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The day came when Elizabeth and the Lucases were to leave for London, on the way to visit Charlotte in Kent.
The distance to London was only twenty-four miles, and they began it early so as to arrive in Gracechurch Street by noon.
As they drove to Mr. Gardiner’s door, Jane was at a window waiting for their arrival.
When they came in, she was there to welcome them.
Elizabeth, looking eagerly in her face, was pleased to see she looked as healthy and lovely as ever.
Elizabeth then found an excuse to sit by her aunt.
Their first subject to discuss was her sister.
Elizabeth was more upset than surprised to hear that, although Jane always struggled to stay happy, there were still periods of sadness.
Mrs. Gardiner then comforted her niece on the topic of Mr. Wickham’s new love interest, and complimented(讚揚) her on dealing with it so well.
Before they were interrupted by others, she had the unexpected happiness of receiving an invitation to go with her uncle and aunt on a vacation tour,
which they planned to take in the summer.
“We have not decided how far we will go,” said Mrs. Gardiner,
“but, perhaps, to the Lake District.”
No plan could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and she gratefully accepted the invitation.
“Oh, my dear, dear aunt,” she joyously cried,
“what joy! What happiness!
Who can care about young men when surrounded(包圍) by rocks and mountains?”
Everything on the next day’s journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth.
She was in a particularly good mood(心情), because she had seen her sister, and the thought of her and the Gardiners’ tour to the north gave her constant delight.
Eventually Mr. Collins’s house came into view.
Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at the small gate which led by a short gravel(用碎石鋪的) path to the house.
Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the warmest pleasure, and Elizabeth was happy that she had come when she found herself so affectionately greeted.
After showing her every piece of furniture in the house, Mr. Collins invited them to take a walk through the garden, which was large and well laid out, and which he took care of himself.
From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them to walk around his two meadows(草地).
The ladies, however, did not have the proper shoes for walking through the white frost(霜) which still remained, and turned back.
Charlotte took her friend over to the house, and was extremely well pleased to have the opportunity of showing it.
It was rather small, but well-built and convenient(方便的).
There was really a sense of great comfort throughout(全部), and Elizabeth noticed how Charlotte had cleverly arranged the house so that she and her husband hardly ever met during the day.
Elizabeth had already been told that Lady Catherine was still in the country.
It was mentioned again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins remarked:
“Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honor of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh next Sunday at church.
I am sure you will be delighted with her.
She is very courteous and civil.”
“Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible(明智的) woman indeed,” added Charlotte, “and quite an attentive(細心的) neighbor.”
“Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say.
She is the sort of woman whom one cannot think of with too much respect.”
The following morning, Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune.
Charlotte explained that they had all been invited to dine at Rosings, Lady Catherine’s house, the next day.
Mr. Collins felt very proud of this invitation.
He would now be able to display(展示) the magnificence(高貴) of his patroness(女資助人) to his admiring visitors, and to let them see her civility toward himself and his wife, which was exactly what he had wished for.
Hardly any subject except for their visit to Rosings was discussed for the whole day.
Mr. Collins carefully instructed them about what they were to expect.
He warned that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner, might completely overpower(征服) them.
As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park.
When they climbed the steps to the hall, Elizabeth’s courage did not fail her.
She had not heard that Lady Catherine was known for any extraordinary talents or virtue(優點), and she would not be unduly impressed solely(單獨地) by status or riches.
From the entrance-hall(門廊), they followed the servants to the room where Lady Catherine and her daughter were sitting.
Her ladyship(夫人), with a look of great pride, stood to welcome them.
After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view.
Lady Catherine kindly informed them that it was much more worth looking at in the summer.
The dinner was exceedingly(極其) splendid, and there were all the servants and all the dishes that a lady of such status might require.
Every dish was praised so highly by Mr. Collins that Elizabeth wondered if even Lady Catherine might think his praise too much.
But Lady Catherine seemed pleased by the excessive(極度的) admiration, and gave very courteous smiles.
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