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Гордость и предубеждение
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Слушаем и читаем
Pride and Prejudice
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Chapter 19
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The next day opened a new scene at Longbourn.
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Mr. Collins made his declaration in form.
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Having resolved to do it without loss of time,
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as his leave of absence extended only to the following Saturday,
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and having no feelings of diffidence to make it distressing to himself even at the moment,
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he set about it in a very orderly manner,
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with all the observances,
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which he supposed a regular part of the business.
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On finding Mrs. Bennet,
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Elizabeth,
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and one of the younger girls together,
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soon after breakfast,
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he addressed the mother in these words:
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“May I hope,
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madam,
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for your interest with your fair daughter Elizabeth,
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when I solicit for the honour of a private audience with her in the course of this morning?”
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Before Elizabeth had time for anything but a blush of surprise,
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Mrs. Bennet answered instantly,
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“Oh dear!—
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yes—certainly.
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I am sure Lizzy will be very happy—I am sure she can have no objection.
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Come,
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Kitty,
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I want you up stairs.”
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And,
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gathering her work together,
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she was hastening away,
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when Elizabeth called out:
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“Dear madam,
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do not go.
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I beg you will not go.
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Mr. Collins must excuse me.
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He can have nothing to say to me that anybody need not hear.
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I am going away myself.”
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“No,
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no,
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nonsense,
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Lizzy.
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I desire you to stay where you are.”
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And upon Elizabeth’s seeming really,
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with vexed and embarrassed looks,
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about to escape,
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she added:
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“Lizzy,
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I insist upon your staying and hearing Mr. Collins.”
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Elizabeth would not oppose such an injunction—and a moment’s consideration making her also sensible that it would be wisest to get it over as soon and as quietly as possible,
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she sat down again and tried to conceal,
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by incessant employment the feelings which were divided between distress and diversion.
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Mrs. Bennet and Kitty walked off,
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and as soon as they were gone,
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Mr. Collins began.
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“Believe me,
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my dear Miss Elizabeth,
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that your modesty,
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so far from doing you any disservice,
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rather adds to your other perfections.
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You would have been less amiable in my eyes had there not been this little unwillingness;
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but allow me to assure you,
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that I have your respected mother’s permission for this address.
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You can hardly doubt the purport of my discourse,
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however your natural delicacy may lead you to dissemble;
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my attentions have been too marked to be mistaken.
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Almost as soon as I entered the house,
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I singled you out as the companion of my future life.
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But before I am run away with by my feelings on this subject,
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perhaps it would be advisable for me to state my reasons for marrying—and,
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moreover,
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for coming into Hertfordshire with the design of selecting a wife,
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as I certainly did.”
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The idea of Mr. Collins,
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with all his solemn composure,
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being run away with by his feelings,
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made Elizabeth so near laughing,
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that she could not use the short pause he allowed in any attempt to stop him further,
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and he continued:
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“My reasons for marrying are,
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first,
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that I think it a right thing for every clergyman in easy circumstances (like myself)
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to set the example of matrimony in his parish;
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secondly,
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that I am convinced that it will add very greatly to my happiness;
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and thirdly—which perhaps I ought to have mentioned earlier,
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that it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness.
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Twice has she condescended to give me her opinion (unasked too!)
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on this subject;
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and it was but the very Saturday night before I left Hunsford—between our pools at quadrille,
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while Mrs. Jenkinson was arranging Miss de Bourgh’s footstool,
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that she said,
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‘Mr. Collins,
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you must marry.
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A clergyman like you must marry.
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Choose properly,
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choose a gentlewoman for my sake;
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and for your own,
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let her be an active,
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useful sort of person,
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not brought up high,
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but able to make a small income go a good way.
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This is my advice.
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Find such a woman as soon as you can,
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bring her to Hunsford,
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and I will visit her.’
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Allow me,
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by the way,
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to observe,
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my fair cousin,
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that I do not reckon the notice and kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the advantages in my power to offer.
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You will find her manners beyond anything I can describe;
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and your wit and vivacity,
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I think,
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must be acceptable to her,
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especially when tempered with the silence and respect which her rank will inevitably excite.
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Thus much for my general intention in favour of matrimony;
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it remains to be told why my views were directed towards Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood,
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where I can assure you there are many amiable young women.
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But the fact is,
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that being,
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as I am,
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to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured father (who,
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however,
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may live many years longer),
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I could not satisfy myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters,
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that the loss to them might be as little as possible,
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when the melancholy event takes place—which,
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however,
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as I have already said,
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may not be for several years.
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This has been my motive,
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my fair cousin,
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and I flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem.
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And now nothing remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the violence of my affection.
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To fortune I am perfectly indifferent,
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and shall make no demand of that nature on your father,
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since I am well aware that it could not be complied with;
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and that one thousand pounds in the four per cents,
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which will not be yours till after your mother’s decease,
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is all that you may ever be entitled to.
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On that head,
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therefore,
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I shall be uniformly silent;
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and you may assure yourself that no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.”
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