ELIZABETH related to Jane the next day, what had passed between Mr. Wickham and herself. Jane listened with astonishment and concern; -- she knew not how to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's regard; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the veracity of a young man of such amiable appearance as Wickham. -- The possibility of his having really endured such unkindness, was enough to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing therefore remained to be done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake, whatever could not be otherwise explained.

第二天，伊麗莎白把韋翰先生跟她自己說(shuō)的那些話全告訴了吉英。吉英聽(tīng)得又是驚奇又是關(guān)心。她簡(jiǎn)直不能相信，達(dá)西先生會(huì)這樣的不值得彬格萊先生器重，可是，像韋翰這樣一個(gè)青年美男子，她實(shí)在無(wú)從懷疑他說(shuō)話不誠(chéng)實(shí)。一想到韋翰可能真的受到這些虧待，她就不禁起了憐惜之心；因此她只得認(rèn)為他們兩位先生都是好人，替他們雙方辨白，把一切無(wú)法解釋的事都解釋做意外和誤會(huì)。

"They have both," said she, "been deceived, I dare say, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to conjecture the causes or circumstances which may have alienated them, without actual blame on either side."

"Very true, indeed; -- and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say in behalf of the interested people who have probably been concerned in the business? -- Do clear them too, or we shall be obliged to think ill of somebody."

吉英說(shuō)：“我認(rèn)為他們雙方都受了人家的蒙蔽，至于是怎樣受到蒙蔽的，我們當(dāng)然無(wú)從猜測(cè)，也許是哪一個(gè)有關(guān)的人從中挑撥是非。簡(jiǎn)單地說(shuō)，除非是我們有確確實(shí)實(shí)的根據(jù)可以責(zé)怪任何一方，我們就無(wú)從憑空猜想出他們是為了什么事才不和睦的?！?/p>

“你這話說(shuō)得不錯(cuò)。那么，親愛(ài)的吉英，你將替這種有關(guān)的人說(shuō)些什么話呢？你也得替這種人辨白一下呀，否則我們又不得不怪到某一個(gè)人身上去了。”

"Laugh as much as you chuse, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. My dearest Lizzy, do but consider in what a disgraceful light it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such a manner, -- one, whom his father had promised to provide for. -- It is impossible. No man of common humanity, no man who had any value for his character, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so excessively deceived in him? oh! no."

"I can much more easily believe Mr. Bingley's being imposed on, than that Mr. Wickham should invent such a history of himself as he gave me last night; names, facts, every thing mentioned without ceremony. -- If it be not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks."

“你受怎么取笑就怎么取笑吧，反正你總不能把我的意見(jiàn)笑掉。親愛(ài)的麗萃，你且想一想，達(dá)西先生的父親生前那樣地疼愛(ài)這個(gè)人，而且答應(yīng)要瞻養(yǎng)他，如今達(dá)西先生本人卻這般虧待他，那他簡(jiǎn)直太不像話了。這是不可能的。一個(gè)人只要還有點(diǎn)起碼的人道之心，只要多少還尊重自己的人格，就不會(huì)做出這種事來(lái)。難道他自己的最知已的朋友，竟會(huì)被他蒙蔽到這種地步嗎？噢！不會(huì)的?！?/p>

“我還是認(rèn)為彬格萊先生受了他的蒙蔽，并不認(rèn)為韋翰先生昨兒晚上跟我說(shuō)和話是捏造的。他把一個(gè)個(gè)的人名，一樁樁的事實(shí)，都說(shuō)得很有根有據(jù)，毫無(wú)虛偽做作。倘若事實(shí)并非如此，那么讓達(dá)西先生自己來(lái)辨白吧。你只要看看韋翰那副神情，就知道他沒(méi)有說(shuō)假話。”

"It is difficult indeed -- it is distressing. -- One does not know what to think."

"I beg your pardon; -- one knows exactly what to think."

But Jane could think with certainty on only one point, -- that Mr. Bingley, if he had been imposed on, would have much to suffer when the affair became public.

“這的確叫人很難說(shuō)——也叫人難受。叫人不知道怎么想才好。”

“說(shuō)句不怕你見(jiàn)怪的話，人家完全知道該怎么想。”

吉英只有一樁事情是猜得準(zhǔn)的，那就是說(shuō)，要是彬格萊先生果真受了蒙蔽，那么，一旦真相大白，他一定會(huì)萬(wàn)分痛心。

The two young ladies were summoned from the shrubbery where this conversation passed, by the arrival of some of the very persons of whom they had been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. The two ladies were delighted to see their dear friend again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To the rest of the family they paid little attention; avoiding Mrs. Bennet as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others. They were soon gone again, rising from their seats with an activity which took their brother by surprise, and hurrying off as if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's civilities.

兩位年輕的小姐正在矮樹(shù)林里談得起勁，忽然家里派人來(lái)叫她們回去，因?yàn)橛锌腿松祥T(mén)來(lái)──事情真湊巧，來(lái)的正是她們所談到的那幾位。原來(lái)尼日斐花園下星期二要舉行一次盼望了好久的舞會(huì)，彬格萊先生跟他的姐妹們特地親自前來(lái)邀請(qǐng)她們參加。兩位小姐和自己要好的朋友重逢，真是非常高興。她們說(shuō)，自從分別以來(lái)，恍若隔世，又一再地問(wèn)起吉英別來(lái)做些什么。她們對(duì)班納特府上其余的人簡(jiǎn)直不理不睬。她們盡量避免班納特太太的糾纏，又很少跟伊麗莎白談，至于對(duì)別的人，那就根本一句話也不說(shuō)了。她們一會(huì)兒就告辭了，動(dòng)作之快讓她們的兄弟彬格萊先生大感意外，一骨碌從座位上站了起來(lái)，拔腿就走，好似急于要避開(kāi)班納特太太那些糾纏不清的繁文縟節(jié)似的。

The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely agreeable to every female of the family. Mrs. Bennet chose to consider it as given in compliment to her eldest daughter, and was particularly flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card; Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and the attention of their brother; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of every thing in Mr. Darcy's looks and behaviour. The happiness anticipated by Catherine and Lydia, depended less on any single event, or any particular person, for though they each, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them, and a ball was at any rate, a ball. And even Mary could assure her family that she had no disinclination for it.

尼日斐花園要舉行舞會(huì)，這一件事使這一家的太太小姐都高興到極點(diǎn)。班納特太太認(rèn)為這次舞會(huì)是為了恭維她的大女兒才開(kāi)的，而且這次舞會(huì)由彬格萊先生親自登門(mén)邀請(qǐng)，而不是發(fā)請(qǐng)貼來(lái)請(qǐng)，這叫她更加高興。吉英心里只是想象著，到了那天晚上，便可以和兩個(gè)好朋友促膝談心，又可以受到他們兄弟的殷勤待候；伊麗莎白得意地想到可以跟韋翰先生痛痛快快地狂跳一下，又可以從達(dá)西先生的神情舉止中把事情的底細(xì)看個(gè)水落石出。至于咖苔琳和麗迪雅，她們可不把開(kāi)心作樂(lè)寄托于某一件事或某一個(gè)人身上，雖然她們倆跟伊麗莎白一樣，想要和韋翰先生跳上大半夜，可是舞會(huì)上能夠使她們跳個(gè)痛快的舞伴決不止他一個(gè)人，何況舞會(huì)究竟是舞會(huì)。甚至連曼麗也告訴家里人說(shuō)，她對(duì)這次舞會(huì)也不是完全沒(méi)興趣。

"While I can have my mornings to myself," said she, "it is enough. -- I think it no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening engagements. Society has claims on us all; and I profess myself one of those who consider intervals of recreation and amusement as desirable for every body."

Elizabeth's spirits were so high on the occasion that, though she did not often speak unnecessarily to Mr. Collins, she could not help asking him whether he intended to accept Mr. Bingley's invitation, and, if he did, whether he would think it proper to join in the evening's amusement; and she was rather surprised to find that he entertained no scruple whatever on that head, and was very far from dreading a rebuke either from the Archbishop, or Lady Catherine de Bourgh, by venturing to dance.

"I am by no means of opinion, I assure you," said he, "that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of character to respectable people, can have any evil tendency; and I am so far from objecting to dancing myself, that I shall hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening, and I take this opportunity of soliciting yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially, -- a preference which I trust my cousin Jane will attribute to the right cause, and not to any disrespect for her."

曼麗說(shuō)：“只要每天上午的時(shí)間能夠由我自己支配就夠了。我認(rèn)為偶爾參加參加晚會(huì)并不是什么犧牲。我們大家都應(yīng)該有社交生活。我認(rèn)為誰(shuí)都少不了需要一些消遣和娛樂(lè)?！?/p>

伊麗莎白這會(huì)兒真是太高興了；她雖然本來(lái)不大跟柯林斯先生多話，現(xiàn)在也不禁問(wèn)他是不是愿意上彬格萊先生那兒去作客，如果愿意，參加晚會(huì)是不是合適。出乎伊麗莎白的意料之外，柯林斯先生對(duì)于作客問(wèn)題毫無(wú)猶豫，而且還敢跳舞，一點(diǎn)不怕大主教或咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人的指責(zé)。

他說(shuō)：“老實(shí)告訴你，這樣的舞會(huì)，主人是一個(gè)品格高尚的青年，賓客又是些體面人，我決不認(rèn)為會(huì)有什么不好的傾向。我非但不反對(duì)自己跳舞，而且希望當(dāng)天晚上表妹們都肯賞臉。伊麗莎白小姐，我就利用這次機(jī)會(huì)請(qǐng)你陪我跳頭兩場(chǎng)舞，我相信吉英表妹一定還會(huì)怪我對(duì)她有什么失禮吧，因?yàn)槲疫@樣盡先盡后有正當(dāng)?shù)睦碛?。?/p>

Elizabeth felt herself completely taken in. She had fully proposed being engaged by Wickham for those very dances: -- and to have Mr. Collins instead! her liveliness had been never worse timed. There was no help for it however. Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own was perforce delayed a little longer, and Mr. Collins's proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his gallantry from the idea it suggested of something more. -- It now first struck her that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being the mistress of Hunsford parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was exceedingly agreeable to her. Elizabeth, however, did not chuse to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him.

伊麗莎白覺(jué)得自己完全上了當(dāng)。她本來(lái)一心要跟韋翰跳開(kāi)頭幾場(chǎng)，如今卻來(lái)了個(gè)柯林斯先生從中作梗！她從來(lái)沒(méi)有象現(xiàn)在這樣掃興過(guò)，不過(guò)事到如今，已無(wú)法補(bǔ)救。韋翰先生的幸福跟她自己的幸福不得不耽擱一下了，她于是極其和顏悅色地答應(yīng)了柯林斯先生的請(qǐng)求。她一想到柯林斯此番殷勤乃是別有用心，她就不太樂(lè)意。她首先就想到他已經(jīng)在她的幾個(gè)姐妹中間看中了她自己，認(rèn)為她配做漢斯福牧師家里的主婦，而且當(dāng)羅新斯沒(méi)有更適當(dāng)?shù)馁e客時(shí)，打起牌來(lái)要是三缺一，她也可以湊湊數(shù)。她這個(gè)想法立該得到了證實(shí)，因?yàn)樗^察到他對(duì)她越來(lái)越殷勤，只聽(tīng)得他老是恭維她聰明活潑。雖然從這場(chǎng)風(fēng)波足以想見(jiàn)她的誘人的魅力，她可并不因此得意，反而感到驚奇，她的母親不久又跟她說(shuō)，他們倆是可能結(jié)婚的，這叫她做母親的很喜歡。伊麗莎白對(duì)母親這句話只當(dāng)作沒(méi)有聽(tīng)見(jiàn)，因?yàn)樗浅Ｃ靼?，只要跟母親搭起腔來(lái)，就免不了要大吵一場(chǎng)?？铝炙瓜壬苍S不會(huì)提出求婚，既然他還沒(méi)有明白提出，那又何必為了他爭(zhēng)吵。

If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the younger Miss Bennets would have been in a pitiable state at this time, for from the day of the invitation to the day of the ball, there was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton once. No aunt, no officers, no news could be sought after; -- the very shoe-roses for Netherfield were got by proxy. Even Elizabeth might have found some trial of her patience in weather which totally suspended the improvement of her acquaintance with Mr. Wickham; and nothing less than a dance on Tuesday, could have made such a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday endurable to Kitty and Lydia.

自從尼日斐花園邀請(qǐng)班納特家?guī)孜恍〗銋⒓犹璧哪翘炱?，到開(kāi)舞會(huì)的那天為止，雨一直下個(gè)不停，弄得班家?guī)讉€(gè)年紀(jì)小的女兒們沒(méi)有到麥里屯去過(guò)一次，也無(wú)從去看望姨母，訪問(wèn)軍官和打聽(tīng)新聞，要不是把參加舞會(huì)的事拿來(lái)談?wù)?，?zhǔn)備準(zhǔn)備，那她們真要可憐死了。她們連蹯鞋上要用的玫瑰花也是叫別人去代買的。甚至伊麗莎白也對(duì)這種天氣厭惡透了，就是這種天氣弄得她和韋翰先生的友誼毫無(wú)進(jìn)展。總算下星期二有個(gè)跳舞會(huì)，這才使吉蒂和麗迪雅熬過(guò)了星期五，星期六，星期日和星期一。

（來(lái)源：網(wǎng)絡(luò) 編輯：丹妮）