Chapter14 DURINGdinner,Mr.Bennetscarcelyspokeatall;butwhentheservantswerewithdrawn,hethoughtittimetohavesomeconversationwithhisguest,andthereforestartedasubjectinwhichheexpectedhimtoshine,byobservingthatheseemedveryfortunateinhispatroness.LadyCatherinedeBourgh'sattentiontohiswishes,andconsiderationforhiscomfort,appearedveryremarkable.Mr.Bennetcouldnothavechosenbetter.Mr.Collinswaseloquentinherpraise.Thesubjectelevatedhimtomorethanusualsolemnityofmanner,andwithamostimportantaspectheprotestedthathehadneverinhislifewitnessedsuchbehaviourinapersonofrank--suchaffabilityandcondescension,ashehadhimselfexperiencedfromLadyCatherine.Shehadbeengraciouslypleasedtoapproveofboththediscourseswhichhehadalreadyhadthehonourofpreachingbeforeher.ShehadalsoaskedhimtwicetodineatRosings,andhadsentforhimonlytheSaturdaybefore,tomakeupherpoolofquadrilleintheevening.LadyCatherinewasreckonedproudbymanypeopleheknew,buthehadneverseenanythingbutaffabilityinher.Shehadalwaysspokentohimasshewouldtoanyothergentleman;shemadenotthesmallestobjectiontohisjoininginthesocietyoftheneighbourhood,nortohisleavinghisparishoccasionallyforaweekortwo,tovisithisrelations.Shehadevencondescendedtoadvisehimtomarryassoonashecould,providedhechosewithdiscretion;andhadoncepaidhimavisitinhishumbleparsonage;whereshehadperfectlyapprovedallthealterationshehadbeenmaking,andhadevenvouchsafedtosuggestsomeherself, --someshelvesintheclosetsupstairs. "ThatisallveryproperandcivilIamsure,"saidMrs.Bennet, "andIdaresaysheisaveryagreeablewoman.Itisapitythatgreatladiesingeneralarenotmorelikeher.Doesshelivenearyou,sir?" "ThegardeninwhichstandsmyhumbleabodeisseparatedonlybyalanefromRosingsPark,herladyship'sresidence." "Ithinkyousaidshewasawidow,sir?hassheanyfamily?" "Shehasoneonlydaughter,theheiressofRosings,andofveryextensiveproperty." "Ah!"criedMrs.Bennet,shakingherhead, "thensheisbetteroffthanmanygirls.Andwhatsortofyoungladyisshe?isshehandsome?" "Sheisamostcharmingyoungladyindeed.LadyCatherineherselfsaysthatinpointoftruebeauty,MissDeBourghisfarsuperiortothehandsomestofhersex;becausethereisthatinherfeatureswhichmarkstheyoungwomanofdistinguishedbirth.Sheisunfortunatelyofasicklyconstitution,whichhaspreventedhermakingthatprogressinmanyaccomplishmentswhichshecouldnototherwisehavefailedof;asIaminformedbytheladywhosuperintendedhereducation,andwhostillresideswiththem.Butsheisperfectlyamiable,andoftencondescendstodrivebymyhumbleabodeinherlittlephaetonandponies." 第十四章 吃饭的时候，班纳特先生几乎一句话也没有说；可是等到佣人们走开以后，他就想道，现在可以跟这位客人谈谈了。他料想到，如果一开头就谈到咖苔琳夫人身上去，这位贵客一定会笑逐颜开的，于是他便拿这个话题做开场白，说是柯林斯先生有了那样一个女施主，真是幸运极了，又说咖苔琳·德·包尔夫人对他这样言听计从，而且极其周到地照顾到他生活方面的安适，真是十分难得。班纳特先生这个话题选得再好也没有了。柯林斯先生果然滔滔不绝地赞美起那位夫人来。这个问题一谈开了头，他本来的那种严肃态度便显得更严肃了，他带着非常自负的神气说，他一辈子也没有看到过任何有身价地位的人，能够象咖苔琳夫人那样的有德行，那样的亲切谦和。他很荣幸，曾经当着她的面讲过两次道，多蒙夫人垂爱，对他那两次讲道赞美不绝。夫人曾经请他到罗新斯去吃过两次饭，上星期六晚上还请他到她家里去打过“夸锥”。据他所知，多少人都认为咖苔琳夫人为人骄傲，可是他只觉得亲切。她平常跟他攀谈起来，总是把他当作一个有身份的人看待。她丝毫不反对他和邻居们来往，也不反对他偶而离开教区一两个星期，去拜望拜望亲友们。多蒙她体恤下情，曾经亲自劝他及早结婚，只要他能够谨慎选择对象。她还到他的寒舍去拜访过一次，对于他住宅所有经过他整修过的地方都十分赞成，并且蒙她亲自赐予指示，叫他把楼上的璧橱添置几个架子。 班纳特太太说：“我相信这一切都做得很得体，很有礼貌，我看她一定是个和颜悦色的女人。可惜一般贵夫人们都比不上她。她住的地方离你很近吗，先生？” “寒舍那个花园跟她老夫人住的罗新斯花园，只隔着一条胡同。” “你说她是个寡妇吗，先生？她还有家属吗？” “她只有一个女儿，──也就是罗新斯的继承人，将来可以继承到非常大的一笔遗产呢。” “嗳呀，”班纳特太太听得叫了起来，一面又摇了摇头。“那么，她比多少姑娘们都福气她。她是怎样的一位小姐？长得漂亮吗？” “她真是个极可爱的姑娘。咖苔琳夫人自己也说过，讲到真正的漂亮，德·包尔小姐要胜过天下最漂亮的女性；因为她眉清目秀，与众不同，一看上去就知道她出身高贵。她本来可以多才多艺，只可惜她体质欠佳，没有进修，否则她一定琴棋书画样样通晓，这话是她女教师说给我听的，那教师现在还跟她们母女住在一起。她的确是可爱透顶，常常不拘名份，乘着她那辆小马车光临寒舍。”