pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第6节
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ill…treatment； for he is such a disagreeable man that it would be
quite a misfortune to be liked by him。 Mrs。 Long told me last night
that he sat close to her for half an hour without once opening his
lips。’
‘Are you quite sure； Ma’am？—is not there a little mistake？’ said
Jane。—‘I certainly saw Mr。 Darcy speaking to her。’
‘Aye—because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield；
and he could not help answering her；—but she said he seemed
very angry at being spoke to。’
‘Miss Bingley told me；’ said Jane； ‘that he never speaks much
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unless among his intimate acquaintance。 With them he is
remarkably agreeable。’
‘I do not believe a word of it； my dear。 If he had been so very
agreeable he would have talked to Mrs。 Long。 But I can guess how
it was； every body says that he is ate up with pride； and I dare say
he had heard somehow that Mrs。 Long does not keep a carriage；
and had come to the ball in a hack chaise。’
‘I do not mind his not talking to Mrs。 Long；’ said Miss Lucas；
‘but I wish he had danced with Eliza。’
‘Another time； Lizzy；’ said her mother； ‘I would not dance with
him； if I were you。’
‘I believe； Ma’am； I may safely promise you never to dance with
him。’
‘His pride；’ said Miss Lucas； ‘does not offend me so much as
pride often does； because there is an excuse for it。 One cannot
wonder that so very fine a young man； with family； fortune； every
thing in his favour； should think highly of himself。 If I may so
express it； he has a right to be proud。’
‘That is very true；’ replied Elizabeth； ‘and I could easily forgive
his pride； if he had not mortified mine。’
‘Pride；’ observed Mary； who piqued herself upon the solidity of
her reflections； ‘is a very common failing I believe。 By all that I
have ever read； I am convinced that it is very common indeed； that
human nature is particularly prone to it； and that there are very
few of us who do not cherish a feeling of self…complacency on the
score of some quality or other； real or imaginary。 Vanity and pride
are different things； though the words are often used
synonimously。 A person may be proud without being vain。 Pride
relates more to our opinion of ourselves； vanity to what we would
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have others think of us。’
‘If I were as rich as Mr。 Darcy；’ cried a young Lucas who came
with his sisters； ‘I should not care how proud I was。 I would keep a
pack of foxhounds； and drink a bottle of wine every day。’
‘Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought；’ said
Mrs。 Bennet； ‘and if I were to see you at it I should take away your
bottle directly。’
The boy protested that she should not； she continued to declare
that she would； and the argument ended only with the visit。
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CHAPTER VI
he ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of
Netherfield。 The visit was returned in due form。 Miss
T
Bennet’s pleasing manners grew on the good will of Mrs。
Hurst and Miss Bingley； and though the mother was found to be
intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to； a wish
of being better acquainted with them； was expressed towards the
two eldest。 By Jane this attention was received with the greatest
pleasure； but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their
treatment of every body； hardly excepting even her sister； and
could not like them； though their kindness to Jane； such as it was；
had a value as arising in all probability from the influence of their
brother’s admiration。 It was generally evident whenever they met；
that he did admire her； and to her it was equally evident that Jane
was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain
for him from the first； and was in a way to be very much in love；
but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be
discovered by the world in general； since Jane united with great
strength of feeling； a composure of temper and a uniform
cheerfulness of manner； which would guard her from the
suspicions of the impertinent。 She mentioned this to her friend
Miss Lucas。
‘It may perhaps be pleasant；’ replied Charlotte； ‘to be able to
impose on the public in such a case； but it is sometimes a
disadvantage to be so very guarded。 If a woman conceals her
affection with the same skill from the object of it； she may lose the
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opportunity of fixing him； and it will then be but poor consolation
to believe the world equally in the dark。 There is so much of
gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment； that it is not safe to
leave any to itself。 We can all begin freely—a slight preference is
natural enough； but there are very few of us who have heart
enough to be really in love without encouragement。 In nine cases
out of ten； a woman had better shew more affection than she feels。
Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly； but he may never do more
than like her； if she does not help him on。’
‘But she does help him on； as much as her nature will allow。 If I
can perceive her regard for him； he must be a simpleton indeed not
to discover it too。’
‘Remember； Eliza； that he does not know Jane’s disposition as
you do。’
‘But if a woman is partial to a man； and does not endeavour to
conceal it； he must find it out。’
‘Perhaps he must； if he sees enough of her。 But though Bingley
and Jane meet tolerably often； it is never for many hours together；
and as they always see each other in large mixed parties； it is
impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing
together。 Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour
in which she can command his attention。 When she is secure of
him； there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chuses。’
‘Your plan is a good one；’ replied Elizabeth； ‘where nothing is in
question but the desire of being well married； and if I were
determined to get a rich husband； or any husband； I dare say I
should adopt it。 But these are not Jane’s feelings； she is not acting
by design。 As yet； she cannot even be certain of the degree of her
own regard； nor of its reasonableness。 She has known him only a
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fortnight。 She danced four dances with him at Meryton； she saw
him one morning at his own house； and has since dined in
company with him four times。 This is not quite enough to make her
understand his character。’
‘Not as you represent it。 Had she merely dined with him； she
might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite； but
you must remember that four evenings have been also spent
together—and four evenings may do a great deal。’
‘Yes； these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that
they both like Vingt…un better than Commerce； but with respect to
any other leading characteristic； I do not imagine that much has
been unfolded。’
‘Well；’ said Charlotte； ‘I wish Jane success with all my heart； and
if she
