7 Darcy proposes marriage （7-1）
DAY 23
Elizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning, writing to Jane, while Mrs. Collins and Maria were shopping in the village. She heard the doorbell ring, and knew that meant a visitor had arrived, but she was greatly surprised when Mr. Darcy, and Mr. Darcy only, was shown into the room.
He seemed astonished too, on finding her alone. ‘I apologize for disturbing you, Miss Bennet. I understood that all the ladies were at home.’
‘Please don't apologize, Mr. Darcy. I hope Lady Catherine and her daughter are well?’
‘Very well, thank you,’ He said no more.
As he seemed in danger of sinking into total silence (陷入沉默), Elizabeth had to think of something to say. She remarked, ‘How very suddenly you all left Netherfield last November, Mr. Darcy! I hope Mr. Bingley and his sisters were well, when you left London?’
‘Perfectly, thank you,’ That was all the answer he gave.
‘I think I have heard that Mr. Bingley has not much idea of ever returning to Netherfield again?’
‘It is probable that he will spend very little of his time there in future. He has many friends elsewhere.’
Elizabeth did not want to talk any longer about Mr. Bingley, and, determined to leave the conversation to Mr. Darcy. she remained silent. He understood, and soon began to speak again.
Mr. Collins appears very fortunate in his choice of a wife.’
‘Yes, indeed. She is one of the few sensible women who would have accepted him, although I'm not sure I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing she ever did. She seems perfectly happy, however, and financially speaking, it's a good marriage.’
‘It must be very agreeable to her to be such a short distance from her own family and friends.’
‘A short distance. you say? It is nearly eighty kilometres!’
‘And what is that? Little more than half a day's journey, on a good road. Yes, I call it a very short distance.’
‘I would never have said Mrs. Collins lived near her family,’ cried Elizabeth.
‘That shows how much you are attached (依恋，热爱) to Hertfordshire. Anywhere outside the Longbourn area would, I suppose, seem far away to you. As he spoke, he smiled a little.
Perhaps he supposed she was thinking of Jane and Netherfield, thought Elizabeth, and she blushed脸红. ‘ Whether the distance seems long or short depends on many circumstances. If the family’ s income is large enough to pay for frequent journeys, then distance is not a problem. But Mr. and Mrs. Collins will not be able to afford to travel very often, despite their comfortable income. I'm certain my friend does not consider Hunsford near her family.’
Mr. Darcy moved his chair a little towards her, and said, ‘You cannot have a right to such a very strong local attachment. You haven't spent your whole life at Longbourn, I am sure.’
Elizabeth looked surprised. Experiencing a change of feeling, the gentleman moved his chair away again, took a newspaper from the table, and, glancing at it, said in a colder voice, ‘Are you pleased with Kent?’ They discussed Kent calmly and politely for a few minutes, and were then interrupted by Charlotte and Maria, who had returned from the village. Mr. Darcy sat a little while longer, without saying much to anybody, and then went away.
‘What can be the meaning of this!’ said Charlotte, as soon as he had gone. ‘My dear Lizzy, he must be in love with you, or he would never have visited us in this familiar way（随便的，亲切的）.’
But when Elizabeth described his silence, that did not seem likely, even to hopeful Charlotte, and they could only suppose that he had nothing better to do. In fact, from now on, both Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam called regularly (定期拜访) at the Rectory. It was obvious that Colonel Fitzwilliam came because he enjoyed talking to the ladies, and Elizabeth was reminded by her own satisfaction in being with him, as well as by his evident admiration of her, of her former favourite, Wickham. But it was more difficult to understand why Mr. Darcy came. He did not often speak, and seldom appeared interested in the conversation Even Charlotte, who observed Mr. Darcy closely, was not sure whether he admired Elizabeth or not, and began to hope that perhaps her friend might marry Colonel Fitzwilliam instead.
When she took her daily walk along the path bordering the park, Elizabeth met Mr. Darcy unexpectedly more than once. This was the more surprising, because she was careful to inform him that it was her favourite walk. So that he could avoid meeting her. It was also strange that, although he could just have greeted her and walked on, he always thought it necessary to turn back and walk with her. She could not quite understand him.
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