Chapter 17 Chapter Sixteen

The young ladies met with no objection to their aunts.Collins felt a little sorry for being here and leaving the Bennets at home all night, but they told him not to take it to heart.So he and his five cousins ​​arrived in Meryton on time in a carriage.The ladies were glad, as soon as they entered the drawing-room, to learn that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and had arrived. After everyone heard the news, they all sat down.Mr. Collins looked about him at his leisure, and looked at it all; he was so impressed by the size and furniture of the room, that he said he seemed to have entered Lady Catelyn's little summer dining-room at Rosings.The parable was not very satisfactory at first to the master, but then Mrs. Philips found out what Rosings was and who it belonged to, and heard him tell of one of Lady Catelyn's drawing-rooms, The mantelpiece alone cost eight hundred pounds, and she realized how flattering his comparison was, and she did not object to the comparison of her house to the room of Rosings housekeeper's grandmother.

Collins, while telling of Lady Catelyn and the splendor of her mansion, interspersed occasionally with a boast of his own modest abode, which was in the process of being furnished and improved, and so he continued with amused talk of the male until the guests come in.He found that Mrs. Philip listened to him with great attention, and the more she listened the more she thought of him, and she resolved to spread his words as soon as she could.As for the ladies, it seemed too long to wait, for they were not happy to listen to their cousin's gossip, and had nothing to do but play the harp and draw little things carelessly, just like the china on the mantel-piece. Yier has fun.At last the waiting time was over, and the gentlemen arrived.Elizabeth felt, as soon as Mr. Wickham entered, that she had loved him rightly, either when she last saw him, or when she thought of him since the last time they had seen him.The officers of ------ County are a well-reputed and gentlemanly sort, and the best of them are especially present at this banquet.Mr. Wickham is far superior to them in character, appearance, demeanor and status, just as they are far superior to that uncle. Look at that fat uncle with big ears and a big belly. Smelling wine, he followed them into the house.

Mr. Wickham was the most proud man that day, and almost every woman looked at him; Elizabeth was the most proud woman that day, and Wickham finally sat down beside her.He struck up a conversation with her at once, though it was only about the rain that night and the possibility of the rainy season coming, but he was so pleasant that she couldn't help feeling that even the most ordinary, dull, old-fashioned words, as long as the words were spoken People have skills, but they can still speak eloquently. When it comes to winning the favor of women, Mr. Collins becomes of little importance when he meets such formidable rivals as Mr. Wickham and the officers.He was nothing in the eyes of the ladies, but good Mrs. Phillips sometimes listened to him talk about the Lord, and she was very careful to serve him coffee and muffins as much as possible.

When the tables were set, Collins sat down to play whist, and at last had an opportunity of repaying her kindness. He said: I don't know anything about it, but I'd like to learn it, and Mrs. Phillips appreciates his kindness in my position, but she doesn't want to hear him talk about his position. Mr. Wickham did not play whist, for he was cheerfully invited by the ladies to play at another table, between Elizabeth and Lydia.The beginning of the situation was very worrying, for Lydia was a perfect talker, and it was quite possible to monopolize him; but she was also fond of lotteries, and she was immediately interested in it, and she was very enthusiastic. Betting with children, shouting after winning prizes, so that there is no way to pay attention to any one person in particular.While Mr. Wickham was dealing with the whole business, he talked to Elizabeth at his leisure.Elizabeth was very willing to listen to him, and would like to know about his past relationship with Mr. Darcy, but he might not be willing to talk about what she wanted to hear.So she dared not mention that gentleman.Later, unexpectedly, Mr. Wickham took up the subject of his own accord.So her curiosity was satisfied after all.Mr. Wickham asked how far Netherfield was from Meryton.After she answered him, he asked hesitantly how long Mr. Darcy had been there.

Elizabeth said: About a month.Not wanting to let the subject loose, she went on: As far as I know, he is a very rich man in Derbyshire. Yes, Wickham replied.His fortune was considerable, netting ten thousand pounds a year.Speaking of this aspect, no one knows for sure than me, because I have had a special relationship with his family since I was a child. Elizabeth could not help showing a look of surprise. Miss Bennet, you may have seen the icy way we met yesterday, no wonder you were surprised by what I said.Are you well acquainted with Mr. Darcy? I only wish I knew him that well, too, cried Elizabeth angrily.I spent four days with him and thought he was a nuisance.

Wickham said: Whether he is likable or annoying, I have no right to express my opinion.I am not in a position to comment.I've known him too long and been with him too well to be an impartial judge.I can't be impartial.But I venture to say that your opinion of him is, on the whole, appalling, and perhaps you would not say so much elsewhere.It's all your own people here. Honestly, that's what I'd say at any house in the neighbourhood, except at Netherfield.No one in Hertfordshire liked him at all.His haughty demeanor disgusted anyone who saw him.You'll never hear a good word said about him.

After a short rest, Wickham said: To speak with a clear conscience, no matter whether it is him or anyone else, he should not be exaggerated by others.But he is a person, I believe it is unlikely that anyone will praise him too much.His wealth and power blinded the eyes and ears of the world, and his arrogant and domineering demeanor frightened the world, so that everyone could only look at him according to his wishes. Although I don't know him very well, I think he is a very bad tempered person.Wickham just shook his head when he heard this. When he had a chance to speak, he went on: I don't know if he intends to stay in this village any longer.

I don't know at all; but I never heard of him going when I was at Netherfield.Since you like County X-and-so and intend to work there, I hope you won't be distracted from your original plans by his being nearby. Oh no; I'm not going to let Mr. Darcy drive me away.If he doesn't want to see me, he has to go.Our friendship is ruined, and I can't bear to see him, but I have no reason to avoid him. I just want everyone to know how wrong he has been to me, and how his conduct hurts me.Miss Bennet, his dead father, that old Mr. Darcy, was the kindest person in the world, and the truest friend of my life; whenever I am with Mr. Darcy now It will inevitably bring up countless tender memories and feel pain from the bottom of my heart.He has treated me very badly; but I truly believe that I can forgive him everything, except that he should not live up to the high expectations and dishonor the name of his ancestors.

Elizabeth's growing interest in the matter listened attentively.But this matter is very strange, she is inconvenient to ask further. Mr. Wickham resumed his casual conversation on general matters.He talked of Meryton, of the neighborhood and of society, and all that he saw, he talked with great delight, and especially when it came to society, his manners were more gentle. attentive. He added: The main reason why I like so-and-so county is that the society here is full of upper-class people, and they are friendly, and I know that this army has a good reputation and is loved by everyone, plus my friend Danny To persuade me to come here, and tell me how fine their present barracks are, how well they are treated by the people of Meryton, and how many good friends they have made in Meryton.I admit that I cannot do without a social life.I am a frustrated person.Mentally unbearable loneliness.I must have a professional and social life.I didn't intend to live in the army, but because of circumstances, I have to join the army now.I should have been a clergyman, and it was the intention of the family to make me a clergyman; and if I had won the favor of the gentleman we have just been speaking of, I might now have a handsome clergyman's salary.

Yeah? How could it not be!It was stated in old Mr. Darcy's will that the clergymanship be given to me as soon as the best vacancy became available.He was my godfather and loved me very much.I cannot describe the kindness he treated me.He wants to keep me well-fed, and thinks he has done it, but when the vicarage becomes vacant, it falls to someone else. God!Elizabeth exclaimed: How can such a thing happen, how can it not be done according to his will?Why don't you appeal according to law? Where the will mentions inheritance, the wording is very vague, so I may not be able to appeal legally.Ordinarily, a person who cares about face will not doubt the intention of his ancestors; but Mr. Darcy just wants to doubt, or he thinks that the will only states that I am promoted conditionally, and he insists on saying that I am wasteful and absurd. All my rights are therefore revoked.All in all, if you don’t say anything, you’re done, and everything bad has been said.That priesthood had been vacated two years ago, the year I was old enough to take the pay, but it was given to someone else.I really have no way of blaming myself for what I did wrong and deserved to lose that salary, except that I was impatient and outspoken, and sometimes I couldn't help telling him a few words in front of others, and even contradicted him to his face.That's all.It's just that we're totally different people, and he hates me for it.

This is really appalling!He should be publicly humiliated. Sooner or later someone will come and disgrace him, but I will never make it difficult for him.Unless I have been ungrateful to his ancestors, I will never expose me against him. Elizabeth greatly admired him for this insight, and thought him the more handsome when he articulated it. After resting for a while, she said again: But what is his intention?Why does he humiliate people like this? Nothing more than a determination to enter into an incomprehensible rancor with me, which he was supposed to spring from a certain degree of jealousy.If old Mr. Darcy treated me less well, his son would naturally be better off with me.I believe it was his father who loved me so much that irritated him from an early age.He is narrow-minded and can't tolerate me competing with him, and I can't tolerate me being better than him. I can't imagine Mr. Darcy being so bad.Although I never had a good impression of him, I didn't feel very bad.I just thought he looked down on people, but I never thought that he was so despicable to have such vicious revenge, so unreasonable and inhumane! She thought for a while, and then went on: I do remember him saying smugly once in Netherfield that he had a grudge with people that he couldn't get rid of, and that he had a grudge in his nature.His character must be repulsive to others. Wickham replied: In this matter, my opinion may not be reliable, because I will inevitably have a prejudice against him. Elizabeth thought for a while, and then said loudly: You are his father's godson, friend, and someone his father holds in high esteem. How could he abuse you like this!She almost said it too: How could he do this to a young man like you, who is sure to be liked just by your looks.However, in the end she said a few words instead: besides, you have been with him since childhood, and as you said, the relationship is very close. We grew up in the same parish, in the same garden.We spent part of our teenage years together, living in the same house, playing together, being loved by the same father.My father was in the same trade as your uncle Mr. Philippe, but my late father was so indebted to him by his skillful housekeeping that, when he was dying, he offered to take care of all my duties. Cost of living.I believe that the reason why he did this was to be grateful to his late father on the one hand, and to love me on the other hand. cried Elizabeth: How strange!How abominable!I do not understand how this Mr. Darcy, with all his pride, should treat you so badly!If there is no other better reason, then, since he is so proud, he should disdain such insidiousness-I must say insidious. Strange indeed, replied Wickham: after all, almost everything he did was motivated by arrogance, which became his best friend.It is said that since he is arrogant, he should be the most moral.But people are always contradictory. He treats me more emotionally than arrogantly. What good would such abominable arrogance do him? It is good; it often makes him a generous man, spends money generously, treats people well, supports tenants, and helps the poor.The reason why he is like this is because his family ancestors make him proud, and he is also very proud of his father.His main purpose is not to disgrace the reputation of the family, go against the expectations of the public, and not to lose the momentum of the Pemberley family.He also had the pride of brotherhood, which, together with some fraternity, made him a kind and careful protector of his sister; best brother. What kind of girl is Miss Darcy? Wickham shook his head.I wish I could call her lovely.I can't bear to say a bad word about anyone in the Darcy family.But she was too much like her brother and very, very arrogant.She was kind and sweet as a child and took a special liking to me.I used to play with her for hours on end.But now I don't take her seriously.She was a pretty girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, as far as I knew, extremely talented.After her father's death she lived in London, with a wife who lived with her and taught her to read. They chattered on and on about other things, at intervals, until Elizabeth could not help returning to the original subject.she says: I wonder that he should be so intimate with Mr. Bingley.How could Mr. Bingley, who was so good-natured, and so extremely amiable, befriend such a man?How can they get along?Do you know Mr. Bingley? I do not recognize. He was indeed an affable and good-natured fellow.He would never understand what Mr. Darcy was like. Perhaps not; but when Mr Darcy pleases, he has a way.His wrist is very good.He also laughed when he thought it worthwhile to talk to people.He is completely two people in front of those who are equal to him, and in front of those who are not as good as him.He was haughty in every way, but in the company of the rich he was open-minded, just, honest, reasonable, respectful, and perhaps genial, for the sake of his worth and status. The whist was over, and the players gathered round another table, with Mr Collins standing between his cousin Elizabeth and Mrs Philip.Mrs. Philips asked him, as usual, if he had won.He didn't win, he totally lost.Mrs. Phillips expressed his pity for him, and he told her discreetly that little things should bother him, since he cared nothing about money, and begged her not to feel uneasy. He said: "I know very well, ma'am, that a man's luck depends on his luck when he sits down at a poker table, and luckily I don't take five shillings seriously."Of course, many people will not say it like me, thanks to Caitlin.De.With her, Mrs. Power, I need not feel sorry for such a small sum. These words attracted Mr. Wickham's attention.Wickham glanced at Mr. Collins, then asked Elizabeth in a low voice if this relative of hers was a fellow-dealer.The Baoer family is very familiar. Elizabeth replied: Caitlin.De.Mrs. Power had recently given him a priesthood.How Mr. Collins came to be appreciated by her I hardly understand, but he must not have known her very long. I think you must know Caitlin.De.Mrs. Power and Anne.Mrs. Darcy is a sister.Lady Caitlin was the aunt of the present Mr. Darcy. No, I really don't know.I don't know anything about Lady Catelyn's relations.I only found out about her the day before yesterday. Her daughter De.Miss Power was to inherit a large fortune, and it was believed that she and her aunt and cousin would combine the two estates. Elizabeth could not help laughing at this, for it reminded her of poor Miss Bingley.Miss Bingley's attentions were in vain, her care for Darcy's sister, and her admiration for Darcy himself, were all in vain, if Darcy really had another lover. Mr. Collins was full of praise for Mrs. Catelyn and her daughter, but there were parts of his account of the lady which made me suspect that he had gone too far, and was obsessed with her gratitude.Although she is his benefactor, she is still a woman who is both arrogant and arrogant. I believe her to be both serious, replied Wickham.I haven't seen her in many years, but I always hated her myself because she was so bossy and disrespectful.People say she's very reasonable; but I always think that people praise her for her ability, partly because she is rich and powerful, partly because she is domineering, and she has such a great nephew, and only those with high society Only those who are well-educated will fawn on him. Elizabeth admitted that he had a good point in what he said.The two of them continued their conversation, in a very congenial manner, till it was at supper after the card game that the other ladies had an opportunity to share some of Mr. Wickham's attentions.Mrs. Philip's guests were making too much noise for conversation, but his manner alone was enough to please everyone.He was very witty in his words and gentle in his actions.When Elizabeth left, he was alone in her mind.On the way home she thought only of Mr. Wickham, and what he had said to her, but neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins was silent, so that she had no occasion to mention his name.Lydia talked incessantly of the lottery, and of the times when she lost and when she won; He didn't care about the money, and he recited the dishes for dinner one by one, saying repeatedly that he was afraid that he would squeeze his cousins.He had too much to say, and was not finished when the carriage stopped at Longbourne's house.