Chapter 12 -
Miss Bingley’s letter soon arrived, and put an end to any doubts.
The very first sentence stated clearly that they were all to stay in London for the winter.
All hope was now entirely lost.
The letter concluded(結束) with her brother’s regret, that he had not had time to visit his friends at Longbourn before he left the country.
Jane very soon expressed all of this to Elizabeth, who listened with concern for Jane, and resentment(怨恨) against all others.
She continued to believe as strongly as ever that Mr. Bingley was really fond of Jane.
A day or two passed before Jane had the courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth.
At last, after a longer outburst(爆發) than usual from Mrs. Bennet about Mr. Bingley, Jane could not help saying when alone to Elizabeth:
“Oh, how I wish that my dear mother had more control over herself!
She can have no idea of the pain she gives me by constantly speaking of him.
But I will not despair(喪失信心), because it cannot last long.
I will forget about him, and everything will return to the way it was before.”
Elizabeth looked at her sister with disbelief and concern, but said nothing.
“You doubt me,” cried Jane, turning slightly red,
“but you have no reason to do so.
I may remember him as the kindest man I ever met, but that is all.
With a little time I will certainly try to get better.”
With a stronger voice she soon added,
“I have some comfort immediately, because my only mistake was to imagine too much, and I have hurt nobody but myself.”
“My dear Jane!” exclaimed(驚呼) Elizabeth,
“you are too good.
I feel as if I had never admired you enough, or loved you as you deserve.”
Miss Bennet declared(宣佈) that there was nothing special about her, and praised instead her sister’s warm affection.
“No,” said Elizabeth,
“that is not fair.
You want to see the best in everybody, and are hurt if I speak badly of anyone.
I only want to think you are perfect, and you argue against it.
The more I see of the world, the more I am dissatisfied with it.
I have met with this feeling twice recently.
One instance I will not mention, and the other is Charlotte’s marriage.
It is unbelievable! In every way it is unbelievable!”
“I understand what you mean, but I beg you, dear Lizzy, not to upset me by blaming him, and saying you no longer respect him.
It is very often nothing but our own pride that deceives(欺騙) us.
Women often think that admiration means more than it does.”
“And men encourage them to think so.”
“If they do so intentionally, then they are wrong for doing so.
But I do not believe that there is as much dishonesty in the world as some people would imagine.”
“I do not think Mr. Bingley meant to hurt you,” said Elizabeth,
“but most of the error and misery(痛苦) in the world is not caused by people meaning to do wrong.
Lack of attention to others’ feelings, and lack of perseverance(毅力), will do the business.”
“So that is what you think has happened here?”
“Yes, I do, I think his sisters and Mr. Darcy have influenced him.”
“Why should they do that, if they are his friends and only wish his happiness?”
“They may wish many things for him besides his happiness—
for example, they may wish him to become wealthy or famous, or to marry someone who will increase the wealth or status of the family.”
“Even if they would prefer that he marry Miss Darcy,” said Jane,
“it may be for better reasons than those you mention.
I am not ashamed of having been mistaken about Mr. Bingley’s love for me.
Let me think the best about him, and do my best to understand and accept what has happened.”
Elizabeth could not refuse such a wish, and from this time onward(從現在起) Mr. Bingley's name was barely(幾乎不) ever mentioned between them.
Mrs. Bennet’s brother and sister-in-law, the Gardiners, came as usual to spend Christmas at Longbourn.
Mrs. Bennet had a lot to complain(抱怨) of to her sister: two of her girls had been upon the point of marriage, but nothing came of it.
“I do not blame Jane,” she continued,
“for Jane would have got Mr. Bingley if she could. But Lizzy!
Oh, sister!
It is very hard to think that she might have been Mr. Collins’s wife by this time, had it not been for her own foolishness.
He made her an offer in this very room, and she refused him.
And so Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have, and Longbourn will no longer be ours after Mr. Bennet’s death.”
When alone with Elizabeth afterward(之後), Mrs. Gardiner spoke more on the subject.
“Bingley would have been a good husband for Jane,” she said.
“I am sorry it did not work out.
But these things happen so often!
A young man so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her.”
“But we do not suffer by accident,” said Elizabeth.
“It does not often happen that the interference(干涉) of friends will persuade a wealthy young man to think no more of a girl whom he was passionately(強烈地) in love with only a few days before.”
“But how passionate(強烈的) was Mr. Bingley’s love?”
“I never saw such a promising one: he was wholly fascinated(著迷) by her.
At his own ball he offended(冒犯) two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance, and I spoke to him twice myself without receiving an answer.
Is not this kind of general rudeness to everyone the most reliable(可靠的) sign of love?”
“Of a certain kind of love, at least.
I am sorry for Jane because, with her character, she may not get over it immediately.
But do you think she would go back with us?
A change of scene and a little relief from home may be as useful as anything.”
Elizabeth was exceedingly(非常) pleased with this idea, and felt sure that her sister would agree.
“I hope,” added Mrs. Gardiner,
“that she will not expect to see this young man in London.
We live in a very different part of town, and do not go out much.”
“And Mr. Darcy would never allow Bingley to call on Jane in such a part of London!
Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of your neighborhood, but if he were to actually visit it, he would have to bathe for a month before he felt himself clean again.
And Mr. Bingley never goes out without him.”
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