牛津書蟲系列 傲慢與偏見 11 Bingley returns to Netherfield

　　11 Bingley returns to Netherfield

　　11 彬格萊重返尼日斐

　　Elizabeth had the satisfaction of receiving a reply from her aunt in the shortest time possible.She sat down ea- gerly to read it.

　　伊麗莎白在最短的時間里收到了舅母的回信，十分高興，急切地坐下來讀信：

　　My dear niece，

　　親愛的外甥女：

　　I must confess I am astonished by your request for informa- tion about Mr Darcy's share in arranging Lydia's marriage.I assumed that you would know all about it.Your uncle is as surprised as I am.But if you are really innocent and ignorant， I must tell you all the details.On the day I returned to London from Longbourn，your uncle had a most unexpected visitor.Mr Darcy came to tell us he had discovered where your sister and Wickham were staying.The reason he gave for wanting to help was his belief that he was to blame for not making Wickham's worthlessness more public，and that therefore it was his duty to assist us in every possible way.If he had an- other motive，I am sure it would be just as honourable.He knew that Wickham had a close friend in London，a woman who had once been companion to Miss Darcy，and had been dismissed for some reason.So Mr Darcy found this woman， and bribed her to give him Wickham's present address.He went to see Wickham，and insisted on seeing Lydia，hoping to persuade her to return to her family.However，Lydia told him she only cared for Wickham，and had no intention of leaving him，whether he married her or not Wickham privately told Mr Darcy that he had left the regiment because of his gam- bling debts，not because he intended to marry Lydia，and that he was still hoping to find and marry a woman of fortune in order to have a comfortable income.It was clearly necessary to persuade him to marry Lydia as soon as possible，and Mr Darcy had several meetings with Wickham to arrange finan- cisl matters with him Finally，Mr Darcy was able to visit your uncle，as I have said，to explain the whole business，and to in- sist that he alone should be responsible for paying Wickham the promised amount.Your uncle argued with him for a long time，but our visitor was so obstinate that Mr Gardiner even- tually had to agree.I think，Lizzy，that obstinacy is Mr Darcy's real fault，rather than any of the other faults of which he has been accused.He paid Wickham several thousand pounds，for past debts and future expenses，and attended the wedding to make a final payment.And in spite of Mr Darcy's declared motives，my dear Lizzy，you may be sure that your uncle would never have given in，if we had not assumed that Mr Darcy had another interest in the matter.Will you be very angry with me，my dear Lizzy，if I take this opportunity of saying how much I like him?His behaviour to us has always been as agreeable as when we were in Derbyshire.I think that if he marries the right woman，his wife may teach him to become more sociable.Please forgive me if I have assumed too much，or at least do not punish me by not inviting me to Pemberley.I shall never be happy until I have been all the way round the park.

　　你請求解釋達西先生參與安排麗迪亞結(jié)婚一事，我感到十分詫異。我還以為你全都知道。你舅舅也與我一樣感到奇怪。但是，如果你真地一無所知，我必須把詳情告訴你。我從浪搏恩回到倫敦那天，你舅舅遇到了一位不速之客。達西先生來了，他告訴我們他發(fā)現(xiàn)了你妹妹和韋翰呆的地方。據(jù)他說，他之所以想幫助我們，是因為他認為沒有把韋翰的道德敗壞當眾揭穿是他的過錯，這樣，他就有義務盡一切可能幫助我們。如果他是另有所圖，我相信，動機也會同樣可貴。他知道韋翰在倫敦有一位要好的女友，她以前做過達西小姐的女伴，后來由于某種原因被解雇了。于是，達西先生找到了這個女人，賄賂她說出了韋翰目前的住址。他找到了韋翰，并堅持要見麗迪亞，希望說服她回到家里。但是，麗迪亞告訴他她只愛韋翰，并不打算離開他，不管他娶不娶她。韋翰私下里告訴達西先生，他離開兵團是為了逃避賭債，并不是想跟麗迪亞結(jié)婚，他現(xiàn)在仍然希望找一位有財產(chǎn)的女人結(jié)婚，以便獲得舒適的收入。形勢很明朗，有必要說服他盡快和麗迪亞結(jié)婚，于是達西先生與韋翰數(shù)次碰面，與他安排財務問題。最后，像我剛說過的那樣，達西先生才得以來訪你舅舅，解釋全部經(jīng)過，并堅持完全由他自己負責支付許諾給韋翰的所有款項。你舅舅與他爭執(zhí)了半天，但是我們的客人非常固執(zhí)，嘉丁納先生最后不得不同意。麗萃，我認為固執(zhí)是達西先生的真正缺點，他受到指責的其他缺點都算不上。他支付給韋翰幾千英鎊，用于還清舊債，應付未來開銷，并參加了婚禮，最后將錢款付清。親愛的麗萃，盡管達西先生公開說明了一些原因，但是，你可以肯定，如果我們不是覺得他別有用心，你舅舅是絕不會讓步的。親愛的麗萃，如果我借此機會說我非常喜歡他，你不會生我的氣吧?他對我們一直像在德比郡那樣和氣。我想，如果他娶到一個合適的女人，他妻子可能會教他如何更好地交際。如果我猜測得太過分，那么請你原諒，至少不要以將來不讓我去彭伯里罰我。我不把莊園逛完，是不會感到高興的。

　　But I must go to my children now.

　　我現(xiàn)在必須回到孩子們身邊了。

　　Yours very sincerely，M.Gardiner

　　M·嘉丁納 謹啟

　　Elizabeth read this letter with a mixture of pleasure and pain. Mr Darcy had thought so little of his pride that he had spent considerable time，effort and money on two people for whom he must feel the greatest disdain.He had even had to bargain with Wickham!She could not believe he had done all this for her，a woman who had already rejected him.But the fact remained that she and her family owed him everything.How bitterly she now regretted criticizing and mocking him in the past!She was ashamed of herself，but she was proud of him，proud that in a matter of honour，he had been able to conquer his own pride.She was even rather pleased，if a little regretful，that her aunt and uncle had felt sure that there was mutual affection be- tween Mr Darcy and herself.

　　伊麗莎白讀著這封信，心里既高興又痛苦。達西先生全然不顧自尊，在兩個他最為鄙視的人身上花了那么多時間、精力和金錢。他甚至還得跟韋翰討價還價!她難以相信他這一切都是為了她，一個拒絕過他的求婚的女人。但事實仍然是，她和她的家庭應為擁有的一切感激他。她想起以前批評他、嘲笑他，后悔得痛心疾首。她為自己感到羞愧，但為他感到驕傲，驕傲的是，在榮譽上，他戰(zhàn)勝了自己的傲慢。她甚至相當高興(雖然帶點后悔)，她舅母舅父肯定地感受到了達西先生和她相愛。

　　Mrs Bennet was quite depressed when Lydia and Wickham left Longbourn to travel north to Newcastle.But soon Mrs Philips brought the happy news that Mr Bingley was expected to return to Netherfield in a day or two，and Mrs Bennet be- came very excited.She made preparations to invite him to din- ner，and counted the days that must pass before she could send the invitation.

　　麗迪亞和韋翰離開浪搏恩北上紐卡斯爾，這使班納特太太相當喪氣。但不久菲力普斯太太帶來了好消息，說彬格萊先生可望于一兩天內(nèi)返回尼日斐，班納特太太激動萬分。她開始為邀請他吃飯作準備，并且盤算著再過幾天就可以發(fā)送請?zhí)恕?/p>

　　However，on only the third morning after his arrival，she caught sight of him from her bedroom window，riding towards Longbourn House，with another gentleman，also on horseback.

　　但是，就在彬格萊到達后的第三天上午，她就從臥室的窗戶中看到了他騎著馬向浪搏恩府走來，同行的還有一位先生，也騎著馬。

　　‘Girls!Quickly!’she cried.‘Mr Bingley is coming!And who's that with him?It must be Mr Darcy，that tall，proud man.Well，as he is Mr Bingley's friend，we must be polite to him，but I must say，I hate the sight of him.’

　　“姑娘們!快點兒!”她喊道。“彬格萊先生來了!跟他一起來的是誰?一定是達西先生，那個高個子、傲慢的人。哎呀，他既然是彬格萊先生的朋友，我們也要客氣點兒，可是，我得承認，我不喜歡見到他。”

　　Both Jane and Elizabeth felt uncomfortable，and sympathized with each other.Jane was nervous about meeting Bingley again，and determined not to show her feelings.Elizabeth was uneasy at the thought of seeing Darcy，as she was the only one who knew how much the whole family owed him，in spite of their general dislike of him.She was astonished that he had come to see her，and for a moment she allowed herself to hope that his affection and wishes might still be the same.

　　簡和伊麗莎白都感到很不自在，兩人同病相憐。又要見到彬格萊，簡感到惴惴不安，決心不表露自己的感情。伊麗莎白一想到要見達西了，就感到很尷尬，因為就她一個人知道全家欠人家多少情，盡管大家都討厭人家。他來看她，使她很驚奇，有那么一會兒，她大膽地希望他仍舊未改初衷。

　　She was disappointed，however，by the visit.Mr Darcy said scarcely anything to her，and appeared more thoughtful and less anxious to please than in Derbyshire.She wondered bitter- ly why he had come.In addition，she was highly embarrassed by her mother's behaviour.With flattering smiles Mrs Bennet concentrated all her conversation on Mr Bingley，while throw- ing the occasional unpleasant remark in Mr Darcy's direction. The only positive effect of the gentlemen's visit was the way in which Jane's charm and beauty appeared to excite Mr Bing- ley's admiration all over again，which Elizabeth was relieved and delighted to see.

　　但是，這次來訪使她大失所望。達西失生幾乎沒跟她說什么，比起在德比郡來，顯得更加深沉而不是急于取悅?cè)?。他為什么要來，她大惑不解。另外，她媽媽的舉動使她極為難堪。班納特太太帶著奉承的微笑集中精力和彬格萊先生談話，偶爾也沖達西先生說一句難聽的話。兩位先生來訪的唯一積極效果是簡的嫵媚動人似乎重新喚起了彬格萊先生的愛慕，伊麗莎白看了深感慰藉和喜悅。

　　The Bennet family did not see the two gentlemen again until Tuesday，when they came to dinner at Longbourn.It was a great pleasure to Elizabeth to watch Bingley sitting beside Jane，and talking happily to her，but this was the only enjoy- ment she gained from the party.Mr Darcy was unfortunately sitting a long way from her，next to Mrs Bennet.Elizabeth could see how seldom they spoke to each other，and how cold and formal their behaviour to each other was.She would have given anything to be able to tell him that his kindness was ap- preciated by at least one of the family.All through the long dinner，she desperately hoped there would be an opportunity for her to have some real conversation with him later.But the evening passed without any more than a short exchange of po- liteness between them，and Elizabeth lost all hope of immediate happiness.

　　到了星期二，班納特全家再次見到兩位先生，他們是來浪搏恩赴宴的。看到彬格萊在簡旁邊坐下，愉快地同她交談，伊麗莎白感受到極大的樂趣，但這也是她在晚會上得到的唯一樂趣。達西先生不巧坐得離她很遠，挨著班納特太太。伊麗莎白看得出他們彼此說話說得多么少，互相間又多么冷淡與客氣。她多么希望能夠告訴他，全家至少還有一個人懂得他的善意。在漫長的晚飯期間，她拼命地希望能得到一個機會與他真正談談。但是，整個夜晚過去了，除了簡短的客套以外，他們什么也沒有說，伊麗莎白斷絕了一切立刻獲得幸福的希望。

　　Two days after this，Mr Bingley called at Longbourn House again.This time he was alone，as Mr Darcy had gone to Lon- don.He sat with the ladies for over an hour，talking cheerfully and agreeably to them.He came the next morning，and again in the evening.Mrs Bennet took every opportunity to leave him alone with Jane，by calling her other daughters out of the room for some reason or other.She was hoping to encourage him to propose，but in spite of her efforts Bingley remained charming， and agreeable，and unattached.

　　過了兩天，彬格萊又來到浪搏恩府，這次是一個人，達西先生到倫敦去了。他和小姐們坐了一個多小時，興高采烈、十分隨和地與她們聊天。他第二天上午來了，晚上又來了。班納特太太不錯過每一個機會把他和簡單獨留下，借故將別的女兒叫出房間。她希望鼓勵他求婚，但是，盡管她作了種種努力，彬格萊還是那樣愛說愛笑，招人喜歡，不偏不倚。

　　But on the third day Bingley came in the morning to go shooting with Mr Bennet.He stayed for lunch，and was still there in the evening.And when Elizabeth entered the sitting- room unexpectedly，to her surprise she saw Jane and Bingley standing close together near the fire.They turned hurriedly when they heard her，and moved awkwardly away from each other.Bingley whispered something to Jane，and ran out of the room.Jane could not keep her secret from her sister，and， kiss- ing her，cried，‘I am the happiest creature in the world!Oh， Lizzy!I do not deserve this!Why isn't everybody as happy as I am!’

　　但是，第三天彬格萊先生過來與班納特先生一塊去打獵。他留下吃了午飯，晚上還在那里。當伊麗莎白無意中來到起居室時，驚奇地發(fā)現(xiàn)簡和彬格萊在火爐旁站著，挨得很近。他們聽到她的聲音，慌忙轉(zhuǎn)身，尷尬地分開了。彬格萊對簡小聲說了句什么，便跑出了房間。簡忍不住把秘密告訴了妹妹，吻了她一下，大聲叫道：“我是世界上最幸福的人!噢，麗萃，我不配!大家都像我一樣幸福就好了!”

　　Elizabeth congratulated her sister most warmly and sincerely.‘At last!’she thought.‘The end of all Mr Darcy's anxious advice!The end of all Caroline Bingley's lies and plans!The happiest，wisest，most reasonable end!’

　　伊麗莎白向姐姐表示最熱烈、最誠摯的祝賀。“謝天謝地!”她心里想。“結(jié)束了，達西先生急切的勸告!結(jié)束了，卡羅琳·彬格萊的謊言和陰謀!最幸福、最明智、最合理的結(jié)局!”

　　‘I must go and tell my mother，’continued Jane，‘as he has just gone to ask my father's permission.Oh，Lizzy!What happiness!’

　　“我得過去告訴媽媽，”簡繼續(xù)說，“因為他剛?cè)フ埌职侄鳒?。噢，麗?多么幸福啊!”

　　It was a joyful evening for all of them.Jane looked more beautiful than ever，and Bingley was clearly very much in love. Mrs Bennet could not say enough to describe her delight，al- though she talked of nothing else all evening，and Mr Bennet was evidently very pleased.

　　這天晚上所有的人都歡天喜地。簡顯得空前漂亮，彬格萊顯然已墜入情網(wǎng)。班納特太太的喜悅之情溢于言表，說也說不夠，雖然她整個晚上別的什么也沒說。班納特先生顯然也很高興。

　　Before the two eldest sisters went to bed that night，Eliza- beth listened willingly to Jane's long description of Bingley's good qualities.At the end，Jane added，‘Oh，Lizzy!If only I could see you as happy as I am!If only there were another man like Bingley for you!’

　　那天夜里休息之前，伊麗莎白很樂意地聽了簡對彬格萊優(yōu)良品質(zhì)的長篇描述。最后，簡補充說，“噢，麗萃!我要是能看到你跟我一樣幸福就好了!要是再有一個像彬格萊那樣的人給你就好了!”

　　‘Dear Jane，I can never be as happy as you，because I'm not as good as you.No，no，let me find my own husband.Perhaps， if I'm very lucky，I may meet another Mr Collins one day.’

　　“親愛的簡，我永遠不會像你那樣幸福，因為我不如你。不，不，我要找到我自己的丈夫，也許，要是我運氣好，有一天也許能再碰上一個柯林斯先生。”

　　The engagement was not kept a secret for very long.Mrs Bennet whispered the news to Mrs Philips，who told all her neighbours in Meryton.Everybody soon agreed that the Ben- nets were the luckiest family in the world， although only a few weeks before，when Lydia had run away，they had been consid- ered the most unfortunate.

　　訂婚一事沒有保密很長時間。班納特太太將這個消息悄悄地對菲力普斯太太說了，菲力普斯太太又透露給麥里屯的所有鄰居。大家立即達成共識，說班納特一家是世上最幸運的家庭，盡管僅僅在幾個禮拜以前麗迪亞出走的時候，他們還被視為最不走運的。