名著·傲慢与偏见 - 第66节


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  这些客从在他们这儿待了半个多钟头;临走的时候,达西叫他妹妹跟他一起向嘉丁纳夫妇和班纳特小姐表示,希望他们在离开这儿以前,上彭伯里去吃顿便饭。达西小姐虽然对于邀请客人还不大习惯,显得有些畏畏缩缩,可是她却立刻照做了。于是嘉丁纳太太望着外甥女儿,看她是不是愿意去,因为这次请客主要是为了她,不料伊丽莎白转过头去不响。嘉丁纳太太认为这样假痴假呆是一时的羞怯,而不是不喜欢这次邀请;她又看看自己的丈夫:他本来就是个爱交际的人,这会儿更显得完全愿意去的样子,于是她就大胆答应了日期订在后天。

   Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing Elizabeth again, having still a great deal to say to her, and many enquiries to make after all their Hertfordshire friends. Elizabeth, construing all this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister, was pleased; and on this account, as well as some others, found herself, when their visitors left them, capable of considering the last half hour with some satisfaction, though while it was passing the enjoyment of it had been little. Eager to be alone, and fearful of enquiries or hints from her uncle and aunt, she stayed with them only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Bingley, and then hurried away to dress.

  彬格莱表示十分高兴,因为他又可以多一次看到伊丽莎白的机会,他还有许多话要和她谈,还要向她打听哈福德郡某些朋友的情况。伊丽莎白认为这一切都只是因为,他想从她嘴里探听她姐姐的消息,因此心里很快活。凡此种种,虽然她当时倒并不怎么特别欢欣,可是客人们走了以后,她一想起刚才那半个钟头的情景,就不禁得意非凡。她怕舅父母追三问四,很想走开,所以她一听完他们把彬格莱赞扬了一能以后,便赶快去换衣服。

   But she had no reason to fear Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner's curiosity; it was not their wish to force her communication. It was evident that she was much better acquainted with Mr. Darcy than they had before any idea of; it was evident that he was very much in love with her. They saw much to interest, but nothing to justify enquiry.

  可是她没有理由害怕嘉丁纳夫妇的好奇心,因为他们并不想强迫她讲出心里的话。她跟达西先生的交情,显然不是他们以前所猜想的那种泛泛之交他显然爱上了她,舅父母发现了许多蛛丝马迹,可又实在不便过问。

   Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well; and, as far as their acquaintance reached, there was no fault to find. They could not be untouched by his politeness, and, had they drawn his character from their own feelings and his servant's report, without any reference to any other account, the circle in Hertfordshire to which he was known would not have recognised it for Mr. Darcy. There was now an interest, however, in believing the housekeeper; and they soon became sensible that the authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years old, and whose own manners indicated respectability, was not to be hastily rejected. Neither had any thing occurred in the intelligence of their Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight. They had nothing to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not, it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market-town where the family did not visit. It was acknowledged, however, that he was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor.

  他们现在一心只想到达西先生的好处。他们和他认识到现在为止,从他身上找不出半点儿错处。他那样的客气,使他们不得不感动。要是他们光凭着自己的感想和那个管家奶奶的报道来称道他的不人,而不参考任何其他资料,那么,哈福德郡那些认识他的人,简直辨别不出这是讲的达西先生。大家现在都愿意去相信那个管家奶奶的话,因为她在主人四岁的那年就来到他,当然深知主人的为人,加上她本身的举止也令人起敬,那就决不应该贸贸然把她的话置若罔闻,何况根据蓝白屯的朋友们跟他们讲的情形来看,也觉得这位管家奶奶的话没有什么不可靠的地方。达西除了傲慢之外,人家指摘不出他有任何错处。说到傲慢,他也许果真有些傲慢,纵使他并不傲慢,那么,那个小镇上的居民们见他全家终年足迹不至,自然也要说他傲慢。不过大家都公认他是个很大方的

   

  人,济苦救贫,慷慨解囊。

  再说韦翰,他们立刻就发觉他在这个地方并不十分受人器重;虽然大家不大明了他和他恩人的独生子之间的主要关系,可是大家都知道他离开德比郡时曾经欠下了多少债务,后来都是达西先生替他偿还的。

   As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that mansion; and she lay awake two whole hours endeavouring to make them out. She certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings; and it was now heightened into somewhat of a friendlier nature by the testimony so highly in his favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light, which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem, there was a motive within her of good will which could not be overlooked. It was gratitude. -- Gratitude, not merely for having once loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this accidental meeting, most eager to preserve the acquaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard, or any peculiarity of manner, where their two selves only were concerned, was soliciting the good opinion of her friends, and bent on making her known to his sister. Such a change in a man of so much pride excited not only astonishment but gratitude -- for to love, ardent love, it must be attributed; and as such, its impression on her was of a sort to be encouraged, as by no means unpleasing, though it could not be exactly defined. She respected, she esteemed, she was grateful to him; she felt a real interest in his welfare; and she only wanted to know how far she wished that welfare to depend upon herself, and how far it would be for the happiness of both that she should employ the power, which her fancy told her she still possessed, of bringing on the renewal of his addresses.

  伊丽莎白这个晚上一心一意只想到彭伯里,比昨天晚上还要想得厉害。这虽然是一个漫漫的长夜,可是她还是觉得不够长,因为彭伯里大厦里那个人弄得她心里千头万绪,她在床上整整躺了两个钟头睡不着觉,左思右想,还弄不明白对他究竟是爱是憎。她当然不会恨他。决不会的;恨早就消了。如果说她当真一度讨厌过他,她也早就为当初这种心情感到惭愧。她既然认为他具有许多高尚的品质,自然就尊敬起他来,尽管她开头还不大愿意承认,事实上早就因为尊敬他而不觉得他有丝毫讨厌的地方了。她现在又听到大家都说他的好话,昨天她又亲眼看到了种种情形,看出他原来是个性格很柔顺的人,于是尊敬之外又添了几分亲切,但是问题的关键还不在于她对他尊敬和器重,而在于她还存着一片好心好意,这一点可不能忽略。她对他颇有几分感激之心。她所以感激他,不仅因为他曾经爱过她,而且因为当初她虽然那么意气用事,斩钉截铁地拒绝过他,错怪过他,如今他却决不计较,反而依旧爱她。她本以为他会恨她入骨,决不会再理睬她,可是这一次邂逅而遇,他却好象急不待缓地要跟她重修旧好。提到他们俩人本身方面的事情,他虽然旧情难忘,可是语气神态之间,却没有粗鄙怪癖的表现,只是竭力想要获得她亲友们的好感,而且真心诚意地要介绍她和他的妹妹认识。这么傲慢的一个男人会一下子变得这样谦虚,这不仅叫人惊奇,也叫人感激,这不能不归根于爱情,浓烈的爱情。她虽然不能千真万确地把这种爱情说出一个所以然来,可是她决不觉得讨厌,而且还深深地给打动了心,觉得应该让这种爱情滋长下去。她既然尊敬他,器重他,感激他,便免不了极其关心到他幸福;她相信自己依旧有本领叫他再来求婚,问题只在于她是否应该放心大胆地施展出这副本领,以便达到双方的幸福。

   It had been settled in the evening, between the aunt and niece, that such a striking civility as Miss Darcy's, in coming to them on the very day of her arrival at Pemberley -- for she had reached it only to a late breakfast -- ought to be imitated, though it could not be equalled, by some exertion of politeness on their side; and, consequently, that it would be highly expedient to wait on her at Pemberley the following morning. They were, therefore, to go. -- Elizabeth was pleased, though, when she asked herself the reason, she had very little to say in reply.

  晚上她和舅母商谈,觉得达西小姐那么客气,回到彭伯里已经是吃早饭的时候,却还当天就赶来看她们,她们即使不能象她那样礼貌周全,至少也应该稍有礼貌,去回拜她一次。最后她们认为,最好是明天一大早就上彭伯里去拜候她,她们决定就这么办。伊丽莎白很是高兴,不过她只要问问自己为什么这样高兴,却又答不上来了。

   Mr. Gardiner left them soon after breakfast. The fishing scheme had been renewed the day before, and a positive engagement made of his meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley by noon.

  吃过早饭以后,嘉丁纳先生马上就出去了,因为上一天他又重新跟人家谈到了钓鱼的事,约定今天中午到彭伯里去和几位绅士碰头。

   Convinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley's dislike of her had originated in jealousy, she could not help feeling how very unwelcome her appearance at Pemberley must be to her, and was curious to know with how much civility on that lady's side the acquaintance would now be renewed.

  伊丽莎白现在认为,彬格莱小姐所以一向厌恶她,原因不外乎和她吃醋。她既然有了这种想法,便不禁觉得这次到彭伯里去,彬格莱小姐一定不会欢迎她;尽管如此,她倒想看看这一次旧雨重逢,那位小姐是否会多少顾全一些大体。

  到了彭伯里的大厦,家人们就带着她们走过穿堂,进入客厅,只见客厅北面景色非常动人,窗户外边是一片空地,屋后树林茂密,岗峦耸叠,草地上种满了美丽的橡树和西班牙栗树,真是好一派爽心悦目的夏日风光。

   In this room they were received by Miss Darcy, who was sitting there with Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, and the lady with whom she lived in London. Georgiana's reception of them was very civil; but attended with all that embarrassment which, though proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong, would easily give to those who felt themselves inferior the belief of her being proud and reserved. Mrs. Gardiner and her niece, however, did her justice, and pitied her.

  达西小姐在这间屋子里接待她们,跟她一同来接她们的还有赫斯脱太太、彬格莱小姐,以及那位在伦敦跟达西小姐住在一起的太太。乔治安娜对她们礼貌非常周全,只是态度颇不自然,这固然是因为她有几分羞怯,生怕有失礼的地方,可是在那些自以为身份比她低的人看来,便容易误会她为人傲慢矜持,幸亏嘉丁纳太太和她外甥女决不会错怪她反而还同情她。

   By Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley, they were noticed only by a curtsey; and on their being seated, a pause, awkward as such pauses must always be, succeeded for a few moments. It was first broken by Mrs. Annesley, a genteel, agreeable looking woman, whose endeavour to introduce some kind of discourse proved her to be more truly well bred than either of the others; and between her and Mrs. Gardiner, with occasional help from Elizabeth, the conversation was carried on. Miss Darcy looked as if she wished for courage enough to join in it; and sometimes did venture a short sentence, when there was least danger of its being heard.

  赫斯脱太太和彬格莱小姐只对她们行了个屈膝礼。她们坐定以后,宾主之间许久不曾交谈,实在别扭。后来还是安涅斯雷太太第一个开口说话。这位太太是个和蔼可亲的大家闺秀,你只要瞧她竭力想出话来攀谈,便可以知道她确实比另外两位有教养得多。全靠她同嘉丁纳太太先攀谈起来,再加上伊丽莎白不时地插几句嘴助助兴,谈话才算没有冷场。达西小姐好象想说话而又缺乏勇气,只是趁着人家听不见的时候支吾一两声,也总算难得。

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名著·傲慢与偏见 - 第66节