Elizabeth'S spirits soon rising to playfulness again, she wanted Mr. Darcy to account for his having ever fallen in love with her. "How could you begin?" said she. "I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?" 

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun." 

"My beauty you had early withstood, and as for my manners -- my behaviour to you was at least always bordering on the uncivil, and I never spoke to you without rather wishing to give you pain than not. Now be sincere; did you admire me for my impertinence?"

"For the liveliness of your mind, I did."

"You may as well call it impertinence at once. It was very little less. The fact is, that you were sick of civility, of deference, of officious attention. You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking, and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them. Had you not been really amiable, you would have hated me for it; but in spite of the pains you took to disguise yourself, your feelings were always noble and just; and in your heart, you thoroughly despised the persons who so assiduously courted you. There -- I have saved you the trouble of accounting for it; and really, all things considered, I begin to think it perfectly reasonable. To be sure, you knew no actual good of me -- but nobody thinks of that when they fall in love."

"Was there no good in your affectionate behaviour to Jane while she was ill at Netherfield?"

"Dearest Jane! who could have done less for her? But make a virtue of it by all means. My good qualities are under your protection, and you are to exaggerate them as much as possible; and, in return, it belongs to me to find occasions for teazing and quarrelling with you as often as may be; and I shall begin directly by asking you what made you so unwilling to come to the point at last. What made you so shy of me, when you first called, and afterwards dined here? Why, especially, when you called, did you look as if you did not care about me?"

"Because you were grave and silent, and gave me no encouragement."

"But I was embarrassed."

"And so was I."

"You might have talked to me more when you came to dinner."

"A man who had felt less, might."

"How unlucky that you should have a reasonable answer to give, and that I should be so reasonable as to admit it! But I wonder how long you would have gone on, if you had been left to yourself. I wonder when you would have spoken, if I had not asked you! My resolution of thanking you for your kindness to Lydia had certainly great effect. Too much, I am afraid; for what becomes of the moral, if our comfort springs from a breach of promise? for I ought not to have mentioned the subject. This will never do."

"You need not distress yourself. The moral will be perfectly fair. Lady Catherine's unjustifiable endeavours to separate us were the means of removing all my doubts. I am not indebted for my present happiness to your eager desire of expressing your gratitude. I was not in a humour to wait for any opening of your's. My aunt's intelligence had given me hope, and I was determined at once to know every thing."

"Lady Catherine has been of infinite use, which ought to make her happy, for she loves to be of use. But tell me, what did you come down to Netherfield for? Was it merely to ride to Longbourn and be embarrassed? or had you intended any more serious consequence?"

"My real purpose was to see you, and to judge, if I could, whether I might ever hope to make you love me. My avowed one, or what I avowed to myself, was to see whether your sister were still partial to Bingley, and if she were, to make the confession to him which I have since made."

"Shall you ever have courage to announce to Lady Catherine what is to befall her?"

"I am more likely to want more time than courage, Elizabeth. But it ought to done, and if you will give me a sheet of paper, it shall be done directly."

"And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt, too, who must not be longer neglected."

From an unwillingness to confess how much her intimacy with Mr. Darcy had been over-rated, Elizabeth had never yet answered Mrs. Gardiner's long letter; but now, having that to communicate which she knew would be most welcome, she was almost ashamed to find that her uncle and aunt had already lost three days of happiness, and immediately wrote as follows:

"I would have thanked you before, my dear aunt, as I ought to have done, for your long, kind, satisfactory, detail of particulars; but to say the truth, I was too cross to write. You supposed more than really existed. But now suppose as much as you chuse; give a loose to your fancy, indulge your imagination in every possible flight which the subject will afford, and unless you believe me actually married, you cannot greatly err. You must write again very soon, and praise him a great deal more than you did in your last. I thank you, again and again, for not going to the Lakes. How could I be so silly as to wish it! Your idea of the ponies is delightful. We will go round the Park every day. I am the happiest creature in the world. Perhaps other people have said so before, but not one with such justice. I am happier even than Jane; she only smiles, I laugh. Mr. Darcy sends you all the love in the world that he can spare from me. You are all to come to Pemberley at Christmas. Your's, &c."

Mr. Darcy's letter to Lady Catherine was in a different style; and still different from either was what Mr. Bennet sent to Mr. Collins, in reply to his last.

"DEAR SIR,

I must trouble you once more for congratulations. Elizabeth will soon be the wife of Mr. Darcy. Console Lady Catherine as well as you can. But, if I were you, I would stand by the nephew. He has more to give.

Your's sincerely, &c."

Miss Bingley's congratulations to her brother, on his approaching marriage, were all that was affectionate and insincere. She wrote even to Jane on the occasion, to express her delight, and repeat all her former professions of regard. Jane was not deceived, but she was affected; and though feeling no reliance on her, could not help writing her a much kinder answer than she knew was deserved.

The joy which Miss Darcy expressed on receiving similar information, was as sincere as her brother's in sending it. Four sides of paper were insufficient to contain all her delight, and all her earnest desire of being loved by her sister.

Before any answer could arrive from Mr. Collins, or any congratulations to Elizabeth from his wife, the Longbourn family heard that the Collinses were come themselves to Lucas lodge. The reason of this sudden removal was soon evident. Lady Catherine had been rendered so exceedingly angry by the contents of her nephew's letter, that Charlotte, really rejoicing in the match, was anxious to get away till the storm was blown over. At such a moment, the arrival of her friend was a sincere pleasure to Elizabeth, though in the course of their meetings she must sometimes think the pleasure dearly bought, when she saw Mr. Darcy exposed to all the parading and obsequious civility of her husband. He bore it, however, with admirable calmness. He could even listen to Sir William Lucas, when he complimented him on carrying away the brightest jewel of the country, and expressed his hopes of their all meeting frequently at St. James's, with very decent composure. If he did shrug his shoulders, it was not till Sir William was out of sight.

Mrs. Philips's vulgarity was another, and perhaps a greater, tax on his forbearance; and though Mrs. Philips, as well as her sister, stood in too much awe of him to speak with the familiarity which Bingley's good humour encouraged, yet, whenever she did speak, she must be vulgar. Nor was her respect for him, though it made her more quiet, at all likely to make her more elegant. Elizabeth did all she could to shield him from the frequent notice of either, and was ever anxious to keep him to herself, and to those of her family with whom he might converse without mortification; and though the uncomfortable feelings arising from all this took from the season of courtship much of its pleasure, it added to the hope of the future; and she looked forward with delight to the time when they should be removed from society so little pleasing to either, to all the comfort and elegance of their family party at Pemberley.

--正文

伊丽莎白很快又调皮起来，她想要达西解释下是如何爱上她的。

“这一切是怎么开始的？”伊丽莎白问，“我能理解一旦迈出了第一步，那就会顺利地走下去。可是，这第一个念头究竟是怎么开始的？”

“我不能确定具体是什么时间，在哪个地点，或者哪个眼神，或者是什么话让我动了心。这已经是很久以前的事情。在我意识到之前，我就已经爱上你了。”

“我的长相你之前也说了可以忍受，我的举止，我对你的行为最起码可以说在不礼貌的边缘，而且我每次跟你聊天都想让你难看。所以现在说实话吧，你是因为我对你莽撞而喜欢我的吗？”（翻译官：还有这种事情？）

“因为你活泼的头脑我才爱慕你的。”

“你倒不如说是因为我的莽撞吧。这样说也差不了多少。事实上你很讨厌礼貌，讨厌恭维，讨厌指手画脚的人。对于那些说话、看东西，思考都只是为了获得你喜欢的女人，你早就已经厌烦了。我之所以吸引了你，让你感兴趣，就是因为我跟她们不一样。要是你没那么好脾气的话，你可能会因为这件事而恨我。尽管你想方设法隐藏自己，但你的感情其实一直很正直而高贵。其实你一直很鄙视那些恭维你的人。怎么样，我都帮你省了解释的麻烦。但是说真的，所以事情加在一起，我开始觉得这些很有道理。可以确定的是，你完全不了解我到底有什么优点，但是坠入爱河的人也不会管那么多了。”

“简在耐热屯生病的时候，你悉心照顾，难道这不是优点吗？”

“最可爱的简！谁能忍心不悉心照料她？但是不管怎么说这是个优点。现在我的优点都归你管了，然后你就随意夸大。而作为回报，我应该时不时地多找机会调戏调戏你，多吵吵架了。而我现在就直接开始了，为什么你那么不愿意有话直说呢？你之前第一次来拜访的时候，然后在这里吃饭那次，你为什么那么害羞呢？尤其是你拜访的时候，你为什么看我就像是根本不在乎我似的？”

“因为你脸色难看而且很沉默，也没有鼓励我一下。”

“我当时很尴尬啊。”

“那我也很尴尬啊。”

“你来吃晚饭的时候也许该跟我多说说话的。”

“如果一个人不那么喜欢你，也许会吧。”

“你真是太走运了，总是有个好回答，而且我竟然也接受。但是我倒想直到，假如这些事情全由你作主，你到底要花多久。我倒想知道我要是不问你，你到底什么时候会跟我说话。之前因为你对莉迪亚的帮助，我决心相谢，确实是起了很大作用。甚至是太大作用了。如果我们的幸福来自于打破承诺，那么道德也无从谈起了。我真是不该提起这件事的。这样真是大错特错。”

“你不要有压力。道德上来说完全没有问题。卡瑟林夫人不公正地试图拆散我们，这让我在道德上没有顾虑。我此刻的幸福并不是因为你感激我。我并不打算等待你先开口。我姨妈的消息给了我希望，于是我就决定立刻过来探明一切。”

“卡瑟林夫人真是帮了大忙，这也应该让她高兴，因为她特别希望能帮上忙。但是告诉我你此次来耐热屯是为了什么？难道只是为了赶来被羞辱一顿吗？还是你有些其它正经打算？”

“我真正的目的是为了见你，而且为了看看到底有没有可能让你爱上我。但我公开宣称的目的，或者说我跟自己说得目的，是来看看你姐姐是不是还爱着宾利，如果她还爱着宾利，那我就跟宾利说明白一切。”

“那你会有勇气告诉凯瑟琳夫人发生的事情吗？”

“伊丽莎白，相比于勇气，我可能更需要些时间。但是这事是应该做的，如果你能给我张纸，我现在就能写信给她。”

“我要是自己没信写的话，我也许会坐在你旁边欣赏你那工整的字体，就像之前一个年轻姑娘做过的那样。但是我有个姑妈，我也得写封信给她。”

因为不愿意承认自己跟达西的关系到底有多亲密，伊丽莎白一直没回复加德纳夫人的长信。而现在因为知道这件事很受叔婶欢迎，她甚至优点害臊自己没有早点跟叔叔婶婶说这件事，以至于让他们少了三天快乐。于是伊丽莎白写信如下：“

亲爱的婶婶，我应该早就感谢你告诉我的详实，热心，令人满意的细节。但是实话跟你说，我当时太生气了没法写信。你猜的东西太多了，实际并不是这样。但是现在你可以随便猜了。现在你可以放飞自己的脑袋，放肆地猜测这件事情会是什么样，除非你猜我已经结婚了，不然也不会错得离谱。你得尽快写信给我，要比上次多夸夸我家达西。我十分感谢你当初没有去湖边玩耍。我怎么那么笨会想去那边玩耍。你当时说弄几匹小马去游园，这个想法真是太对了。我们以后每天都可以去公园里逛逛。我是这个世界上最开心的人。也许别人以前也说过这些话，但是她们没有像我这么真实。我甚至比简还要开心。她只是在微笑，而我是放声大笑。达西把她给了我之外的爱意全部送给你。你们一家人都请在圣诞节的时候过来玩。 你的侄女。”

而达西写给卡瑟利夫人的信风格就不一样。而且跟本内特老爷写给柯林斯的回信风格也不一样，本内特老爷写道：“

尊敬的先生，

我必须得再打扰你一次，道道喜。伊丽莎白很快就会成为达西先生的妻子。请安慰好卡瑟林夫人，也请安慰好你自己。如果我是你，我会站在外甥这边。毕竟他的钱更多一点。

你真心的朋友。”

宾利小姐给自己弟弟的祝福就很热情，又不真心。她甚至还写了份信给简，表达了她的开心之情，重复了她之前的关切。简并没有上当，但她还是十分激动。尽管简觉得自己并不亏欠她，但是还是没忍住给她回了一封和善的信，而大家都知道宾利小姐根本不值得简这么做。

而达西小姐得知此事后十分开心，就跟她哥告诉她这消息时的快乐一样真诚。四页纸还不够表达她的喜悦之情，而她恳请自己姐姐全心全意地爱自己。

蘑菇屯一家人一直没有收到柯林斯的回信，伊丽莎白也没收到柯林斯夫人的祝福，他们听说柯林斯两口子会亲自回卢卡斯家。这次拜访的目的是显而易见的。听说卡瑟林夫人收到外甥的来信给气炸了，而夏洛特很喜欢达西跟伊丽莎白这一对，就着急在风暴没破之前找地方躲躲。在此刻卢卡斯能来对伊丽莎白来说再开心不过了，但是在见面的过程中，伊丽莎白有时候还是觉得得不偿失，因为他见到柯林斯在极尽谄媚地讨好达西。但是达西还是相当镇静地应付着。达西甚至能听着威廉姆.卢卡斯爵士恭维他拿着整个国家最漂亮的珠宝，还说希望以后能在宫中多见面。达西直到威廉姆爵士离开，才怂了怂肩。

菲利普太太的粗野对于达西来说就是另一种考验了。尽管菲利普太太跟她姐姐一样，跟好脾气的宾利相比，她们都因为害怕不敢跟达西多说话。但是只要她一开口，那说的话题肯定很粗鲁。尽管她因为尊敬而不敢跟达西说话，但是这也并没有让她更高雅。伊丽莎白竭尽所能让达西远离这些骚扰，尽力让他只跟自己说话，跟自己家里不会让他讨厌的人说话。尽管此番应酬减少了恋爱的乐其，但是它确实让未来更有希望。此刻伊丽莎白高兴地想着以后他们就可以远离这些烦人的社交了，去往彭伯里跟他家人一起过起舒服典雅的生活。