坐了几分钟以后,客人们都被打发到窗口去欣赏外面的风景。柯林斯先生陪着他们,一处处指给他们看,咖苔琳夫人和善地告诉他们说,到了夏天还要好看。
The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants, and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh -- the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss De Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.
酒席果然特别体面,待候的仆从以及盛酒菜的器皿,也跟柯林斯先生所形容过的一模一样,而且正如他事先所料到的那样,夫人果然吩咐他坐在末席,看他那副神气,好象人生没有比这更得意的事了。他边切边吃,又兴致淋漓地赞不绝口;每一道菜都由他先来夸奖,然后由威廉爵士加以吹嘘,原来威廉爵士现在已经完全消除了惊恐,可以做他女婿的应声虫了。伊丽莎白看到那种样子,不禁担心咖苔琳夫人怎么受得了。可是咖苔琳夫人对这些过分的赞扬好象倒非常满意,总是显露出仁慈的微笑,尤其是端上一道客人们没见过的菜到桌上来的时候,她便格外得意。宾主们都没有什么可谈的,伊丽莎白却只要别人开个头,总还有话可说,可惜她坐的地方不对头,一边是夏绿蒂,她正在用心听咖苔琳夫人谈话;另一边是德·包尔小姐,整个吃饭时间不跟她说一句话。姜金生太太主要在注意德·包尔小姐,她看到小姐东西吃得太少,便逼着她吃了这样再吃那样,又怕她不受用。玛丽亚根本不想讲话,男客们只顾一边吃一边赞美。
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