Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 15
Orgullo y Prejuicio - Capítulo 15
Elizabeth could hardly believe what she was hearing. Darcy was proposing to her? After he had shown such disdain for her family, after he had separated Jane and Bingley, after he had ruined Wickham's life?
Al día siguiente, Elizabeth salió a caminar para ordenar sus pensamientos. Todavía estaba alterada por la propuesta de Darcy y su furioso rechazo.
She looked at him in amazement. "In such cases as this," she said, "it is customary to express gratitude. But I feel no gratitude. I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly given me none."
De repente, vio a Darcy acercarse a ella. Tenía una carta en la mano.
Darcy was stunned. "I am sorry if I have offended you," he said stiffly. "But I cannot understand why you are so angry."
—Señorita Bennet —dijo formalmente—. Me gustaría pedirle que lea esta carta. Lo explica todo.
"Why did you separate Jane and Bingley?" Elizabeth demanded. "Why did you ruin Wickham? Do you think I could marry a man who has done such things?"
Le puso la carta en la mano y se alejó rápidamente.
Darcy's face darkened. "I admit that I separated Bingley from your sister," he said. "I believed she did not care for him, and I did not want him to make an imprudent marriage."
Elizabeth se sentó en un banco y abrió la carta. Era larga y estaba escrita con letra apretada.
"But she did care for him!" Elizabeth cried. "You destroyed her happiness!"
Darcy comenzaba disculpándose por su comportamiento. Admitía que había sido orgulloso y arrogante, pero insistía en que tenía sus razones.
"And as for Wickham," Darcy continued, "I did not ruin his life. He tried to marry my sister for her fortune, and I prevented him. He is a gambler and a liar, Miss Bennet, and you should not believe his stories."
Explicaba por qué había separado a Bingley de Jane. Había creído que Jane no amaba realmente a Bingley, que solo estaba interesada en su dinero. Y se había preocupado por el comportamiento de su familia.
Elizabeth was shocked by this revelation. Was it possible that Wickham had lied to her?
—Puede que me haya equivocado —escribió—. Pero actué por preocupación por mi amigo.
"And your family," Darcy said, "your mother's behaviour, your younger sisters' silliness—I could not marry you and subject myself to such connections."
Luego pasaba a Wickham. Revelaba la verdadera historia de su relación. Wickham no era una víctima, sino un jugador y un mentiroso. Había desperdiciado su herencia y luego había intentado seducir a la hermana de Darcy, Georgiana, para conseguir su fortuna.
Elizabeth was furious. "You have insulted me and my family," she said. "You have shown no regard for my feelings. Do you think I could ever care for a man like you?"
—Es un hombre sin honor —escribió Darcy—. Y no podía permitir que arruinara a mi hermana.
"No," Darcy said quietly. "I understand now."
Elizabeth leyó la carta con creciente asombro. Había creído todo lo que Wickham le había dicho, pero ahora veía que había sido engañada. La explicación de Darcy era detallada y convincente. No había actuado por malicia, sino para proteger a su hermana.
He turned and left the room, leaving Elizabeth alone with her anger and confusion.
Y en cuanto a Jane... Elizabeth tuvo que admitir que el comportamiento de Jane había sido reservado. Quizás Darcy realmente había creído que ella no amaba a Bingley.
Over the next few days, Elizabeth struggled with her feelings. She was angry at Darcy for his pride and his interference, but she could not stop thinking about his proposal.
Cuando terminó la carta, la opinión de Elizabeth sobre Darcy estaba completamente conmocionada. Lo había juzgado tan mal. No era el villano que ella había pensado. Era un hombre de principios que trataba de hacer lo correcto.
Why had he proposed to her when he clearly disliked her family? What had he meant when he said he had struggled to deny his feelings?
—¿Cómo pude ser tan ciega? —se preguntó—. He confundido el orgullo con el prejuicio.
And what about Wickham? Had Darcy told the truth about him? Or had Wickham deceived her?
She did not know what to believe anymore.