When the card tables were placed, he had an opportunity of obliging her in return, by sitting down to whist.
一張張牌桌擺好以后,柯林斯便坐下來一同玩“惠斯脫”,總算有了一個機會報答她的好意。

"I know little of the game, at present," said he, "but I shall be glad to improve myself, for in my situation of life --" Mrs. Philips was very thankful for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason.
他說:“我對這玩藝兒簡直一竅不通,不過我很愿意把它學(xué)會,以我這樣的身份來說──”腓力普太太很感激他的好意可是卻不愿意聽他談?wù)撌裁瓷矸莸匚弧?/div>

Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes, to have attention for any one in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in an hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.
韋翰先生沒有玩“惠斯脫”,因為他被小姐們高高興興地請到另一張桌子上去玩牌,坐在伊麗莎白和麗迪雅之間。開頭的形勢很叫人擔憂,因為麗迪雅是個十足的健談家,大有把他獨占下來的可能;好在她對于摸獎也同樣愛好,立刻對那玩藝兒大感興趣,一股勁兒下注,得獎之后又大叫大嚷,因此就無從特別注意到某一個人身上去了。韋翰先生一面跟大家應(yīng)付這玩藝兒,一面從容不迫地跟伊麗莎白談話。伊麗莎白很愿意聽他說話,很想了解一下他和達西先生過去的關(guān)系,可是她要聽的他未必肯講。于是她提也不敢提到那位先生。后來出人意料之外,韋翰先生竟自動地談到那個問題上去了。因此她的好奇心到底還是得到了滿足。韋翰先生問起尼日斐花園離開麥里屯有多遠。她回答了他以后,他又吞吞吐吐地問起達西先生已經(jīng)在那兒待了多久。

"About a month," said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, "He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand."
伊麗莎白說:“大概有一個月了。”為了不愿意讓這個話題放松過去,她又接著說:“據(jù)我所知,他是德比郡一個大財主?!?/div>

"Yes," replied Wickham; -- "his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself -- for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy."
“是的,”韋翰回答道?!八呢敭a(chǎn)很可觀──每年有一萬鎊的凈收入。說起這方面,誰也沒有我知道得確實,因為我從小就和他家里有特別的關(guān)系?!?/div>

Elizabeth could not but look surprised.
伊麗莎白不禁顯出詫異的神氣。

"You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. -- Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"
“班納特小姐,你昨天也許看到我們見面時那種冷冰冰的樣子了吧,難怪你聽了我的話會覺得詫異。你同達西先生很熟嗎?”

"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth warmly, -- "I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable."
“我也只希望跟他這么熟就夠了,”伊麗莎白冒火地叫道?!拔液退谝黄鸫怂奶?,覺得他很討厭。”

"I have no right to give my opinion," said Wickham, "as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and to well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish -- and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. -- Here you are in your own family."
韋翰說:“他究竟討人喜歡還是討人厭,我可沒有權(quán)利說出我的意見。我不便發(fā)表意見。我認識他太久,跟他也處得太熟,因此很難做個公正的判斷人。我不可能做到大公無私。不過我敢說,你對他的看法大致可以說是駭人聽聞的,或許你在別的地方就不會說得這樣過火吧。這兒都是你自己人呢?!?/div>

"Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Every body is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by any one."
“老實說,除了在尼日斐花以外,我到附近任何人家去都會這樣說。哈福德郡根本就沒有人喜歡他。他那副傲慢的氣派,哪一個見了都討厭。你絕不會聽到人家說他一句好話?!?/div>

"I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Wickham, after a short interruption, "that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts; but with him I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chuses to be seen."
歇了一會兒,韋翰說:“說句問心無愧的話,不管是他也好,是別人也好,都不應(yīng)該受到人家過分的抬舉。不過他這個人,我相信不大會有人過分抬舉他的。他的有錢有勢蒙蔽了天下人的耳目,他那目空一切、盛氣凌人的氣派又嚇壞了天下人,弄得大家只有順著他的心意去看待他?!?/div>

"I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man." Wickham only shook his head.
“我雖然跟他并不太熟,可是我認為他是個脾氣很壞的人?!表f翰聽了這話,只是搖頭。

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