THE Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again during the chief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. "It keeps him in good humour," said she, "and I am more obliged to you than I can express." Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; -- its object was nothing less than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself.
這一天班納特全家都被盧卡斯府上請(qǐng)去吃飯，又多蒙盧卡斯小姐一片好意，整日陪著柯林斯先生談話。伊麗莎白利用了一個(gè)機(jī)會(huì)向她道謝。她說(shuō)：“這樣可以叫他精神痛快些，我對(duì)你真是說(shuō)不盡的感激。”夏綠蒂說(shuō)，能夠替朋友效勞，非常樂(lè)意，雖然花了一點(diǎn)時(shí)間，卻得到了很大的快慰。這真是太好了；可是夏綠蒂的好意，遠(yuǎn)非伊麗莎白所能意料；原來(lái)夏綠蒂是有意要盡量逗引柯林斯先生跟她自己談話，免得他再去向伊麗莎白獻(xiàn)殷勤。
Such was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so favourable that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost sure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here, she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet.
她這個(gè)計(jì)謀看來(lái)進(jìn)行得十分順利。晚上大家分手的時(shí)候，夏綠蒂幾乎滿有把握地感覺(jué)到，要不是柯林斯先生這么快就要離開(kāi)哈福德郡，事情一定能成功。但是她這樣的想法，未免太不了解他那如火如荼、獨(dú)斷獨(dú)行的性格。且說(shuō)第二天一大早，柯林斯就采用了相當(dāng)狡猾的辦法，溜出了浪博恩，趕到盧家莊來(lái)向她屈身求愛(ài)。
He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success could be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. His reception however was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there.
他唯恐給表妹們碰到了，他認(rèn)為，假若讓她們看見(jiàn)他走開(kāi)，那就必定會(huì)讓她們猜中他的打算，而他不等到事情有了成功的把握，決不愿意讓人家知道。雖說(shuō)他當(dāng)場(chǎng)看到夏綠蒂對(duì)他頗有情意，因此覺(jué)得這事十拿九穩(wěn)可以成功，可是從星期三那場(chǎng)冒險(xiǎn)以來(lái)，他究竟不敢太魯莽了。不過(guò)人家倒很巴結(jié)地接待了他。盧卡斯小姐從樓上窗口看見(jiàn)他向她家里走來(lái)，便連忙到那條小道上去接他，又裝出是偶然相逢的樣子。她萬(wàn)萬(wàn)想不到，柯林斯這一次竟然給她帶來(lái)了說(shuō)不盡的千情萬(wàn)愛(ài)。
In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house, he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waved for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained.
在短短的一段時(shí)間里，柯林斯先生說(shuō)了多多少少的話，于是兩人之間便一切都講妥了，而且雙方都很滿意。一走進(jìn)屋子，他就誠(chéng)懇地要求她擇定吉日，使他成為世界上最幸福的人，雖說(shuō)這種請(qǐng)求，暫應(yīng)該置之不理，可是這位小姐并不想要拿他的幸福當(dāng)兒戲。他天生一副蠢相，求起愛(ài)來(lái)總是打動(dòng)不了女人的心，女人一碰到他求愛(ài)，總是請(qǐng)他碰壁。盧卡斯小姐所以愿意答應(yīng)他，完全是為了財(cái)產(chǎn)打算，至于那筆財(cái)產(chǎn)何年何月可以拿到手，她倒不在乎。
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