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第79章（第1页）

ThetwogentlemenleftRosingsthenextmorning，andMr.Collinshavingbeeninwaitingnearthelodges，tomakethemhispartingobeisance，wasabletobringhomethepleasingintelligence，oftheirappearinginverygoodhealth，andinastolerablespiritsascouldbeexpected，afterthemelancholyscenesolatelygonethroughatRosings.ToRosingshethenhastened，toconsoleLadyCatherineandherdaughter;andonhisreturnbroughtback，withgreatsatisfaction，amessagefromherladyship，importingthatshefeltherselfsodullastomakeherverydesirousofhavingthemalltodinewithher.

ElizabethcouldnotseeLadyCatherinewithoutrecollectingthat，hadshechosenit，shemightbythistimehavebeenpresentedtoherasherfutureniece;norcouldshethink，withoutasmile，ofwhatherladyshipsindignationwouldhavebeen.“Whatwouldshehavesaid?howwouldshehavebehaved?”

werequestionswithwhichsheamusedherself.

TheirfirstsubjectwasthediminutionoftheRosingsparty.“Iassureyou，Ifeelitexceedingly，”

saidLadyCatherine;“IbelievenoonefeelsthelossoffriendssomuchasIdo.ButIamparticularlyattachedtotheseyoungmen，andknowthemtobesomuchattachedtome!Theywereexcessivelysorrytogo!Butsotheyalwaysare.ThedearColonelralliedhisspiritstolerablytilljustatlast;butDarcyseemedtofeelitmostacutely，more，Ithink，thanlastyear.HisattachmenttoRosingscertainlyincreases.”

Mr.Collinshadacompliment，andanallusiontothrowinhere，whichwerekindlysmiledonbythemotheranddaughter.

LadyCatherineobserved，afterdinner，thatMissBennetseemedoutofspirits，andimmediatelyaccountingforitbyherself，bysupposingthatshedidnotliketogohomeagainsosoon，sheadded:

“Butifthatisthecase，youmustwritetoyourmotherandbegthatyoumaystayalittlelonger.Mrs.Collinswillbeverygladofyourcompany，Iamsure.”

“Iammuchobligedtoyourladyshipforyourkindinvitation，”

repliedElizabeth，“butitisnotinmypowertoacceptit.ImustbeintownnextSaturday.”

“Why，atthatrate，youwillhavebeenhereonlysixweeks.Iexpectedyoutostaytwomonths.ItoldMrs.Collinssobeforeyoucame.Therecanbenooccasionforyourgoingsosoon.Mrs.Bennetcouldcertainlyspareyouforanotherfortnight.”

“Butmyfathercannot.Hewrotelastweektohurrymyreturn.”

“Oh!yourfatherofcoursemayspareyou，ifyourmothercan.Daughtersareneverofsomuchconsequencetoafather.Andifyouwillstayanothermonthcomplete，itwillbeinmypowertotakeoneofyouasfarasLondon，forIamgoingthereearlyinJune，foraweek;andasDawsondoesnotobjecttothebarouche-box，therewillbeverygoodroomforoneofyou—andindeed，iftheweathershouldhappentobecool，Ishouldnotobjecttotakingyouboth，asyouareneitherofyoularge.”

“Youareallkindness，madam;butIbelievewemustabidebyouroriginalplan.”

LadyCatherineseemedresigned.“Mrs.Collins，youmustsendaservantwiththeYouknowIalwaysspeakmymind，andIcannotbeartheideaoftwoyoungwomentravellingpostbythemselves.Itishighlyimproper.Youmustcontrivetosendsomebody.Ihavethegreatestdislikeintheworldtothatsortofthing.Youngwomenshouldalwaysbeproperlyguardedandattended，accordingtotheirsituationinlife.WhenmynieceGeorgianawenttoRamsgatelastsummer，Imadeapointofherhavingtwomen-servantsgowithher.MissDarcy，thedaughterofMr.Darcy，ofPemberley，andLadyAnne，couldnothaveappearedwithproprietyinadifferentmanner.Iamexcessivelyattentivetoallthosethings.YoumustsendJohnwiththeyoungladies，Mrs.Collins.Iamgladitoccurredtometomentionit;foritwouldreallybediscreditabletoyoutoletthemgoalone.”

“Myuncleistosendaservantforus.”