pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第4节
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standing about by yourself in this stupid manner。 You had much
better dance。’
‘I certainly shall not。 You know how I detest it； unless I am
particularly acquainted with my partner。 At such an assembly as
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this； it would be insupportable。 Your sisters are engaged； and there
is not another woman in the room； whom it would not be a
punishment to me to stand up with。’
‘I would not be so fastidious as you are；’ cried Bingley； ‘for a
kingdom！ Upon my honour； I never met with so many pleasant
girls in my life； as I have this evening； and there are several of
them you see uncommonly pretty。’
‘You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room；’ said
Mr。 Darcy； looking at the eldest Miss Bennet。
‘Oh！ she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld！ But there
is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you； who is very
pretty； and I dare say； very agreeable。 Do let me ask my partner to
introduce you。’
‘Which do you mean？’ and turning round； he looked for a
moment at Elizabeth； till catching her eye； he withdrew his own
and coldly said； ‘She is tolerable； but not handsome enough to
tempt me； and I am in no humour at present to give consequence
to young ladies who are slighted by other men。 You had better
return to your partner and enjoy her smiles； for you are wasting
your time with me。’
Mr。 Bingley followed his advice。 Mr。 Darcy walked off； and
Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him。 She
told the story however with great spirit among her friends； for she
had a lively； playful disposition； which delighted in any thing
ridiculous。
The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole
family。 Mrs。 Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired
by the Netherfield party。 Mr。 Bingley had danced with her twice；
and she had been distinguished by his sisters。 Jane was as much
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gratified by this； as her mother could be； though in a quieter way。
Elizabeth felt Jane’s pleasure。 Mary had heard herself mentioned
to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the
neighbourhood； and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate
enough to be never without partners； which was all that they had
yet learnt to care for at a ball。 They returned therefore in good
spirits to Longbourn； the village where they lived； and of which
they were the principal inhabitants。 They found Mr。 Bennet still
up。 With a book he was regardless of time； and on the present
occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the event of an
evening which had raised such splendid expectations。 He had
rather hoped that all his wife’s views on the stranger would be
disappointed； but he soon found that he had a very different story
to hear。
‘Oh！ my dear Mr。 Bennet；’ as she entered the room； ‘we have
had a most delightful evening； a most excellent ball。 I wish you had
been there。 Jane was so admired； nothing could be like it。 Every
body said how well she looked； and Mr。 Bingley thought her quite
beautiful； and danced with her twice。 Only think of that my dear；
he actually danced with her twice； and she was the only creature in
the room that he asked a second time。 First of all； he asked Miss
Lucas。 I was so vexed to see him stand up with her； but； however；
he did not admire her at all： indeed； nobody can； you know； and he
seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down the dance。
So； he enquired who she was； and got introduced； and asked her
for the two next。 Then； the two third he danced with Miss King；
and the two fourth with Maria Lucas； and the two fifth with Jane
again； and the two sixth with Lizzy； and the Boulanger—’
‘If he had had any compassion for me；’ cried her husband
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impatiently； ‘he would not have danced half so much！ For God’s
sake； say no more of his partners。 Oh！ that he had sprained his
ancle in the first dance！’
‘Oh！ my dear；’ continued Mrs。 Bennet； ‘I am quite delighted
with him。 He is so excessively handsome！ and his sisters are
charming women。 I never in my life saw any thing more elegant
than their dresses。 I dare say the lace upon Mrs。 Hurst’s gown—’
Here she was interrupted again。 Mr。 Bennet protested against
any description of finery。 She was therefore obliged to seek
another branch of the subject； and related； with much bitterness of
spirit and some exaggeration； the shocking rudeness of Mr。 Darcy。
‘But I can assure you； she added； ‘that Lizzy does not lose much
by not suiting his fancy； for he is a most disagreeable； horrid man；
not at all worth pleasing。 So high and so conceited that there was
no enduring him！ He walked here； and he walked there； fancying
himself so very great！ Not handsome enough to dance with！ I wish
you had been there； my dear； to have given him one of your set
downs。 I quite detest the man。’
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CHAPTER IV
hen Jane and Elizabeth were alone； the former； who
Whad been cautious in her praise of Mr。 Bingley before；
expressed to her sister how very much she admired
him。
‘He is just what a young man ought to be；’ said she； ‘sensible；
good humoured； lively； and I never saw such happy manners！—so
much ease； with such perfect good breeding！’
‘He is also handsome；’ replied Elizabeth； ‘which a young man
ought likewise to be； if he possibly can。 His character is thereby
complete。’
‘I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second
time。 I did not expect such a compliment。’
‘Did not you？ I did for you。 But that is one great difference
between us。 Compliments always take you by surprise； and me
never。 What could be more natural than his asking you again？ He
could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as
every other woman in the room。 No thanks to his gallantry for that。
Well； he certainly is very agreeable； and I give you leave to like
him。 You have liked many a stupider person。’
‘Dear Lizzy！’
‘Oh！ you are a great deal too apt you know； to like people in
general。 You never see a fault in any body。 All the world are good
and agreeable in your eyes。 I never heard you speak ill of a human
being in my life。’
‘I would wish not to be hasty in censuring any one； but I always
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speak what I think。’
‘I know you do； and it is that which makes the wonder。 With
your good sense； to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense
of others！ Affectation of candour is common enough；—one meets it
every where。 But to be candid without ostentation or design—to
take the good of every body’s character and make it still better； and
say nothing of the bad—belongs to you alone。 And so； you like this
man’s sisters too； do you？ T
