最幸运的是，能够介绍你跟上流人来往。寒舍虽然毫不足道，但幸亏高攀了罗新斯府上，使你住在我们这种苦地方，还可以经常跟他们来往来往，可以免得单调，这一点倒使我可以聊以自慰，觉得你这次到汉斯福来不能算完全失望。咖苔琳夫人府上对我们真是特别优待，特别爱护，这种机会是别人求之不得的。你也可以看出我们是处于何等的地位。你看我们简直无时无刻不在他们那边作客。老实说，我这所牧师住宅虽然异常简陋，诸多不便，可是，谁要是住到里边来，就可以和我们共享罗新斯的盛情厚谊，这可有能说是没有福份吧。”他满腔的高兴实在非言语所能形容；伊丽莎白想出了几句简简单单、真心真意的客气话来奉承他，他听了以后，简直快活得在屋子里打转。“亲爱的表妹，你实在大可以到哈福德郡去给我们传播传播好消息。我相信你一定办得到。咖苔琳夫人对内人真是殷勤备到，你是每天都亲眼看到的。总而言之，我相信你的朋友并没有失算──不过这一点不说也好。请你听我说，亲爱的伊丽莎白小姐，我从心底里诚恳地祝你将来的婚姻也能同样的幸福。我亲爱的夏绿蒂和我真是同心合意，无论遇到哪一件事莫不是意气相投，心心相印。我们这一对夫妇真是天造地设。”