Part 11: Lady Catherine
Elizabeth travels to Kent to stay with newlyweds Mister Collins and Charlotte. She is invited to dine at Rosings Park – where she finally meets the great Lady Catherine and her rather sickly daughter.
伊丽莎白前往肯特郡，跟新婚夫妇柯林斯先生和夏洛特待在一起。她被邀请到罗辛斯庄园用餐----在那里，她终于见到了伟大的凯瑟琳夫人和她体弱多病的女儿。
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Their conversation – from chapter 29 – willbe our reading today.
(READING)
In spite of having been at St. James's, SirWilliam was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had butjust courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying aword; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge ofher chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equalto the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. LadyCatherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which mightonce have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner ofreceiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She wasnot rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in soauthoritative a tone, as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickhamimmediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the dayaltogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he represented.
When, after examining the mother, in whosecountenance and deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, sheturned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria'sastonishment at her being so thin and so small. There was neither in figure norface any likeness between the ladies. Miss de Bourgh was pale and sickly; herfeatures, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little,except in a low voice, to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was nothingremarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, andplacing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes.
After sitting a few minutes, they were allsent to one of the windows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them topoint out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it wasmuch better worth looking at in the summer.
The dinner was exceedingly handsome, andthere were all the servants and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins hadpromised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom ofthe table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life couldfurnish nothing greater. He carved, and ate, and praised with delightedalacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him and then by Sir William,who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son-in-law said, in a mannerwhich Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemedgratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles,especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party didnot supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there wasan opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss de Bourgh—the formerof whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not aword to her all dinner-time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watchinghow little Miss de Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearingshe was indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and thegentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.
When the ladies returned to the drawing-room,there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she didwithout any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on everysubject in so decisive a manner, as proved that she was not used to have herjudgement controverted. She inquired into Charlotte's domestic concernsfamiliarly and minutely, gave her a great deal of advice as to the managementof them all; told her how everything ought to be regulated in so small a familyas hers, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry.
Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath thisgreat lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictatingto others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed avariety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, ofwhose connections she knew the least, and who she observed to Mrs. Collins wasa very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her, at different times, howmany sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whetherany of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where theyhad been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been hermother's maiden name? Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions butanswered them very composedly. Lady Catherine then observed,
"Your father's estate is entailed on Mr.Collins, I think. For your sake," turning to Charlotte, "I am glad ofit; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line.It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. Do you play andsing, Miss Bennet?"
"A little."
"Oh! then—some time or other we shall behappy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to——Youshall try it some day. Do your sisters play and sing?"
"One of them does."
"Why did not you all learn? You oughtall to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so goodan income as yours. Do you draw?"
"No, not at all."
"What, none of you?"
"Not one."
"That is very strange. But I suppose youhad no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring forthe benefit of masters."
"My mother would have had no objection,but my father hates London."
"Has your governess left you?"
"We never had any governess."
"No governess! How was that possible?Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such athing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education."
Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as sheassured her that had not been the case.
"Then, who taught you? who attended toyou? Without a governess, you must have been neglected."
"Compared with some families, I believewe were; but such of us as wished to learn never wanted the means. We werealways encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Thosewho chose to be idle, certainly might."
"Aye, no doubt; but that is what agoverness will prevent, and if I had known your mother, I should have advisedher most strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done ineducation without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governesscan give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means ofsupplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out.Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means;and it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who wasmerely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted withher. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalf's calling yesterday to thankme? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. 'Lady Catherine,' said she, 'you have givenme a treasure.' Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?"
"Yes, ma'am, all."
"All! What, all five out at once? Veryodd! And you only the second. The younger ones out before the elder ones aremarried! Your younger sisters must be very young?"
"Yes, my youngest is not sixteen.Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really,ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should nothave their share of society and amusement, because the elder may not have themeans or inclination to marry early. The last-born has as good a right to thepleasures of youth as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! I think it would not be very likely topromote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind."
"Upon my word," said her ladyship,"you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. Pray, what isyour age?"
"With three younger sisters grownup," replied Elizabeth, smiling, "your ladyship can hardly expect meto own it."
Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at notreceiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the firstcreature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence.
"You cannot be more than twenty, I amsure, therefore you need not conceal your age."
"I am not one-and-twenty."
When the gentlemen had joined them, and teawas over, the card-tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. andMrs. Collins sat down to quadrille; and as Miss de Bourgh chose to play atcassino, the two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make upher party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable wasuttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressedher fears of Miss de Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much ortoo little light. A great deal more passed at the other table. Lady Catherinewas generally speaking—stating the mistakes of the three others, or relatingsome anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to everything herladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, and apologising if hethought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing hismemory with anecdotes and noble names.
(END READING)
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