"I HOPE my dear," said Mr. Bennet to his wife as they were at breakfast the next morning, "that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party."
第二天吃過早飯的時候,班納特先生對他的太太說:“我的好太太,我希望你今天的午飯準(zhǔn)備得好一些,因為我預(yù)料今天一定有客人來?!?
"Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home."
“你指的是那一位客人,我的好老爺?我一些也不知道有誰要來,除非夏綠蒂·盧卡斯碰巧會來看我們,我覺得拿我們平常的飯餐招待她也夠好了。我不相信她在家里經(jīng)常吃得這么好。”
"The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger."
“我所說到的這位客人是位男賓,又是個生客?!?/P>
Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. -- "A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. Why Jane -- you never dropt a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. -- But -- good lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment."
班納特太太的眼睛閃亮了起來?!耙晃荒匈e又是一位生客!那準(zhǔn)是彬格萊先生,沒有錯。──哦,吉英,你從來沒出過半點(diǎn)兒風(fēng)聲,你這個狡猾的東西!──嘿,彬格萊先生要來,真叫我太高興啦??墒签ぉだ咸鞝斞剑∵\(yùn)氣真不好,今天連一點(diǎn)兒魚也買不著。──麗迪雅寶貝兒,代我按一按鈴。我要馬上吩咐希爾一下。”
"It is not Mr. Bingley," said her husband; "it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life."
她的丈夫連忙說:“并不是彬格萊先生要來;說起這位客人,我一生都沒見過他?!?/P>
This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.
這句話叫全家都吃了一驚。他的太太和五個女兒立刻迫切地追問他,使他頗為高興。
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained. "About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases."
拿他太太和女兒們的好奇心打趣了一陣以后,他便原原本本地說:“大約在一個月以前,我就收到了一封信,兩星期以前我寫了回信,因為我覺得這是件相當(dāng)傷腦筋的事,得趁早留意。信是我的表侄柯林斯先生寄來的。我死了以后,這位表侄可以高興什么時候把你們攆出這所屋子,就什么時候攆出去?!?/P>
"Oh! my dear," cried his wife, "I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it."
“噢,天啊,”他的太太叫起來了。“聽你提起這件事我就受不了。請你別談那個討厭的家伙吧。你自己的產(chǎn)業(yè)不能讓自己的孩子繼承,卻要讓別人來繼承,這是世界上最難堪的事。如果我是你,一定早就想出辦法來補(bǔ)救這個問題啦?!?/P>