MR. Collins's triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he knew not how to admire enough.
罗新斯这一次请客,真使得柯林斯先生感到百分之百地得意。他本来一心要让这些好奇的宾客们去风光一下他那女施主的堂皇气派,看看老夫人对待他们夫妇俩多么礼貌周全。他竟会这么快就得到了如愿以偿的机会,这件事大足以说明咖苔琳夫人的礼贤下士,使得他不知如何景仰是好。
"I confess," said he, "that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation moreover including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!"
“说老实话,”他说,“她老人家邀请我们星期日去吃茶点,在罗新斯消磨一个下午,我一点儿也不觉得意外。她一贯为人殷勤,我倒以为她真要这样招待一番的,可是谁料想到会象这次这样情意隆重?谁会想到你们刚刚到这里在,就被请到那边去吃饭(而且全体都请到了)?”
"I am the less surprised at what has happened," replied Sir William, "from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the Court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon."
威廉爵士说:“刚才的事我倒不怎么觉得稀奇,大人物的为人处世实在都是如此,象我这样有身份的人,就见识得很多。在显宦贵族们当中,这类风雅好客的事不足为奇。”
Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day, or next morning, but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them.
这一整天和第二天上午,简直只谈到去罗新斯的事。柯林斯先生预先仔仔细细地一样样告诉他们,到那边去将要看到什么东西,免得他们看到了那样宏伟的屋子,那样众多的仆从,那样丰盛的菜肴,会造成临时慌乱,手足失措。