Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 13
Orgullo y Prejuicio - Capítulo 13
In the spring, an invitation came from Mr. Collins and Charlotte. They invited Elizabeth to visit them at their new home, the parsonage at Hunsford, which was near Rosings Park, the estate of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Darcy llegó a Rosings Park en Pascua, acompañado por su primo, el coronel Fitzwilliam. Elizabeth los veía a menudo en la iglesia y en eventos sociales.
Elizabeth accepted the invitation, and in March she set out for Hunsford. She was accompanied by Sir William Lucas and Maria, Charlotte's younger sister.
El coronel Fitzwilliam era un hombre amable y agradable, y Elizabeth disfrutaba de su compañía. A menudo hablaban de libros y música, y él parecía apreciar su ingenio.
When they arrived, they were greeted warmly by Charlotte, who looked happy in her new home. The parsonage was small but comfortable, and Charlotte seemed content with her life.
Darcy, por otro lado, era tan orgulloso y distante como siempre. Hablaba poco y parecía observar a todos a su alrededor.
"I am very fortunate," she told Elizabeth. "Mr. Collins is a good man, and I am well provided for."
Un día, mientras Elizabeth caminaba por el parque, se encontró con Darcy. Para su sorpresa, él se detuvo a hablar con ella.
Elizabeth was pleased to see her friend happy, though she still could not understand how Charlotte could marry without love.
—¿Le gusta Kent? —preguntó.
The next day, they were invited to dine at Rosings Park. Lady Catherine was a tall, imposing woman with a commanding presence. She asked them questions about their family and their lives, and she commented freely on everything.
—Es muy bonito —respondió Elizabeth—. Aunque prefiero el paisaje de Hertfordshire.
"You have a very small park, Sir William," she said. "It is nothing compared to Rosings."
—Por supuesto —dijo Darcy—. Uno siempre prefiere su propio hogar.
Sir William agreed politely, though Elizabeth found her tone insulting.
Conversaron durante unos minutos, y Elizabeth se sorprendió de lo cortés que era. Parecía esforzarse por ser agradable.
Lady Catherine then turned her attention to Elizabeth. "And how many sisters do you have, Miss Bennet?"
Unos días después, el coronel Fitzwilliam visitó a Elizabeth en la casa parroquial. Hablaron de Darcy, y el coronel mencionó casualmente que Darcy había salvado recientemente a un amigo de un matrimonio imprudente.
"Five, ma'am," Elizabeth replied.
—¿De verdad? —preguntó Elizabeth, y su corazón latió más rápido—. ¿Quién era el amigo?
"Five! All unmarried! Your mother must be very busy."
—Bingley —dijo el coronel—. Darcy pensó que la dama no era lo suficientemente buena para él, y que su familia era... bueno, difícil.
Elizabeth found Lady Catherine's questions intrusive, but she answered them calmly. She would not let this woman intimidate her.
Elizabeth estaba furiosa. Sabía que hablaba de Jane. ¡Darcy había arruinado la felicidad de su hermana, y estaba orgulloso de ello!
Over the next few weeks, Elizabeth and the Lucases visited Rosings several times. They also met Lady Catherine's daughter, Miss de Bourgh, who was pale and sickly and seemed to have little personality.
Apenas pudo ocultar su ira hasta que el coronel se fue. Entonces rompió a llorar.
"Miss de Bourgh will make a fine wife for Mr. Darcy," Charlotte whispered to Elizabeth. "They have been engaged since they were children."
—¡Es despreciable! —gritó—. ¡No tiene derecho a interferir en la vida de Bingley! ¡Le ha roto el corazón a Jane!
Elizabeth was surprised by this news. Darcy engaged to Miss de Bourgh? She could not imagine it. But then, she could not imagine why any woman would want to marry Darcy, with his pride and his arrogance.
Su odio hacia Darcy era ahora completo. No solo era orgulloso y arrogante, sino también cruel y manipulador.