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 Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed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.
吃飯的時候，班納特先生幾乎一句話也沒有說；可是等到傭人們走開以后，他就想道，現(xiàn)在可以跟這位客人談?wù)劻恕Ｋ舷氲?，如果一開頭就談到咖苔琳夫人身上去，這位貴客一定會笑逐顏開的，于是他便拿這個話題做開場白，說是柯林斯先生有了那樣一個女施主，真是幸運極了，又說咖苔琳·德·包爾夫人對他這樣言聽計從，而且極其周到地照顧到他生活方面的安適，真是十分難得。班納特先生這個話題選得再好也沒有了。柯林斯先生果然滔滔不絕地贊美起那位夫人來。這個問題一談開了頭，他本來的那種嚴(yán)肅態(tài)度便顯得更嚴(yán)肅了，他帶著非常自負(fù)的神氣說，他一輩子也沒有看到過任何有身價地位的人，能夠象咖苔琳夫人那樣的有德行，那樣的親切謙和。他很榮幸，曾經(jīng)當(dāng)著她的面講過兩次道，多蒙夫人垂愛，對他那兩次講道贊美不絕。夫人曾經(jīng)請他到羅新斯去吃過兩次飯，上星期六晚上還請他到她家里去打過“夸錐”。據(jù)他所知，多少人都認(rèn)為咖苔琳夫人為人驕傲，可是他只覺得親切。她平常跟他攀談起來，總是把他當(dāng)作一個有身份的人看待。她絲毫不反對他和鄰居們來往，也不反對他偶而離開教區(qū)一兩個星期，去拜望拜望親友們。多蒙她體恤下情，曾經(jīng)親自勸他及早結(jié)婚，只要他能夠謹(jǐn)慎選擇對象。她還到他的寒舍去拜訪過一次，對于他住宅所有經(jīng)過他整修過的地方都十分贊成，并且蒙她親自賜予指示，叫他把樓上的璧櫥添置幾個架子。

"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?"
班納特太太說：“我相信這一切都做得很得體，很有禮貌，我看她一定是個和顏悅色的女人?？上б话阗F夫人們都比不上她。她住的地方離你很近嗎，先生？”

"The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence."
“寒舍那個花園跟她老夫人住的羅新斯花園，只隔著一條胡同。”

"I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?"
“你說她是個寡婦嗎，先生？她還有家屬嗎？”

"She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property."
“她只有一個女兒，──也就是羅新斯的繼承人，將來可以繼承到非常大的一筆遺產(chǎn)呢?！?/div>

"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?"
“噯呀，”班納特太太聽得叫了起來，一面又搖了搖頭?！澳敲矗榷嗌俟媚飩兌几馑?。她是怎樣的一位小姐？長得漂亮嗎？”

"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."
“她真是個極可愛的姑娘。咖苔琳夫人自己也說過，講到真正的漂亮，德·包爾小姐要勝過天下最漂亮的女性；因為她眉清目秀，與眾不同，一看上去就知道她出身高貴。她本來可以多才多藝，只可惜她體質(zhì)欠佳，沒有進(jìn)修，否則她一定琴棋書畫樣樣通曉，這話是她女教師說給我聽的，那教師現(xiàn)在還跟她們母女住在一起。她的確是可愛透頂，常常不拘名份，乘著她那輛小馬車光臨寒舍?！?/div>

"Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court."
“她覲見過皇上嗎？在進(jìn)過宮的仕女們中，我好象沒有聽見過她的名字。”