Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 11
Orgullo y Prejuicio - Capítulo 11
Mrs. Bennet was furious with Elizabeth for refusing Mr. Collins. She could not understand why her daughter would throw away such an opportunity.
El señor Collins, aunque decepcionado por el rechazo de Elizabeth, no estaba desconsolado. Rápidamente dirigió su atención a Charlotte Lucas, la mejor amiga de Elizabeth.
"He is a clergyman!" she cried. "He will inherit this estate! You will be secure for the rest of your life!"
Charlotte, que era práctica y poco sentimental, vio en el señor Collins una oportunidad para un hogar seguro. Ella alentó sus atenciones, y en pocos días, él le propuso matrimonio.
Elizabeth tried to explain her feelings, but her mother would not listen. She insisted that Elizabeth should accept Mr. Collins, and she told Mr. Bennet to force her.
Charlotte aceptó.
But Mr. Bennet would not intervene. He thought it was ridiculous to expect Elizabeth to marry a man she did not love.
Cuando Elizabeth escuchó la noticia, quedó atónita. —¿Te vas a casar con el señor Collins? —exclamó—. ¡Pero Charlotte, es ridículo!
"If your daughter should die," he said to his wife, "it would be a comfort to know that she left your house with an affection for you."
—Lo sé —dijo Charlotte con calma—. Pero es un buen hombre, y puede ofrecerme un hogar cómodo. No soy como tú, Lizzy. No necesito amor para ser feliz.
This only made Mrs. Bennet angrier. She threatened to never speak to Elizabeth again, though of course she did not carry out this threat.
Elizabeth estaba triste por la elección de su amiga, pero respetó la decisión de Charlotte. Sabía que Charlotte solo estaba tratando de asegurar su futuro.
Mr. Collins, for his part, was embarrassed by Elizabeth's refusal. He believed that she was just being coy, that women always said no at first.
La boda tuvo lugar poco después, y Charlotte se mudó con el señor Collins a Hunsford, para vivir cerca de Rosings Park.
"Do not worry, Mrs. Bennet," he said. "Miss Elizabeth will change her mind. She is just playing hard to get."
Elizabeth prometió visitarla, aunque temía volver a ver al señor Collins.
He decided to stay for a few more days, hoping that Elizabeth would come to her senses. But Elizabeth remained firm.
Mientras tanto, Bingley había dejado Netherfield y regresado a Londres. Jane estaba desconsolada, esperando una carta o una visita de él, pero no llegó nada.
Meanwhile, Mr. Collins turned his attention to Charlotte Lucas. Charlotte was Elizabeth's friend, and she was practical about marriage. She knew that at twenty-seven, she was not likely to receive many more proposals.
—Me ha olvidado —le dijo tristemente a Elizabeth.
When Mr. Collins proposed to Charlotte, she accepted him immediately. Elizabeth was shocked when she heard the news.
Elizabeth estaba segura de que las hermanas Bingley y Darcy estaban detrás de esto. Creían que Jane no era lo suficientemente buena para Bingley, y estaban haciendo todo lo posible para mantenerlos separados.
"How could you?" she asked her friend. "You do not love him."
Elizabeth estaba furiosa con todos ellos. Odiaba su orgullo y su interferencia, y juró no perdonarlos nunca.
Charlotte was calm. "I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only for a comfortable home, and I shall be provided for. Mr. Collins will be able to give me that."
Elizabeth could not understand her friend's decision. But she knew that Charlotte had made her choice, and she must respect it.
The wedding was set for November, and Mr. Collins left to prepare for his marriage. Mrs. Bennet was disappointed that Elizabeth had refused, but she was at least pleased that Charlotte would be well provided for.