Chapter 10
On the following morning, Miss Lucas came to Longbourn soon after breakfast. In a private meeting with Elizabeth, she told her of the events from the day before.
**It had occurred once to **Elizabeth within the last day or two that Mr. Collins’s might believe himself to be in love with her friend,
- '' 「it occurs to sb. that…」：“某人突然想到…”
but she thought it impossible that Charlotte would encourage his affection. She was so astonished that she could not help crying out:
“Engaged (订婚) to Mr. Collins! My dear Charlotte—that’s impossible!”
Miss Lucas’s calmness was suddenly replaced by confusion. Still, it was **no more than **she had expected, and she soon calmed down again and replied:“Why should you be so surprised, my dear Eliza?
- '' 「no more than…」：“只是，不过是”；在意料之中
Do you think it is unbelievable that any woman could be attracted by Mr. Collins, because he was not lucky enough to succeed with you?”
But Elizabeth had now calmed down herself as well, and made a strong effort to assure (确保) Charlotte that she wished her all imaginable happiness.
Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to think over what she had heard.
She had always felt that Charlotte’s opinion of marriage was not exactly like her own, but she had not believed it was possible that Charlotte would become the wife of Mr. Collins!
It upset Elizabeth to see her friend disgrace (使丢脸) herself in such a way. Worse than this, however,was the distressing (使痛苦的) thought that it was impossible for her friend to be happy in the life she had chosen.
Elizabeth was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what she had heard.She was considering whether she was allowed to mention it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared to announce the engagement to the family.
Mrs. Bennet and Lydia declared without much politeness that he must be entirely mistaken, but Sir William’s good manners carried him through the situation, and he listened to both of them with great civility even as he continued to insist on the truth of his information.
- '' 「carry through」：（常指不顾困难地）完成；渡过难关；坚持到底
Mrs. Bennet was too much overwhelmed (不知所措的) to say a great deal more while Sir William was present.
As soon as he left, however, she expressed her feelings without restraint (抑制) . In the first place, she continued to believe that it must all be untrue.
Secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been tricked.
Thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy together, and fourthly, that the wedding still might not ever occur.
Above all, it was most obvious to her that Elizabeth was the real cause of the trouble. Nothing could comfort her and nothing could soothe (使平静) her.
::A week passed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her, a month passed before she could speak to the Lucases without being rude,::
::and many months went by before she could at all forgive their daughter.::
“It is very hard to think that Charlotte Lucas will have this house when you are gone,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband,
“and that I shall be forced to leave my home to make room for her!”
“My dear,” he replied, “do not think such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for the best—
perhaps you will die first, and then I can continue to live in this house after you are gone.” But that speech did not seem to make Mrs. Bennet any happier.
Meanwhile, Jane had sent Caroline an early response to her letter, and was anxious to receive her next reply.
Miss Bingley’s letter soon arrived, and put an end to any doubts. The very first sentence stated clearly that they were all to stay in London for the winter.
All hope was now entirely lost. The letter concluded with her brother’s regret, that he had not had time to visit his friends at Longbourn before he left the country.
Jane very soon expressed all of this to Elizabeth, who listened with concern for Jane, and resentment (怨恨) against all others.
She continued to believe as strongly as ever that Mr. Bingley was really fond of Jane.
A day or two passed before Jane had the courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth.
At last, after a longer outburst than usual from Mrs. Bennet about Mr. Bingley, Jane could not help saying when alone to Elizabeth:
“Oh, how I wish that my dear mother had more control over herself! She can have no idea of the pain she gives me by constantly speaking of him.
But I will not despair, because it cannot last long. I will forget about him, and everything will return to the way it was before.”
Elizabeth looked at her sister with disbelief and concern, but said nothing.
“You doubt me,” cried Jane, turning slightly red, “but you have no reason to do so.
I may remember him as the kindest man I ever met, but that is all. With a little time I will certainly try to get better.”
With a stronger voice she soon added, “I have some comfort immediately, because my only mistake was to imagine too much, and I have hurt nobody but myself.”
“My dear Jane!” exclaimed (惊呼) Elizabeth, “you are too good.:: I feel as if I had never admired you enough, or loved you as you deserve.::”
Miss Bennet declared that there was nothing special about her, and praised instead her sister’s warm affection.
++听到妹妹Elizabeth对自己说的那番话后，Jane说觉得自己没有什么特别的，还反过来（instead）称赞妹妹的深情厚意。++
“No,” said Elizabeth, “that is not fair. You want to see the best in everybody, and are hurt if I speak badly of anyone.
I only want to think you are perfect, and you argue against it. The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it.
I have met with this feeling twice recently. One instance I will not mention, and the other is Charlotte’s marriage. It is unbelievable! In every way it is unbelievable!”
“I understand what you mean, but I beg you, dear Lizzy, not to upset me by blaming him, and saying you no longer respect him.
::It is very often nothing but our own pride that deceives (欺骗) us. Women often think that admiration means more than it does.::”
- '' 「more than it does」里的“does”其实就是“means”；
- '' 很多时候其实是我们的骄傲在欺骗我们，女人总是以为欣赏和仰慕意味着更多的东西，而它其实就真的只是仰慕而已。
“And men encourage them to think so.”
“If they do so intentionally, then they are wrong for doing so.
But I do not believe that there is as much dishonesty in the world as some people would imagine.”
“I do not think Mr. Bingley meant to hurt you,” said Elizabeth, “but ::most of the error and misery in the world is not caused by people meaning to do wrong.Lack of attention to others’ feelings, and lack of perseverance (毅力) , will do the business.::”
- 这个世界上绝大多数的过错和不幸都不是人们有意而为之。不在乎别人的感受，缺乏坚持不懈的精神，都会造成痛苦和伤害。
“So that is what you think has happened here?”
“Yes, I do, I think his sisters and Mr. Darcy have influenced him.”
“Why should they do that, if they are his friends and only wish his happiness?”
“They may wish many things for him besides his happiness
—for example, they may wish him to become wealthy or famous, or to marry someone who will increase the wealth or status of the family.”
“Even if they would prefer that he marry Miss Darcy,” said Jane, “it may be for better reasons than those you mention.
I am not ashamed of having been mistaken about Mr. Bingley’s love for me.
Let me think the best about him, and do my best to understand and accept what has happened.”
Elizabeth could not refuse such a wish, and from this time onward (从现在起) Mr. Bingley's name was barely ever mentioned between them.
- **It occurs to sb that… ** 某人突然想到…
- with resentment against sb 怨恨某人
