Every thing being settled between them, Mr. Darcy's next step was to make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurchstreet the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be seen, and Mr. Darcy found, on further enquiry, that your father was still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did not judge your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult as your uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and till the next day it was only known that a gentleman had called on business. On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together. They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It was not all settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to Longbourn.
他们之间一切都商谈好了,达西先生的下一个步骤就是把这件事告诉你舅父,于是他就在我回家的前一天晚上,到天恩寺街来进行第一次访问。当时嘉丁纳先生不在家;达西先生打听到你父亲那天还住在这儿,不过第二天早晨就要走。他以为你父亲不是象你舅父那样一个好商量的人,因此,决定等到你父亲走了以后,再来看你舅父。他当时没有留下姓名,直到第二天,我们还只知道有位某某先生到这儿来过,找他有事,星期六他又来了。那天你父亲已经走了,你舅父在家,正如我刚才说过的,他们俩便在一起谈了许久。他们星期天又见了面,当时我也看见他的。事情一直到星期一才完全谈妥。一谈妥之后,就派专人送信到浪搏恩来。
But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been accused of many faults at different times, but this is the true one. Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it), your uncle would most readily have settled the whole. They battled it together for a long time, which was more than either the gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece, was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no farther than yourself, or Jane at most.
但是我们这位贵客实在太固执。人们都纷纷指责他的错处,今天说他有这个错处,明天又说他有那个错处,可是这一个才是他真正的错处。样样事情都非得由他亲自来办不可;其实你舅父非常愿意全盘包办(我这样说并不是为了讨你的好,所以请你不要跟别人提起)。他们为这件事争执了好久,其实对当事人来说,无论是男方女方,都不配享受这样的对待。可是你舅父最后还是不得不依从他,以致非但不能替自己的外甥女稍微尽点力,而且还要无劳居功,这完全和他的心愿相违;我相信你今天早上的来信一定会使他非常高兴,因为这件掠人之美的事,从此可以说个清楚明白,使那应该受到赞美的人受到赞美。不过,丽萃,这件事只能让你知道,最多只能说给吉英听。