06-03-傲慢与偏见 [21]
This remark did not at first please his hostess very much， but when she heard from him what Rosings was，and who its owner was，and how much Lady Latherine's furniture cost，she realized what a great compliment it was．During the evening Mr Collins found Mrs Philips a kind and attentive listener， which was fortunate，as the Bennet girls could not bring them- selves to listen to him any longer．
All the ladies were impatient to see Mr Wickham，and when he came into the room，he appeared far more charming and gentlemanly than any of the officers present．He was the lucky man towards whom almost every female eye turned，and Eliza- beth was the lucky woman beside whom he finally took his seat．His pleasant way of making conversation made her feel that he could talk interestingly about anything．As he did not play cards，which some of the party were doing，he stayed talk- ing to Elizabeth for a large part of the evening．She hoped he would tell her how he knew Mr Darcy，but she dared not men- tion that gentleman．Luckily，however，Mr Wickham himself began to talk about it，although in a rather hesitating manner．
‘Netherfield is quite near Meryton，I suppose？How long has—has Mr Darcy been staying there？’
‘He has been there about a month，’replied Elizabeth．Un- willing to let the matter drop，she added，‘He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire，I understand．’
‘Yes，’replied Wickham，‘his income is ten thousand a year at least．I know more about him than most people，as I have been closely connected with his family since childhood．’
Elizabeth could only look surprised．
‘You might well be surprised，Miss Bennet，at my saying that，after noticing，as you probably did，the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday．Do you know Mr Darcy well？’
‘As well as I ever wish to！’cried Elizabeth．‘I've spent four days in the same house as him，and I consider him very disagreeable．’
‘I've known him too long and too well to judge fairly whether he's disagreeable or not．But I believe most people would be astonished by your opinion．’
‘He is not at all liked here in Hertfordshire．Everybody is disgusted with his pride．You won't find him praised by any- one．’
‘I can't pretend to be sorry that he is valued as he deserves， but with him I believe it doesn't often happen．The world is blinded by his fortune and importance，or frightened by his proud behaviour，and sees him only as he chooses to be seen．’After a pause Wickham added，‘I wonder if he's likely to stay at Netherfield much longer．’
‘I don't know at all，but I hope his presence won't stop you becoming an officer in the regiment here．’
‘Oh no！I won't be driven away by Mr Darcy．If he wishes to avoid seeing me，he must go．The reason I have for avoiding him is one I could easily make public to the whole world—he has treated me very badly．His late father，Miss Bennet，was one of the best men who ever lived，and the most faithful friend I ever had．And whenever I'm with this Mr Darcy，I think of his father with the most painful regret．Mr Darcy has behaved wickedly to wards me，but I could forgive him anything except the insult to his father's memory．’
Elizabeth was fascinated，and listened eagerly，but did not like to ask any questions．Mr Wickham began to speak more generally about Meryton and the charming people he had met there．
In fact，that's why I was tempted to join the regiment．I'd heard that Meryton society is most agreeable．Society，I confess，is necessary to me．I have been a disappointed man， you see．I did not intend to join the army at all．The Church ought to have been my profession，and I should at this moment have a comfortable income as a Derbyshire rector，if the gentle- man we were speaking of just now had wished it．’
‘Indeed！’
‘Yes—Mr Darcy's father had always been
All the ladies were impatient to see Mr Wickham，and when he came into the room，he appeared far more charming and gentlemanly than any of the officers present．He was the lucky man towards whom almost every female eye turned，and Eliza- beth was the lucky woman beside whom he finally took his seat．His pleasant way of making conversation made her feel that he could talk interestingly about anything．As he did not play cards，which some of the party were doing，he stayed talk- ing to Elizabeth for a large part of the evening．She hoped he would tell her how he knew Mr Darcy，but she dared not men- tion that gentleman．Luckily，however，Mr Wickham himself began to talk about it，although in a rather hesitating manner．
‘Netherfield is quite near Meryton，I suppose？How long has—has Mr Darcy been staying there？’
‘He has been there about a month，’replied Elizabeth．Un- willing to let the matter drop，she added，‘He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire，I understand．’
‘Yes，’replied Wickham，‘his income is ten thousand a year at least．I know more about him than most people，as I have been closely connected with his family since childhood．’
Elizabeth could only look surprised．
‘You might well be surprised，Miss Bennet，at my saying that，after noticing，as you probably did，the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday．Do you know Mr Darcy well？’
‘As well as I ever wish to！’cried Elizabeth．‘I've spent four days in the same house as him，and I consider him very disagreeable．’
‘I've known him too long and too well to judge fairly whether he's disagreeable or not．But I believe most people would be astonished by your opinion．’
‘He is not at all liked here in Hertfordshire．Everybody is disgusted with his pride．You won't find him praised by any- one．’
‘I can't pretend to be sorry that he is valued as he deserves， but with him I believe it doesn't often happen．The world is blinded by his fortune and importance，or frightened by his proud behaviour，and sees him only as he chooses to be seen．’After a pause Wickham added，‘I wonder if he's likely to stay at Netherfield much longer．’
‘I don't know at all，but I hope his presence won't stop you becoming an officer in the regiment here．’
‘Oh no！I won't be driven away by Mr Darcy．If he wishes to avoid seeing me，he must go．The reason I have for avoiding him is one I could easily make public to the whole world—he has treated me very badly．His late father，Miss Bennet，was one of the best men who ever lived，and the most faithful friend I ever had．And whenever I'm with this Mr Darcy，I think of his father with the most painful regret．Mr Darcy has behaved wickedly to wards me，but I could forgive him anything except the insult to his father's memory．’
Elizabeth was fascinated，and listened eagerly，but did not like to ask any questions．Mr Wickham began to speak more generally about Meryton and the charming people he had met there．
In fact，that's why I was tempted to join the regiment．I'd heard that Meryton society is most agreeable．Society，I confess，is necessary to me．I have been a disappointed man， you see．I did not intend to join the army at all．The Church ought to have been my profession，and I should at this moment have a comfortable income as a Derbyshire rector，if the gentle- man we were speaking of just now had wished it．’
‘Indeed！’
‘Yes—Mr Darcy's father had always been