Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 14
Kiêu hãnh và Định kiến - Chương 14
To Elizabeth's surprise, Mr. Darcy and his cousin Colonel Fitzwilliam arrived at Rosings Park while she was staying at Hunsford. They had come to visit their aunt, Lady Catherine.
Darcy đến thăm dì của mình, Lady Catherine, tại Rosings. Elizabeth thường xuyên gặp ông trong những lần đi dạo.
Elizabeth was not pleased to see Darcy again, but she could not avoid him. The cousins dined frequently at the parsonage, and Elizabeth found herself in Darcy's company more often than she would have liked.
Một ngày nọ, trước sự ngạc nhiên tột độ của Elizabeth, Darcy cầu hôn cô. Tuy nhiên, lời cầu hôn của ông mang tính xúc phạm: ông dành nhiều thời gian để giải thích ông đã phải đấu tranh với tình cảm của mình như thế nào vì sự thấp kém của gia đình cô hơn là bày tỏ tình yêu với cô.
During one of these visits, Elizabeth and Colonel Fitzwilliam took a walk together. The Colonel was friendly and open, and Elizabeth enjoyed talking to him.
"You have travelled widely, Colonel," she said. "I envy you."
"Yes, I have seen many places," he replied. "But I must say that England is still the best country in the world."
He went on to talk about Darcy, and Elizabeth learned that Darcy had recently saved a friend from an imprudent marriage.
"A friend of mine," the Colonel said, "was in danger of being persuaded to marry a young woman of no fortune and no connections. Darcy convinced him to leave her and save himself from such a mistake."
Elizabeth immediately thought of Jane and Bingley. Could this be what had happened? Had Darcy convinced Bingley to leave Jane?
She was angry at the thought. How dare Darcy interfere in his friend's life? How dare he destroy Jane's happiness?
When she saw Darcy later that day, she could hardly speak to him. She was too angry to be polite.
But Darcy seemed unaware of her anger. He watched her with a look of interest that confused her. Why was he looking at her like that? What did he want from her?
The next day, Elizabeth went for a walk alone to calm her thoughts. As she walked, she saw Darcy approaching her.
She stopped, hoping he would pass by. But he stopped too, and after a moment of hesitation, he began to speak.
"I have been very selfish," he said. "I have struggled in vain to deny my feelings. You must allow me to tell you how much I admire and love you."
Elizabeth was shocked. Darcy was proposing to her? But how could he, when he had so clearly shown his dislike for her family?