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Chapter14
十四章
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 Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed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.
在用晚饭的时候，班纳特先生几乎什么也没有说。但当用人退下后，他觉得这是他该跟客人谈话的时候了，便找了一个他预料科林斯先生听了一定会神采飞扬的题目作为开场白，说他碰上了这样一个女施主真是幸运，凯瑟琳·德·包尔夫人那样尊重他的意愿、照顾他的生活，实在难得。
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.
班纳特先生这个话题选择得真是再合科林斯先生的心意不过了。话一谈开，科林斯本来就严肃的表情更加郑重其事了，他非常庄重地声明，他一生还从未见过一个有身价地位的人，会有凯瑟琳夫人这样好的德行——这样和蔼可亲和纡尊降贵。
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.
他已经很荣幸地在她跟前讲过两次道，两次她都非常认真地倾听并给予了褒奖。她还请他在罗新斯吃过两次饭，就在上个星期六晚上还邀他去打了一种四人牌。
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;
许多他认识的人都认为凯瑟琳夫人非常高傲，而他在她身上看到的却只有和蔼可亲。她平常跟他谈起话来，总是把他当一个有身份的人看待。
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.
她丝毫不反对他和他的邻居们交往，也不反对他有时离开教区一两个星期去访问他的亲友。她甚至还关心地建议，要他尽可能快地解决他的婚姻大事，只要他择偶时慎重从事就行了。有一次她还到他的寒舍登门造访，对住宅里经他改修过的地方都加以赞赏，甚至还不吝赐教——建议他把楼上的壁橱里添置几个架子。
"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?"
“她这一切都做得非常得体，”班纳特太太说，“我敢说，她一定是个平易近人的女人。只可惜就一般而言，贵夫人们像她这样的太少见了。她住得离你近吗，先生？”
"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence."
“寒舍的花园只和夫人住的罗新斯花园有一巷之隔。”
"I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?"
“你好像刚才说过，她是个寡妇，先生？她家里还有其他人吗？”
"She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property."
“她只有一个女儿，是这罗新斯住宅和一个非常庞大的产业的继承人。”
"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?"
“啊！”班纳特太太摇着头感叹道，“那么，她比许多姑娘们都要强得多了。她是一个什么样的姑娘呢？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.
“她的确是个十分迷人的姑娘。凯瑟琳夫人自己说，就真正的美貌而言，德·包尔小姐远胜过那些最漂亮的女子。因为从她那年轻的相貌里，一眼便可以看出她高贵的血统来。
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."
不幸的是，她体质较弱，这妨碍了她在许多方面达到她本来可以达到的造诣。这话是那位给她施教的女士讲的，她现在仍然和她们母女俩住在一起。德·包尔小姐待人和蔼可亲，还常常驾着她的小马车莅临寒舍。”
