Fromhisgarden,Mr.Collinswouldhaveledthemroundhistwomeadows,buttheladies,nothavingshoestoencountertheremainsofawhitefrost,turnedback;andwhileSirWilliamaccompaniedhim,Charlottetookhersisterandfriendoverthehouse,extremelywellpleased,probably,tohavetheopportunityofshewingitwithoutherhusband'shelp.Itwasrathersmall,butwellbuiltandconvenient;andeverythingwasfittedupandarrangedwithaneatnessandconsistencyofwhichElizabethgaveCharlotteallthecredit.WhenMr.Collinscouldbeforgotten,therewasreallyagreatairofcomfortthroughout,andbyCharlotte'sevidentenjoymentofit,Elizabethsupposedhemustbeoftenforgotten.ShehadalreadylearntthatLadyCatherinewasstillinthecountry.Itwasspokenofagainwhiletheywereatdinner,whenMr.Collinsjoiningin,observed, "Yes,MissElizabeth,youwillhavethehonourofseeingLadyCatherinedeBourghontheensuingSundayatchurch,andIneednotsayyouwillbedelightedwithher.Sheisallaffabilityandcondescension,andIdoubtnotbutyouwillbehonouredwithsomeportionofhernoticewhenserviceisover.IhavescarcelyanyhesitationinsayingthatshewillincludeyouandmysisterMariaineveryinvitationwithwhichshehonoursusduringyourstayhere.HerbehaviourtomydearCharlotteischarming.WedineatRosingstwiceeveryweek,andareneverallowedtowalkhome.Herladyship'scarriageisregularlyorderedforus.Ishouldsay,oneofherladyship'scarriages,forshehasseveral." "LadyCatherineisaveryrespectable,sensiblewomanindeed,"addedCharlotte, "andamostattentiveneighbour." "Verytrue,mydear,thatisexactlywhatIsay.Sheisthesortofwomanwhomonecannotregardwithtoomuchdeference." TheeveningwasspentchieflyintalkingoverHertfordshirenews,andtellingagainwhathadbeenalreadywritten;andwhenitclosed,Elizabeth,inthesolitudeofherchamber,hadtomeditateuponCharlotte'sdegreeofcontentment,tounderstandheraddressinguiding,andcomposureinbearingwithherhusband,andtoacknowledgethatitwasalldoneverywell.Shehadalsotoanticipatehowhervisitwouldpass,thequiettenoroftheirusualemployments,thevexatiousinterruptionsofMr.Collins,andthegaietiesoftheirintercoursewithRosings.Alivelyimaginationsoonsettleditall.Aboutthemiddleofthenextday,asshewasinherroomgettingreadyforawalk,asuddennoisebelowseemedtospeakthewholehouseinconfusion;andafterlisteningamoment,sheheardsomebodyrunningupstairsinaviolenthurry,andcallingloudlyafterher.Sheopenedthedoor,andmetMariainthelandingplace,who,breathlesswithagitation,criedout, "Oh,mydearEliza!praymakehasteandcomeintothedining-room,forthereissuchasighttobeseen!Iwillnottellyouwhatitis.Makehaste,andcomedownthismoment." Elizabethaskedquestionsinvain;Mariawouldtellhernothingmore,anddowntheyranintothedining-room,whichfrontedthelane,inquestofthiswonder;itwastwoladiesstoppinginalowphaetonatthegardengate. "Andisthisall?"criedElizabeth. "Iexpectedatleastthatthepigsweregotintothegarden,andhereisnothingbutLadyCatherineandherdaughter!" "La!mydear,"saidMariaquiteshockedatthemistake, "itisnotLadyCatherine.TheoldladyisMrs.Jenkinson,wholiveswiththem.TheotherisMissDeBourgh.Onlylookather.Sheisquitealittlecreature.Whowouldhavethoughtshecouldbesothinandsmall!" "SheisabominablyrudetokeepCharlotteoutofdoorsinallthiswind.Whydoesshenotcomein?" "Oh!Charlottesays,shehardlyeverdoes.ItisthegreatestoffavourswhenMissDeBourghcomesin." "Ilikeherappearance,"saidElizabeth,struckwithotherideas. "Shelookssicklyandcross. --Yes,shewilldoforhimverywell.Shewillmakehimaveryproperwife." Mr.CollinsandCharlottewerebothstandingatthegateinconversationwiththeladies;andSirWilliam,toElizabeth'shighdiversion,wasstationedinthedoorway,inearnestcontemplationofthegreatnessbeforehim,andconstantlybowingwheneverMissDeBourghlookedthatway. Atlengththerewasnothingmoretobesaid;theladiesdroveon,andtheothersreturnedintothehouse.Mr.Collinsnosoonersawthetwogirlsthanhebegantocongratulatethemontheirgoodfortune,whichCharlotteexplainedbylettingthemknowthatthewholepartywasaskedtodineatRosingsthenextday. 柯林斯先生本来想把他们从花园里带去看看两块草地，但是太太小姐们的鞋子抵挡不住那残余的白霜，于是全都走回去了，只剩下威廉爵士陪伴着他。夏绿蒂陪着自己的妹妹和朋友参观住宅，这一下她能够撇开丈夫的帮忙，有机会让她自己显显身手，真是高兴极了。房子很小，但是建筑结实，使用也很方便；一切都布置得很精巧，安排得很调和，伊丽莎白对夏绿蒂夸奖备至。只要不想起柯林斯先生，便真正有了一种非常美好的气氛。伊丽莎白看见夏绿蒂那样得意，便不由得想到她平常一定不把柯林斯先生放在心上。 伊丽莎白已经打听到咖苔琳夫人还在乡下。吃饭的时候又谈起了这桩事，当时柯林斯先生立即插嘴说： “正是，伊丽莎白小姐，星期日晚上你就可以有荣幸在教学里见到咖苔琳·德·包尔夫人，你一定会喜欢她的。她为人极其谦和，丝毫没有架子，我相信那天做完礼拜之后，你就会很荣幸地受到她的注目。我可以毫无犹豫地说，只要你待在这儿，每逢她赏脸请我们作客的时候，总少不了要请你和我的小姨子玛丽亚。她对待我亲爱的夏绿蒂真是好极了。我们每星期去罗新斯吃两次饭，她老人家从来没有哪一次让我们步行回家，总是打发自己的马车送我们──我应该说，是打发她老人家的某一部马车，因为她有好几部车子呢。” 夏绿蒂又说：“咖苔琳夫人的确是个道貌岸然、通达情理的女人，而且是位极其殷勤的邻居。” “说得很对，亲爱的，你真说到我心上去了。象她这样一位夫人，你无论对她怎样尊敬，依旧会感到有些欠缺。” 这一晚主要就谈论哈福德郡的新闻，又把以前信上所说的话重新再提一遍。大家散了以后，伊丽莎白孤单单地在房间里，不由得默默想起了夏绿蒂对于现状究竟满意到什么程度，驾御丈夫的手腕巧妙到什么程度，容忍丈夫的肚量又大到什么程度。她不由得承认，一切都安排得非常好。她又去想象着这次作客的时间将如何度过，无非是：平淡安静的日常起居，柯林斯先生那种惹人讨厌的插嘴打贫，再加上跟罗新斯的应酬来往等。她那丰富的想象力马上解决了整个问题。 大约在第二天响午的时候，她正在房间里准备出去散散步，忽听得楼下一阵喧哗，马上这整个住宅里的人好象都慌乱了起来；一会儿工夫，只听得有人急急忙忙奔上楼来，大声叫她。她开了门，在楼梯口遇见了玛丽亚，只见她激动得气都喘不过来，嚷道： “噢，亲爱的伊丽莎呀，请你赶快到餐室里去，那儿有了不起的场面值得看呢！我可不告诉你是怎么回事。赶快呀，马上下楼来。” 伊丽莎白一遍遍问，也问不出一个究竟来；玛丽亚多一句也不肯跟她说；于是她们俩便奔进那间面临着大路的餐室，去探奇寻胜。原来来了两位女客，乘着一辆低低的四轮马车，停在花园门口。 伊丽莎白连忙嚷道：“就是这么回事吗？我还以为是猪猡闯进了花园呢，原来只不过是咖苔琳夫人母女俩。” 玛丽亚听她说错了，不禁大吃一惊：“噍你，亲爱的，那不是咖苔琳夫人。那位老夫人是姜金生太太，她跟她们住在一起的；另外一位是德·包尔小姐。你且瞧瞧她那副模样儿吧。她真是个非常纤小的人儿。谁会想到她会这么单薄，这么小！” “她真是太没有礼貌，风这样大，却让夏绿蒂待在门外。她为什么不进来？” “噢，夏绿蒂说，她真难得进来。德·包尔小姐要是进来一次，那可真是天大的面子。” “她那副模样儿真够人瞧的，”伊丽莎白一面说，一面又突然起了别的种种念头。 “她看上去身体不好，脾气又坏。她配他真是再好不过呢。她做他的太太极其相称。” 柯林斯先生和夏绿蒂都站在门口跟那位女客谈话。伊丽莎白觉得最好笑的是，威廉爵士正必恭必敬地站在门口，虔诚地瞻仰着面前的蔚然大观，每当德·包尔小姐朝着他这边望的时候，他总是一鞠躬。 后来他们的话全说完了，两位女客驱车而去，别人都回到屋里。柯林斯一看到两位小姐，就恭贺她们走了鸿运；夏绿蒂把他的意思解释给她们听，原来罗新斯明天又要请他们全体去吃饭了。