傲慢与偏见第5集|Flattering with Delicacy

The Bennett family are visited by their clergyman cousin Mr Collins. As heir to the Longborn estate, he comes to heal old family divisions while also in search of a wife! 

Elizabeth and her sisters are introduced to a charming new officer, Mr Wickham – but she is intrigued by the cold acknowledgement he receives from Mister Darcy. 

班尼特一家受到他们的牧师表兄柯林斯先生的拜访。作为朗伯恩庄园的继承人，他来这里是为了弥合旧的家庭分歧，同时也是为了寻找一个妻子！ 

伊丽莎白和她的姐妹们被介绍给一位迷人的新官员——威克姆先生——但她对他从达西先生那里得到的冷淡的致意深感迷惑。

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Thispart – from chapter 14 – will be our first reading of this episode.

(STARTREADING)

During dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but whenthe servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation withhis guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine,by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine deBourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appearedvery remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquentin her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner,and with a most important aspect he protested that "he had never in hislife witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank—such affability andcondescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had beengraciously pleased to approve of both of the discourses which he had alreadyhad the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine atRosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool ofquadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people heknew, but he had never seen anything but affability in her. Shehad always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not thesmallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood nor tohis leaving the parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations.She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, providedhe chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humbleparsonage, where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had beenmaking, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself—some shelves in thecloset up stairs."

"That is all very proper and civil, I am sure,"said Mrs. Bennet, "and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is apity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live nearyou, sir?"

"The garden in which stands my humble abode isseparated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence."

"I think you said she was a widow, sir? Has she anyfamily?"

"She has only one daughter, the heiress of Rosings,and of very extensive property."

"Ah!" said Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head,"then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady isshe? Is she handsome?"

"She is a most charming young lady indeed. LadyCatherine herself says that, in point of true beauty, Miss de Bourgh is farsuperior to the handsomest of her sex, because there is that in her featureswhich marks the young lady of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of asickly constitution, which has prevented her from making that progress in manyaccomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am informedby the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them.But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abodein her little phaeton and ponies."

"Has she been presented? I do not remember her nameamong the ladies at court."

"Her indifferent state of health unhappily preventsher being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine one day, hasdeprived the British court of its brightest ornament. Her ladyship seemedpleased with the idea; and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion tooffer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies.I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine, that her charming daughterseemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of givingher consequence, would be adorned by her. These are the kind of little thingswhich please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceivemyself peculiarly bound to pay."

"You judge very properly," said Mr. Bennet,"and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering withdelicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulseof the moment, or are the result of previous study?"

"They arise chiefly from what is passing at thetime, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging suchlittle elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I alwayswish to give them as unstudied an air as possible."

Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousinwas as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenestenjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure ofcountenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring nopartner in his pleasure.

Bytea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to takehis guest into the drawing-room again, and, when tea was over, glad to invitehim to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book wasproduced; but, on beholding it (for everything announced it to be from acirculating library), he started back, and begging pardon, protested that henever read novels. Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. Other books wereproduced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped ashe opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, readthree pages, she interrupted him with:

"Doyou know, mamma, that my uncle Phillips talks of turning away Richard; and ifhe does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday.I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr.Denny comes back from town."

Lydiawas bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. Collins, muchoffended, laid aside his book, and said:

"Ihave often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of aserious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, Iconfess; for, certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them asinstruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin."

Thenturning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr.Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leavingthe girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughtersapologised most civilly for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it shouldnot occur again, if he would resume his book; but Mr. Collins, after assuringthem that he bore his young cousin no ill-will, and should never resent herbehaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, andprepared for backgammon.

This part – from chapter 15 – will be our second readingtoday.

(START SECOND READING)

Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was notforgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins wasto attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get ridof him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followedhim after breakfast; and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one ofthe largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, withlittle cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposedMr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure andtranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly andconceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from themthere; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to joinhis daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fittedfor a walker than a reader, was extremely pleased to close his large book, andgo.

In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents onthat of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attentionof the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes wereimmediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothingless than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window,could recall them.

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by ayoung man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance,walking with another officer on the other side of the way. The officer was thevery Mr. Denny concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, andhe bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wonderedwho he could be; and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, ledthe way across the street, under pretense of wanting something in an oppositeshop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen,turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, andentreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returnedwith him the day before from town, and he was happy to say had accepted acommission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young manwanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance wasgreatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty, a fine countenance,a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up onhis side by a happy readiness of conversation—a readiness at the same timeperfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing andtalking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice,and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing theladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and beganthe usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet theprincipal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose toinquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning todetermine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested bythe sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of bothas they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of themeeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham,after a few moments, touched his hat—a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deignedto return. What could be the meaning of it? It was impossible to imagine; itwas impossible not to long to know.