DURING dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank -- such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen any thing but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage; where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself, -- some shelves in the closets up stairs.
吃饭的时候,班纳特先生几乎一句话也没有说;可是等到佣人们走开以后,他就想道,现在可以跟这位客人谈谈了。他料想到,如果一开头就谈到咖苔琳夫人身上去,这位贵客一定会笑逐颜开的,于是他便拿这个话题做开场白,说是柯林斯先生有了那样一个女施主,真是幸运极了,又说咖苔琳·德·包尔夫人对他这样言听计从,而且极其周到地照顾到他生活方面的安适,真是十分难得。班纳特先生这个话题选得再好也没有了。柯林斯先生果然滔滔不绝地赞美起那位夫人来。这个问题一谈开了头,他本来的那种严肃态度便显得更严肃了,他带着非常自负的神气说,他一辈子也没有看到过任何有身价地位的人,能够象咖苔琳夫人那样的有德行,那样的亲切谦和。他很荣幸,曾经当着她的面讲过两次道,多蒙夫人垂爱,对他那两次讲道赞美不绝。夫人曾经请他到罗新斯去吃过两次饭,上星期六晚上还请他到她家里去打过“夸锥”。据他所知,多少人都认为咖苔琳夫人为人骄傲,可是他只觉得亲切。她平常跟他攀谈起来,总是把他当作一个有身份的人看待。她丝毫不反对他和邻居们来往,也不反对他偶而离开教区一两个星期,去拜望拜望亲友们。多蒙她体恤下情,曾经亲自劝他及早结婚,只要他能够谨慎选择对象。她还到他的寒舍去拜访过一次,对于他住宅所有经过他整修过的地方都十分赞成,并且蒙她亲自赐予指示,叫他把楼上的璧橱添置几个架子。

"That is all very proper and civil I am sure," said Mrs. Bennet, "and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?"
班纳特太太说:“我相信这一切都做得很得体,很有礼貌,我看她一定是个和颜悦色的女人。可惜一般贵夫人们都比不上她。她住的地方离你很近吗,先生?”

"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence."
“寒舍那个花园跟她老夫人住的罗新斯花园,只隔着一条胡同。”

"I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?"
“你说她是个寡妇吗,先生?她还有家属吗?”

"She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property."
“她只有一个女儿,──也就是罗新斯的继承人,将来可以继承到非常大的一笔遗产呢。”

"Ah!" cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, "then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? is she handsome?"
“嗳呀,”班纳特太太听得叫了起来,一面又摇了摇头。“那么,她比多少姑娘们都福气她。她是怎样的一位小姐?长得漂亮吗?”

"She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that in point of true beauty, Miss De Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex; because there is that in her features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have failed of; as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies."
“她真是个极可爱的姑娘。咖苔琳夫人自己也说过,讲到真正的漂亮,德·包尔小姐要胜过天下最漂亮的女性;因为她眉清目秀,与众不同,一看上去就知道她出身高贵。她本来可以多才多艺,只可惜她体质欠佳,没有进修,否则她一定琴棋书画样样通晓,这话是她女教师说给我听的,那教师现在还跟她们母女住在一起。她的确是可爱透顶,常常不拘名份,乘着她那辆小马车光临寒舍。”

"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court."
“她觐见过皇上吗?在进过宫的仕女们中,我好象没有听见过她的名字。”