第十六章

As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in the house. 

When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification; but when Mrs. Philips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor, when she had listened to the description of only one of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper's room.

In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode and the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs. Philips a very attentive listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantlepiece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. The gentlemen did approach; and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the -----shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk, as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy uncle Philips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room.

Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, and on the probability of a rainy season, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.

With such rivals for the notice of the fair, as Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed likely to sink into insignificance; to the young ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind listener in Mrs. Philips, and was, by her watchfulness, most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin.

When the card tables were placed, he had an opportunity of obliging her in return, by sitting down to whist.

"I know little of the game, at present," said he, "but I shall be glad to improve myself, for in my situation of life --" Mrs. Philips was very thankful for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason.

Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes, to have attention for any one in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in an hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.

"About a month," said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, "He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand."

"Yes," replied Wickham; -- "his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself -- for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy."

Elizabeth could not but look surprised.

"You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. -- Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"

"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth warmly, -- "I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable."

"I have no right to give my opinion," said Wickham, "as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and to well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish -- and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. -- Here you are in your own family."

"Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Every body is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by any one."

"I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Wickham, after a short interruption, "that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts; but with him I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chuses to be seen."

"I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man." Wickham only shook his head.

"I wonder," said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, "whether he is likely to be in this country much longer."

"I do not at all know; but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the ----shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood."

"Oh! no -- it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim to all the world; a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him any thing and every thing, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the memory of his father."

Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented farther inquiry.

Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter especially, with gentle but very intelligible gallantry.

"It was the prospect of constant society, and good society," he added, "which was my chief inducement to enter the ----shire. I knew it to be a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me farther by his account of their present quarters, and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton had procured them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society. A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it eligible. The church ought to have been my profession -- I was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in possession of a most valuable living, had it pleased the gentleman we were speaking of just now."

"Indeed!"

"Yes -- the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me. I cannot do justice to his kindness. He meant to provide for me amply, and thought he had done it; but when the living fell, it was given elsewhere."

"Good heavens!" cried Elizabeth; "but how could that be? -- How could his will be disregarded? -- Why did not you seek legal redress?"

"There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest as to give me no hope from law. A man of honour could not have doubted the intention, but Mr. Darcy chose to doubt it -- or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence, in short any thing or nothing. Certain it is, that the living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no less certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done any thing to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper, and I may perhaps have sometimes spoken my opinion of him, and to him, too freely. I can recall nothing worse. But the fact is, that we are very different sort of men, and that he hates me."

"This is quite shocking! -- He deserves to be publicly disgraced."

"Some time or other he will be -- but it shall not be by me. Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose him."

Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him handsomer than ever as he expressed them.

"But what," said she after a pause, "can have been his motive? -- what can have induced him to behave so cruelly?"

"A thorough, determined dislike of me -- a dislike which I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me better; but his father's uncommon attachment to me, irritated him I believe very early in life. He had not a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood -- the sort of preference which was often given me."

"I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this -- though I have never liked him, I had not thought so very ill of him -- I had supposed him to be despising his fellow-creatures in general, but did not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as this!"

After a few minutes reflection, however, she continued, "I do remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability of his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His disposition must be dreadful."

"I will not trust myself on the subject," replied Wickham, "I can hardly be just to him."

Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time exclaimed, "To treat in such a manner, the godson, the friend, the favourite of his father!" -- She could have added, "A young man too, like you, whose very countenance may vouch for your being amiable" -- but she contented herself with "And one, too, who had probably been his own companion from childhood, connected together, as I think you said, in the closest manner!"

"We were born in the same parish, within the same park, the greatest part of our youth was passed together; inmates of the same house, sharing the same amusements, objects of the same parental care. My father began life in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Philips, appears to do so much credit to -- but he gave up every thing to be of use to the late Mr. Darcy, and devoted all his time to the care of the Pemberley property. He was most highly esteemed by Mr. Darcy, a most intimate, confidential friend. Mr. Darcy often acknowledged. himself to be under the greatest obligations to my father's active superintendance, and when immediately before my father's death, Mr. Darcy gave him a voluntary promise of providing for me, I am convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him, as of affection to myself."

"How strange!" cried Elizabeth. "How abominable! -- I wonder that the very pride of this Mr. Darcy has not made him just to you! -- If from no better motive, that he should not have been too proud to be dishonest, -- for dishonesty I must call it."

"It is wonderful," -- replied Wickham, -- "for almost all his actions may be traced to pride; -- and pride has often been his best friend. It has connected him nearer with virtue than any other feeling. But we are none of us consistent; and in his behaviour to me, there were stronger impulses even than pride."

"Can such abominable pride as his, have ever done him good?"

"Yes. It has often led him to be liberal and generous, -- to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor. Family pride, and filial pride, for he is very proud of what his father was, have done this. Not to appear to disgrace his family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful motive. He has also brotherly pride, which with some brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister; and you will hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers."

"What sort of a girl is Miss Darcy,?"

He shook his head. -- "I wish I could call her amiable. It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy. But she is too much like her brother, -- very, very proud. -- As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely fond of me; and I have devoted hours and hours to her amusement. But she is nothing to me now. She is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I understand, highly accomplished. Since her father's death, her home has been London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her education."

After many pauses and many trials of other subjects, Elizabeth could not help reverting once more to the first, and saying,

"I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley! How can Mr. Bingley, who seems good humour itself, and is, I really believe, truly amiable, be in friendship with such a man? How can they suit each other? -- Do you know Mr. Bingley?"

"Not at all."

"He is a sweet tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot know what Mr. Darcy is."

"Probably not; -- but Mr. Darcy can please where he chuses. He does not want abilities. He can be a conversible companion if he thinks it worth his while. Among those who are at all his equals in consequence, he is a very different man from what he is to the less prosperous. His pride never deserts him; but with the rich, he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, rational, honourable, and perhaps agreeable, -- allowing something for fortune and figure."

The whist party soon afterwards breaking up, the players gathered round the other table, and Mr. Collins took his station between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs. Philips. -- The usual inquiries as to his success were made by the latter. It had not been very great; he had lost every point; but when Mrs. Philips began to express her concern thereupon, he assured her with much earnest gravity that it was not of the least importance, that he considered the money as a mere trifle, and begged she would not make herself uneasy.

"I know very well, madam," said he, "that when persons sit down to a card table, they must take their chance of these things, -- and happily I am not in such circumstances as to make five shillings any object. There are undoubtedly many who could not say the same, but thanks to Lady Catherine de Bourgh, I am removed far beyond the necessity of regarding little matters."

Mr. Wickham's attention was caught; and after observing Mr. Collins for a few moments, he asked Elizabeth in a low voice whether her relation were very intimately acquainted with the family of de Bourgh.

"Lady Catherine de Bourgh," she replied, "has very lately given him a living. I hardly know how Mr. Collins was first introduced to her notice, but he certainly has not known her long."

"You know of course that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters; consequently that she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy."

"No, indeed, I did not. -- I knew nothing at all of Lady Catherine's connections. I never heard of her existence till the day before yesterday."

"Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh, will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates."

This information made Elizabeth smile, as she thought of poor Miss Bingley. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already self-destined to another.

"Mr. Collins," said she, "speaks highly both of Lady Catherine and her daughter; but from some particulars that he has related of her ladyship, I suspect his gratitude misleads him, and that in spite of her being his patroness, she is an arrogant, conceited woman."

"I believe her to be both in a great degree," replied Wickham; "I have not seen her for many years, but I very well remember that I never liked her, and that her manners were dictatorial and insolent. She has the reputation of being remarkably sensible and clever; but I rather believe she derives part of her abilities from her rank and fortune, part from her authoritative manner, and the rest from the pride of her nephew, who chuses that every one connected with him should have an understanding of the first class."

Elizabeth allowed that he had given a very rational account of it, and they continued talking together with mutual satisfaction till supper put an end to cards; and gave the rest of the ladies their share of Mr. Wickham's attentions. There could be no conversation in the noise of Mrs. Philips's supper party, but his manners recommended him to every body. Whatever he said, was said well; and whatever he did, done gracefully. Elizabeth went away with her head full of him. She could think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham, and of what he had told her, all the way home; but there was not time for her even to mention his name as they went, for neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins were once silent. Lydia talked incessantly of lottery tickets, of the fish she had lost and the fish she had won, and Mr. Collins, in describing the civility of Mr. and Mrs. Philips, protesting that he did not in the least regard his losses at whist, enumerating all the dishes at supper, and repeatedly fearing that he crouded his cousins, had more to say than he could well manage before the carriage stopped at Longbourn House.

--正文

老两口子没反对姑娘们和姨妈吃晚饭，柯林斯觉得将本内特夫妇留在家里过意不去，但是他们坚持说没有关系，他的顾虑也就被打消了。差不多到点的时候，马车把柯林斯和五个堂妹一起载去了梅屯。到了地方，进了客厅，姑娘们就高兴地听说：维克汉姆也接受了叔叔的邀请，而且此时人正在屋里。

听说这个消息的时候，他们都已经坐好了，柯林斯正不慌不忙的打量着周围，眼里充满了羡慕。他看到这个公寓的大小，以及房子里的家具，无一处没留下深刻的印象。他断言说坐这儿，恍惚间有种在罗星庄园吃早饭的客厅里的感觉。这话听着倒让人开心不起来。但是菲利普太太听完柯林斯解释了罗星庄园是什么，它的主人是谁，听说描述了凯瑟琳夫人的客厅之一长什么样子，又听说了屋里一个壁炉架就花了八百磅之后，她感觉到了这个夸奖的分量。现在就算柯林斯拿这房子跟罗星大庄园管家的房间相比，她也不会觉得讨厌了。

柯林斯夸着凯瑟琳夫人如何伟大，她家房子如何富丽堂皇，时不时也岔开夸夸自己的住处，说自己的房子最近也在装修，正不断改善。他就这么开心的一直说，直到后来男客们都加入了他们才停下来。柯林斯发现菲利普太太听得很用心，而且听他描述的越多，对他就越敬重。而且她打算一有机会，就要把听到的这些，一五一十的都告诉周围的邻居们。对于姑娘们来说，这位堂哥的话题真是没有吸引力，她们心不在焉的把玩壁炉架上的瓷器，此刻只想找个乐器打发下时间。等待的时间总是很漫长。终于，男人们都过来了。维克汉姆一进屋，像之前那次见到他一样，以后也是一样，伊丽莎白并没有觉得疯狂喜欢上他。这个郡里的军官整体上都是些名声好的绅士，而他们中最好的几个今晚都在这里。而维克汉姆和其他几个军官，在身材，长相，气质和走路的姿势方面的差距，就像其他几个军官和自己死板的胖舅舅之间的差距那么大。胖舅舅一身酒气，刚才也跟军官们一起进来了。

维克汉姆很开心，而几乎所有在场的女人都在盯着他。维克汉姆最终选择了坐在伊丽莎白旁边，这让她心里一阵窃喜。维克汉姆很快就和她聊了起来，虽然只是说了些今晚很潮湿，可能马上就要到雨季了之类的话题，但是他聊天的方式很讨喜，伊丽莎白觉得就算最普通，无聊老套的话题也会被眼前这个男人说得很有意思。（译者：肤浅的女人！就是看脸！）

在竞争美人垂青的路上，因为维克汉姆和其他军官这样的劲敌，柯林斯变得无足轻重了起来。对于年轻的姑娘们来说，他肯定算不上什么。但是他还是时不时听菲利普太太聊两句，而菲利普太太则热心的给他递了很多咖啡和松糕。

牌桌摆好后，柯林斯礼尚往来，在牌桌坐下玩Whist纸牌.(18，19世纪英国流行的一种纸牌，详细玩法参见：https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whist)

“我不太玩这种牌，”他说，“但是我很高兴能跟提升下自己水平，因为在我一生中...”菲利普太太十分感谢他的赞美，并迫不及待的等他说下去。

维克汉姆则没有在whist那桌玩，而是被伊丽莎白和莉迪亚那桌开心的接待了。刚开始的时候，因为莉迪亚一直滔滔不绝得说，维克汉姆的注意力完全被莉迪亚吸引了，这对伊丽莎白有些不利。但是莉迪亚同样也很喜欢打牌，很快她就完全投入到打牌中去了。焦急的下注，赢了就大呼小叫，以至于没精力特别关注一个人。维克汉姆从容不迫地应付着牌局，因此不慌不忙地跟伊丽莎白聊天，伊丽莎白也确实很乐意听他说。尽管她主要是想听达西和他之间的故事，但是又觉得他不会说。她甚至都不敢提达西这个人。但是出乎意料，维克汉姆满足了她的好奇心，他自己聊起了这个话题。他问起耐热屯和蘑菇屯之间有多远。伊丽莎白回答完后，他又有些犹豫地问达西在耐热屯住了多久了。

“大概一个月，”伊丽莎白回复说，她又希望接着聊这个话题，就补充说，“我了解到在德比希尔，他有片很大的地产。”

“是啊，”维克汉姆回答说，”那家伙可不一般，您别说，一年整整一万磅收入。没有人会比我更了解这些了，我从小就跟他们家关系特殊。“

伊丽莎白十分惊讶。

“惊讶是很正常的，本内特小姐，尤其是你看到我们昨天见面时候冷冰冰的样子，我还说我们关系特殊呢。你跟达西很熟吗？”

“就那样吧，”伊丽莎白开心的说，“我之前跟他在个房子里待过四天，我觉得这个人很讨厌。”

“我没权利评价，”维克汉姆说，“他讨厌还是不讨厌。我没有资格给出意见。我认识他太久了，太了解他了，恐怕没法给出公正的意见。对我来说不偏袒他是不可能的。但你对他的看法还是挺令我惊讶的。不过可能因为在你家的缘故，在其他地方你可能就不会那么直接的说了。”

“这话撂这儿了（译者：笑），在蘑菇屯这一带我到哪儿都这么说，当然了在他们耐热屯除外。就算在赫特福德郡，也没人喜欢他。每个人都不喜欢他的傲慢。我这么说都算是好的了，你可找不到比这说得更温和了。”

跟人简单说了几句话后，维克汉姆接着说：“说句不违心的话，不论是达西，还是别人都不应该被人过誉。但是对于达西来说，他应该很少被过誉。这个世界都被他的财产给蒙蔽了，被他那高大威风的姿态给吓到了，所以只会顺着他的心意看待他。”

“虽然我们两个不熟，他确实是个坏脾气的人。”维克汉姆摇摇头说。

又过了一会，维克汉姆找到个说话的机会，“我想知道，达西会不会在国内待很久？”

“我不知道啊，在耐热屯的时候我没听说他要走。我希望他待在这儿，可别把你的任职影响了。”

“不会，绝对不会，要走也不是我走啊。要是达西不想见到我，那也是他走。我们俩关系不咋样，而且我每次见到他总是很难受。但是因为之前的经历，确实让我不想见到他。他性格傲慢，对我残暴虐待，给我造成了巨大的痛苦。本内特小姐，老达西先生，就是他老爸，那可是个位好先生，他也是我的好朋友。而现在这位达西先生，我每次跟他在一起，都会唤起我无数痛苦的回忆。他对我可谓是残暴至极。但我还是真心相信能原谅他任何事情。而不是像他那样让自己老爸失望，让他蒙羞。”

伊丽莎白觉得这个话题越聊越带劲，听得全神贯注的。但是碍于情面，又不好意思追问。

维克汉姆又开始说到其它话题，什么梅屯，周围的街坊，社会啊，周围的一起看起来都让他很满意。特别是说到社会问题的时候，他说得非常明白而且殷勤。

“我主要是因为这个地界都是些上流人士，才来到这个郡的。我知道这个部队广受尊敬，受人喜爱。我朋友丹尼为了劝我到这儿来，又告诉我这儿的营房有多么漂亮，梅屯有多么欢迎他们，在这儿有很多绝佳的朋友。而朋友对我来说很重要。我之前是个失意的人，无法忍受孤独。朋友和工作对我不可或缺。之前我无意过行伍生活，但现在来看这份工作正合适。我本来应该是做个牧师的，我从小就是被往牧师方向培养的。我要是之前博得了达西先生的欢心，我现在也该是个高贵的牧师了。“

”确实。“

”是的，之前老达西先生说是牧师一职有空缺，就要传给我作为礼物。他是我的教父，跟我关系很紧密。他对我的好我怎么也说不完。他本意是要给我富足的工作，而且以为这事已经办妥了。可等他过世之后，却被给了别人。“

”老天爷，“伊丽莎白吃惊的说，”怎么会这样？怎么他同意的事情又被改了？你怎么不诉诸法律呢？“

“老达西先生只是口头说，并没有正式写成文件，所以没法诉诸法律。但是任何有荣誉感的人，是不会质疑老爷子的意思的，但是达西先生质疑了，或者说把这事说成是条件合适才推荐我过去。他还说我言行放纵，行为轻浮，因此丧失了所有继承的权力。两年前，这个职位确实空缺出来了，我当时年纪刚好能够胜任。但是这工作还是被给了别人。我十分确信，我没有做什么对不起人的事情，以至于遭此大厄，丢掉了这份工作。我自认脾气温和，也许是有时候太过口无遮拦，随意评价他了。但是除此之外，真的没做过啥过分的事情。事实是我们是非常不同的两种人，他也因此而恨我。”

“这真是闻所未闻！他可真该被当众羞辱！”

“以后也许会吧，但是不会是我羞辱他。除非哪天我能忘了老达西先生对我的恩情，我是不会揭发他，与他作对的。”

维克汉姆说的这些，让伊丽莎白更加尊敬他了，而且在她的眼里似乎这个男人的长相都变得更帅了一些。

顿了一会，伊丽莎白又问道：“他为什么要这么做呢？什么会让他那么冷酷？”

“就是单纯的讨厌我呗，我只能单纯的认为他这是出于嫉妒。要是老达西先生当初少喜欢我一点，他儿子也许会对我好一些。但是他老爹对我不同寻常的偏爱，在很小的时候应该就惹恼了他。我们的这场竞争，他的脾气是没法承受的，因为他老爸总是偏爱我多一些。”

“我没想到达西会恶劣至此。尽管我从没喜欢过他，我也没把他往坏处想。我之前只是觉得他看不起人，没想到他竟然能坏到如此恶毒的报复别人，如此不公正的对待别人，如此缺乏人性。”

回想了一会，她又说：“我倒是记得在耐热屯那时候，有天他自吹说，跟人结了仇就没法消解，说自己不会原谅人什么的。他的性格可真是糟透了。”

“这话题我可不敢聊，我一聊肯定要说他坏话。”维克汉姆说。

伊丽莎白又陷入了沉思，过了会又大声说了句：“这样对待一个他父亲最爱的孩子、教子和朋友。”她本来想说，“像你这样的年轻人，长得那么英俊，肯定是个温和的人。”但想了想，还是说，“而且你还是从小就跟他一起长大的朋友，就像你说得，关系一直很紧密。”

“我们是一个教区的老乡，一个公园的老乡，年轻时的大部分时间我们都待在一起。住在一个房子里，分享着同样的乐器，被同样的父母带大。我的父亲早先跟你的姨叔菲利普一样，是个律师，但是他放弃了这些就为了能好好服侍老达西先生。他把自己的一生都花在照料彭伯里的财产上面。老达西先生非常尊重他，我父亲是老达西先生最亲密的心腹朋友。我父亲尽心尽力的照料彭伯里的财产，老达西先生就觉得自己亏钱他。所以在我父亲死前不久，老达西先生就主动允诺说要养活我，我觉得他这么做一方面是处于还债心理，另一方面也出于对我的喜爱。”

“真奇怪！”伊丽莎白说，“真恶心！我估计达西是因为自尊心太强才没有公正对待你，如果找不到更好理由的话。但是，他自尊心要是这么强的话，这不该这么阴险啊，这就是阴险。”

“说得太好了！”维克汉姆说，“他的所有行为都可以被归结为傲慢上面。而傲慢一直是他最好的朋友。傲慢就是他性格最大的特点。但是人无完人，我们身上也是充满矛盾。而至于他对我的行为，我觉得里面冲动比傲慢更多一些。”

“像他这种让人讨厌的傲慢，对他可曾有过什么好处？”

“有的，这常常让他比较慷慨大方。他总是会请客吃饭，资助些租户，救济些穷人。这是家族的脸面，还有他自己的脸面让他这么做的。他对自己的父亲十分自豪。为了不给家族丢人，为了不失去这一片的名声，为了不让彭伯里庄园失去影响力，他选择这么做。他还有些作为哥哥的自尊，或者作为哥哥的感情，就是说他很关心照顾自己的妹妹。你到哪都能听到别人张个大嘴，到处说达西是个多么会照顾人，多么好的哥哥。”

“达西小姐是个什么样的姑娘？”

他摇了摇头，说“”我希望可以说她人挺温和。我也不喜欢说达西家的人坏话。但是她太像他哥了，自尊心特别，特别强。小时候，她惹人喜爱而且让人开心，而且很喜欢我。我也花了很多时间和她一起玩。但是现在她对我来说啥都不是了。她很漂亮，大约十五六岁，而且挺有才华的。自从她父亲去世，她一直跟位夫人一起住在伦敦，这位夫人负责教育她。“

随后又是聊聊停停，又是换了很多话题，但是伊丽莎白忍不住绕回到最开始的话题：”我现在真是惊讶他跟达西能玩到一起去！达西这么名副其实好脾气的先生，能跟达西这样的人做朋友？这两人怎么玩到一起去的？你知道宾利先生么？“

”未曾耳闻。“

”他性格温和，还很有魅力。但是他不知道达西实际上是个什么人。“

”可能是不知道。但是达西有时候来了兴致也挺讨人喜欢。这种事他也天生擅长。他要是觉得你值得花时间，他也可以是相当健谈的。在跟他一样有钱的人面前，和没他那么有钱的人面前，他可是两个不同的人。毕竟是傲慢老弟。但是和有钱人在一起的时候，他就思路开阔，真诚理性，很有荣誉感。甚至可以说讨喜，这是看在人家钱财地位的面子上。“

whist牌局很快结束了，其它人都聚在另外一张桌子前，柯林斯坐在了伊丽莎白和菲利普太太中间。菲利普太太热心的问他手气怎么样，结果并不太好。柯林斯差不多把点数输光了。菲利普太太连忙表达了关心。但是柯林斯郑重地跟她担保这不算什么事情。他觉得钱都是小事，请求她千万别因此心乱。

”我明白的，菲利普太太，人坐到牌桌前就应该做好输钱的准备。幸亏我不需要在意5先令这种小数目。这可得感谢卡瑟林夫人，多亏了她我才不用在意这些小事情。“

维克汉姆一下注意到了，他观察了柯林斯一会，然后低声问伊丽莎白，他跟德包尔家族是不是关系很紧密？

”卡瑟林夫人最近给了他份工作。我不知道之前柯林斯是怎么被引荐给卡瑟林夫人认识的，但是他们刚认识不久。“

”你肯定知道，卡瑟林.德.包尔夫人和安.达西夫人是亲姐妹。所以说，卡瑟林夫人是达西先生的小姨。“

”我确实不知道，我不清楚卡瑟林夫人的亲戚关系。我直到前天才第一次听说她。“

”她的女儿，德.包尔小姐，将来会继承一大笔财产，大家都说她将来可能会跟姨哥结婚，两家资产合并起来。“

伊丽莎白一听，想起了可怜的宾利小姐，忍不住笑了起来。如果达西决意跟德包尔小姐结婚，那么她之前的努力就都徒劳了，她对达西妹妹的喜爱也无用了，她夸奖达西的那些话也都是顺水东流了。

”柯林斯先生，“伊丽莎白说，”之前对卡瑟林夫人和她的女儿真是赞不绝口。但考虑到他最近刚受了卡瑟林夫人恩惠，我怀疑他的感激误导了他，实际上尽管她是柯林斯的赞助人，但她其实是个无知，自负的女人。“

”我觉得这两点你说在了点子上，“维克汉姆回复说，”我有几年没见过她了，但我还是记得之前从来不喜欢她，她这个人盛气凌人，又傲慢无礼。她有个聪明又明事理的好名声。但是我宁愿相信别人之所以这么夸她，部分因为她有权有势，部分因为她盛气凌人，又加上她有这么个骄傲的姨侄儿，只跟上流社会的人打交道。"

伊丽莎白承认他这份总结说得有道理，两人互相满意地聊到了牌局结束了，吃晚饭的时候才停。然后伊丽莎白就让其她姑娘们也分享下维克汉姆的注意力。菲利普太太的晚餐上太过吵闹，基本是没法聊天的，但是他的风度仍然让每个人都乐意结识他。他说啥，啥说得好。他做啥，啥做得优雅。伊丽莎白走的时候，满脑子都是他。回去的路上，她的大脑此刻是空的，里面全是维克汉姆，还有他跟她说的话。走的时候她都没机会叫一下他，因为莉迪亚和柯林斯就没有消停过一次。莉迪亚一直在说牌局，她输掉的那些鱼，她赢得那些鱼。（翻译官：别问我，我也不知道啥意思，想知道玩法去看上面的链接。）而柯林斯则在说菲利普先生和太太有多么好客，还说自己一点不在意输的那点钱，同时又在挨个说晚上的菜。此外又反复说害怕挤到了堂妹们，他要说的话太多，直到四轮马车在蘑菇屯的房子前停下来，还没说完。