傲慢與偏見10 A Young Man Surprised
CHAPTER TEN
A Young Man Surprised
The house was very quiet. The Collinses had beengone a long time to Lady Catherine's and Elizabeth wassleeping. Suddenly, she was awakened by the sound ofthe doorbell. She was quite amazed when the servantannounced Mr. Darcy. In a hurried and nervous way,he began to ask about her health, saying that he hadcome to wish her better soon. She answered himpolitely but was very cold. He remained sitting for afew moments, then got up and walked about the room.Suddenly he approached her in a very nervous manner.
"Miss Bennet - Elizabeth - I cannot fightsomething, even though I have tried," he said. "I amnot strong enough. You must please allow me to tellyou that I admire and love you. "
Elizabeth's surprise was truly great. She stared athim and went red in the face. But she could not speakand was silent.
"Miss Bennet, l have tried to stop feeling this wayabout you. I have been raised since I was young tobelieve that I must marry someone of my own positionand wealth. I'm sure you know that I am a proud man,Miss Bennet. You must understand that your relationstrouble me greatly. Their condition in life is very muchbeneath my own. I came to London to forget you. ButI cannot do this ! And now it seems I have been made toreturn to you. Miss Bennet, please say you will marryme -"
"No!" cried Elizabeth.
"No?" repeated Darcy. Suddenly his face wentwhite.
"Are you surprised by my answer?" askedElizabeth coldly. "Had you already decided that I wouldaccept? Mr. Darcy, Those feelings that you say youhave for me are unacceptable. "
"You don't believe me!" he shouted, fixing hiseyes on her face.
"I have never wanted your good opinion of me,"Elizabeth continued. "Also, you tell me that you do noteven wish to have it - that you like me against yourwill - "
"I ask you to think about -"
"I am most hurt and embarrassed by the way youspeak about my relations. "
"I did not mean to hurt you. "
"Then you do not understand what it means torespect my feelings. "
"Indeed, " said Darcy, also hurt. "I am most sorryif I have hurt you. I simply wished to tell you truthfullyabout my own feelings -"
"While you completely forgot about my own ! No,Mr. Darcy! I am sorry if I cause you pain -"
"Is this your reply to my question?" heinterrupted.
"Not all. I have other reasons to be upset by you.Do you think I would marry the man who has ruinedthe happiness of my sister?"
"It's true that I have done all I can to separate myfriend from Miss Jane Bennet. But I wished to savehim from an unhappy marriage. I believe I have beenkinder towards him than myself. "
"Have you, indeed?" cried Elizabeth angrily. Thismade her red in the face, and she replied, "And is thissame kindness you gave to Mr. Wickham?"
" Wickham? You are too interested in thatgentleman's concerns," said Darcy. His face becamedeeper in color.
"He has told me of his troubles with you. "
"His troubles!" repeated Darcy hatefully. "Ohyes. his troubles have been very great indeed! "
"How can you make fun of him? You have causedhim to live his life like a poor man! "
"This is what you think of me?" cried Darcy. "Ithank you for explaining your thoughts so fully. I seenow that my faults with you are heavy indeed! But,perhaps." he added. "you might have forgiven methese problems if I had not hurt your pride by myhonesty concerning your family. Can I say nothing thatwill change your feelings towards me? "
Elizabeth felt herself becoming angrier everymoment. Yet she tried to speak calmly. She said, "Youare mistaken again. Mr. Darcy. Because you declaredyour love to me in this manner, I am not concernedabout hurting you with my refusal. "
She saw that he was ready to respond to this, buthe said nothing.
"It is not only this. You could not have made mean offer of marriage in any possible way that wouldhave caused me to accept. "
Again his amazement was clear. She continued,"You know that I am being truly honest with you.When I first met you, I saw your pride, your beliefthat other people are below you. I also saw that youwere selfish, that you do not care about the feelings ofothers. I felt that if you were the last man in theworld, I still could never marry you! "
"You have said quite enough for now, madam. Iunderstand perfectly your feelings, and now I have onlyto be ashamed of what my own feelings have been.Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time. "
With these words he quickly left the room.Elizabeth heard him soon leave the house.
Her mind and heart were both in a mess. She satdown and cried for half-an-hour She could not believethat she had received an offer of marriage from Mr.Darcy! She could not believe that he had been in lovewith her for so many months! In fact he was so muchin love that he wished to marry her despite herbackground - the same background that made himstop Bingley from marrying Jane! She knew then thathis affection for her was very strong! But she could notforget his pride and his uncaring manner toward whathe had done to Jane. Also. she remembered hiscoldness when she had mentioned Wickham. This soondestroyed any pity which Elizabeth had, for a moment,felt.
She cried and worried until she heard LadyCatherine's carriage. Then she hurried away to herroom.
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