The two gentlemen left Rosings the next morning; and Mr. Collins having been in waiting near the lodges, to make them his parting obeisance, was able to bring home the pleasing intelligence of their appearing in very good health, and in as tolerable spirits as could be expected, after the melancholy scene so lately gone through at Rosings. To Rosings he then hastened to console Lady Catherine and her daughter; and on his return brought back, with great satisfaction, a message from her ladyship, importing that she felt herself so dull as to make her very desirous of having them all to dine with her.
Elizabeth could not see Lady Catherine without recollecting that, had she chosen it, she might by this time have been presented to her as her future niece; nor could she think, without a smile, of what her ladyship's indignation would have been. "What would she have said? -- how would she have behaved?" were questions with which she amused herself.
Their first subject was the diminution of the Rosings party. -- "I assure you, I feel it exceedingly," said Lady Catherine; "I believe nobody feels the loss of friends so much as I do. But I am particularly attached to these young men; and know them to be so much attached to me! -- They were excessively sorry to go! But so they always are. The dear colonel rallied his spirits tolerably till just at last; but Darcy seemed to feel it most acutely, more I think than last year. His attachment to Rosings, certainly increases."
Mr. Collins had a compliment, and an allusion to throw in here, which were kindly smiled on by the mother and daughter.
Lady Catherine observed, after dinner, that Miss Bennet seemed out of spirits; and immediately accounting for it herself, by supposing that she did not like to go home again so soon, she added,
"But if that is the case, you must write to your mother to beg that you may stay a little longer. Mrs. Collins will be very glad of your company, I am sure."
"I am much obliged to your ladyship for your kind invitation," replied Elizabeth, "but it is not in my power to accept it. -- I must be in town next Saturday."
"Why, at that rate, you will have been here only six weeks. I expected you to stay two months. I told Mrs. Collins so before you came. There can be no occasion for your going so soon. Mrs. Bennet could certainly spare you for another fortnight."
"But my father cannot. -- He wrote last week to hurry my return."
"Oh! your father of course may spare you, if your mother can. -- Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father. And if you will stay another month complete, it will be in my power to take one of you as far as London, for I am going there early in June, for a week; and as Dawson does not object to the Barouche box, there will be very good room for one of you -- and indeed, if the weather should happen to be cool, I should not object to taking you both, as you are neither of you large."
"You are all kindness, Madam; but I believe we must abide by our original plan."
Lady Catherine seemed resigned.
"Mrs. Collins, you must send a servant with them. You know I always speak my mind, and I cannot bear the idea of two young women travelling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody. I have the greatest dislike in the world to that sort of thing. -- Young women should always be properly guarded and attended, according to their situation in life. When my niece Georgiana went to Ramsgate last summer, I made a point of her having two men servants go with her. -- Miss Darcy, the daughter of Mr. Darcy of Pemberley, and Lady Anne, could not have appeared with propriety in a different manner. -- I am excessively attentive to all those things. You must send John with the young ladies, Mrs. Collins. I am glad it occurred to me to mention it; for it would really be discreditable to you to let them go alone."
"My uncle is to send a servant for us."
"Oh! -- Your uncle! -- He keeps a man-servant, does he? -- I am very glad you have somebody who thinks of those things. Where shall you change horses? -- Oh! Bromley, of course. -- If you mention my name at the Bell, you will be attended to."
Lady Catherine had many other questions to ask respecting their journey, and as she did not answer them all herself, attention was necessary, which Elizabeth believed to be lucky for her, or, with a mind so occupied, she might have forgotten where she was. Reflection must be reserved for solitary hours; whenever she was alone, she gave way to it as the greatest relief; and not a day went by without a solitary walk, in which she might indulge in all the delight of unpleasant recollections.
Mr. Darcy's letter, she was in a fair way of soon knowing by heart. She studied every sentence: and her feelings towards its writer were at times widely different. When she remembered the style of his address, she was still full of indignation; but when she considered how unjustly she had condemned and upbraided him, her anger was turned against herself; and his disappointed feelings became the object of compassion. His attachment excited gratitude, his general character respect; but she could not approve him; nor could she for a moment repent her refusal, or feel the slightest inclination ever to see him again. In her own past behaviour, there was a constant source of vexation and regret; and in the unhappy defects of her family a subject of yet heavier chagrin. They were hopeless of remedy. Her father, contented with laughing at them, would never exert himself to restrain the wild giddiness of his youngest daughters; and her mother, with manners so far from right herself, was entirely insensible of the evil. Elizabeth had frequently united with Jane in an endeavour to check the imprudence of Catherine and Lydia; but while they were supported by their mother's indulgence, what chance could there be of improvement? Catherine, weak-spirited, irritable, and completely under Lydia's guidance, had been always affronted by their advice; and Lydia, self-willed and careless, would scarcely give them a hearing. They were ignorant, idle, and vain. While there was an officer in Meryton, they would flirt with him; and while Meryton was within a walk of Longbourn, they would be going there for ever.
Anxiety on Jane's behalf was another prevailing concern, and Mr. Darcy's explanation, by restoring Bingley to all her former good opinion, heightened the sense of what Jane had lost. His affection was proved to have been sincere, and his conduct cleared of all blame, unless any could attach to the implicitness of his confidence in his friend. How grievous then was the thought that, of a situation so desirable in every respect, so replete with advantage, so promising for happiness, Jane had been deprived, by the folly and indecorum of her own family!
When to these recollections was added the developement of Wickham's character, it may be easily believed that the happy spirits which had seldom been depressed before, were now so much affected as to make it almost impossible for her to appear tolerably cheerful.
Their engagements at Rosings were as frequent during the last week of her stay as they had been at first. The very last evening was spent there; and her Ladyship again enquired minutely into the particulars of their journey, gave them directions as to the best method of packing, and was so urgent on the necessity of placing gowns in the only right way, that Maria thought herself obliged, on her return, to undo all the work of the morning, and pack her trunk afresh.
When they parted, Lady Catherine, with great condescension, wished them a good journey, and invited them to come to Hunsford again next year; and Miss De Bourgh exerted herself so far as to curtsey and hold out her hand to both.
--正文
两位罗星的先生第二天早上走了。柯林斯一直在客厅等候，以示自己对他们的尊重，在罗星令人伤感的送别后，他回家跟家里人讲两位先生看起来身体都很健康，而且精神都挺不错。然后他又连忙赶回罗星庄园去安慰卡瑟林夫人和她女儿了。然后他回家后又得意洋洋地带来一个消息，卡瑟林夫人说自己觉得太无聊了，十分希望能跟他们一起吃饭。
伊丽莎白一想到要见卡瑟林夫人就忍不住会想：假如她同意达西的求婚，那么她现在就是卡瑟林夫人的未来外甥女了。而且她忍不住会笑着想，卡瑟林夫人会气成什么样。“她刚才说了啥？她举止还端正么？”伊丽莎白想着卡瑟林夫人会问这样的问题，就笑了起来。
晚餐上聊的第一个话题就是屋里人少了。“我跟你保证，”卡瑟林夫人说，“我无比感同身受，没有人比我更觉得失去了好友。但我更喜欢这些年轻人，而且知道他们也喜欢我。要离开这里，他们也很伤心，他们每次都是这样。我那可爱的上校直到最后才勉强打起精神。但是达西的反应好像更强烈一点，我觉得比去年要强烈一些。他对罗星的感情肯定是更深了。”
柯林斯接着说了个笑话，恭维了一番，母女俩都善意地报以微笑。
卡瑟林夫人注意到，晚饭后本内特小姐似乎心不在焉。她自己合计了下，觉得是应该她不想那么快又回家去，就说，“如果是这样的话，你得写封信给你妈，求她让你在这多待一阵子。柯林斯先生肯定会很喜欢你待在这儿的，我确定。”
“十分感谢夫人您，那么好心留我，”伊丽莎白说，“但是我没法留下来，下周六之前我就得回去。”
“你为什么只能在这待六周呢？我开始可是打算你待两月的。你来之前我就跟柯林斯太太说，可不能早早让你回去。本内特太太怎么也会让你再待两周的。”
“但是我父亲等不了。他上周写信给我催我回去。”
“要是你母亲同意的话，那你父亲可能会同意啊。（翻译官：真实！）女儿对父亲来说没那么重要的。如果你在这再待一个月的话，我就能带你们一个人去伦敦，六月初我要去那待一个星期。因为道森驾四轮马车去，刚好有空间再坐你们一个人。如果天气凉爽的话，我也可以带你们两人过去，正好你们个子都不大。”
“您真是太好心了，夫人。但是我们可能还是得按原计划来。”
卡瑟林夫人不再坚持了。
“柯林斯夫人，你一定得差个仆人给他们。你知道我都是有话直说的，我没法忍受两个年轻姑娘独自旅行。这可不合适的。你怎么也得差个人过去，我可从来不喜欢这种事情。年轻姑娘得按照她们的身份，好好保护她们，好好照顾她们。我外甥女乔治安娜去年夏天去了ramsgate，我当时就说应该让两个南仆人陪同她。达西小姐，彭伯里庄园的达西先生的女儿，还有安妮夫人，简直是无法再暂停。我一直很留心这些事情。柯林斯夫人，你一定让约翰跟她们一起走。我挺开心还记得提这些事情，让你们自己走实在是有失脸面。”
“我叔叔会差个仆人过来。”
“哦！你叔叔，他有个男仆对的吧。真高兴有人替你想着这些事情。你们打算在哪里换马？哦，肯定是在布罗姆利那儿。你要是在钟楼那儿提我的名字，他们肯定会好好待你的。”
卡瑟林夫人还有关于他们旅途的问题要问，因为也不是都自问自答，所以还是得花心思听，伊丽莎白倒觉得是自己走运。否则自己这么走神，她可能都不知道自己在哪儿了。回忆只适合独自一人的时候进行。只有独自一人的时候，她才会陷入回忆中。每天她都会独自出去散散步，边走边回忆那些不愉快的事情。
达西的信，她很快就熟记于心。她研究了每句话，而且她对作者的感情有时候变化很大。当她想起达西那种写信的风格，她还是很愤怒。但是有时候想到之前她那么不公平地诅咒他，责骂他，她又开始生自己气。而他自怨自艾，又让她同情。他对自己的感情，又让她感激；而他的性格，又让她尊敬。但是她还是无法接受他，她也没有后悔过自己的选择，甚至连一丢丢要见他的感觉都没有。在她过去的行为里，她时常觉得恼火与后悔。而对于她家人的缺点，这又让她更加恼火，她们是无法拯救的。她父亲喜欢嘲笑他们，但是又不会管教那些年轻姑娘。而她母亲，自己的举止就不正经，更是连好坏都不分。伊丽莎白时常跟简一起，想管教卡瑟林和莉迪亚，但是有自己母亲护着，又有多大改善的可能呢？卡瑟林没什么主见，脾气又暴躁，完全听莉迪亚的指挥，老是听别人只会做些蠢事，自取其辱。而莉迪亚呢，固执又粗心，根本不听别人说话。她们俩无知，懒散又碌碌无为。只要梅屯有个军官，她们就会跟人调情。而如果梅屯跟磨辊屯只是几步路远，那么她们肯定永远留在那儿了。
她担心的另一个事情就是简，这是个常见的问题，而达西的解释呢，让伊丽莎白恢复了之前对她的看法，这让她觉得简损失太大。他的爱被证明是真诚的，而且他的行为也无可厚非，除非你怪他对朋友太过信任。然后伊丽莎白十分悲痛地想：这样一桩如此合理，幸福的婚姻，就因为家里人的愚蠢，竟被葬送了！
想起之前的事情，就想起了维克汉姆的黑化。这就让伊丽莎白以前那种高兴的劲头，再也难见到了，甚至连勉强打起精神都做不到。
在她留在罗星的最后一周，邀约还是一如既往的频繁。最后一晚是在罗星度过的。然后卡瑟林夫人又开始细致入微地问起旅途的细节，指导她们怎么打包最好 ，还着急地告诉她们裙子怎么放才对。玛丽亚听上心了，一回来就把早上打包好的包裹打开，重新打包了一下。（翻译官：可怜的玛丽亚，该有5章没露脸了吧。）
她们分别的时候，卡瑟林夫人十分屈尊地祝她们旅途顺利，邀请她们明年再来夯斯屯。德.包尔小姐出于礼节，送了她们好远，一一跟她们握手道别。