Mrs. Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library."Come here, child," cried her father as she appeared. "I have sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr. Collins has made you an offer of marriage. Is it true?" Elizabeth replied that it was. "Very well -- and this offer of marriage you have refused?""I have, Sir.""Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is not it so, Mrs. Bennet?""Yes, or I will never see her again.""An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. -- Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do."Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning; but Mrs. Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed."What do you mean, Mr. Bennet, by talking in this way? You promised me to insist upon her marrying him.""My dear," replied her husband, "I have two small favours to request. First, that you will allow me the free use of my understanding on the present occasion; and secondly, of my room. I shall be glad to have the library to myself as soon as may be."班纳特太太拉下了铃，伊丽莎白小姐给叫到书房里来了。
爸爸一见她来，便大声说：“上这儿来，孩子，我叫你来谈一件要紧的事。
我听说柯林斯先生向你求婚，真有这回事吗？”伊丽莎白说，真有这回事。
“很好。
你把这桩婚事回绝了吗？”“我回绝了，爸爸。
”“很好，我们现在就来谈到本题。
你的妈非要你答应不可。
我的好太太，可不是吗？”“是的，否则我看也不要看到她了。
”“摆在你面前的是个很不幸的难题，你得自己去抉择，伊丽莎白。
从今天起，你不和父亲成为陌路人，就要和母亲成为陌路人。
要是你不嫁给柯林斯先生，你的妈就不要再见你，要是你嫁给他，我就不要再见你了。
”伊丽莎白听到了那样的开头和这样的结论，不得不笑了一笑；不过，这可苦了班纳特太太，她本以为丈夫一定会照着她的意思来对待这件事的，哪里料到反而叫她大失所望。
“你这话是什么意思，我的好老爷？你事先不是答应了我，非叫她嫁给他不可吗？”“好太太，”丈夫回答道，“我有两件事要求你帮帮忙。
第一，请你允许我自由运用我自己的书房。
我真巴不得早日在自己书房里图个清闲自在。
”。
