pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第8节
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partner。’
Mr。 Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the
honour of her hand； but in vain。 Elizabeth was determined； nor did
Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion。
‘You excel so much in the dance； Miss Eliza； that it is cruel to
deny me the happiness of seeing you； and though this gentleman
dislikes the amusement in general； he can have no objection； I am
sure； to oblige us for one half hour。’
‘Mr。 Darcy is all politeness；’ said Elizabeth； smiling。
‘He is indeed—but considering the inducement； my dear Miss
Eliza； we cannot wonder at his complaisance； for who would object
to such a partner？’
Elizabeth looked archly； and turned away。 Her resistance had
not injured her with the gentleman； and he was thinking of her
with some complacency； when thus accosted by Miss Bingley；
‘I can guess the subject of your reverie。
‘I should imagine not。’
‘You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass
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many evenings in this manner—in such society； and indeed I am
quite of your opinion。 I was never more annoyed！ The insipidity
and yet the noise； the nothingness and yet the self…importance of
all these people！—What would I give to hear your strictures on
them！’
‘Your conjecture is totally wrong； I assure you。 My mind was
more agreeably engaged。 I have been meditating on the very great
pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can
bestow。’
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face； and desired
he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such
reflections。 Mr。 Darcy replied with great intrepidity；
‘Miss Elizabeth Bennet。’
‘Miss Elizabeth Bennet！’ repeated Miss Bingley。 ‘I am all
astonishment。 How long has she been such a favourite？—and pray
when am I to wish you joy？’
‘That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask。 A
lady’s imagination is very rapid； it jumps from admiration to love；
from love to matrimony in a moment。 I knew you would be wishing
me joy。’
‘Nay； if you are so serious about it； I shall consider the matter as
absolutely settled。 You will have a charming mother…in…law；
indeed； and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you。
He listened to her with perfect indifference； while she chose to
entertain herself in this manner； and as his composure convinced
her that all was safe； her wit flowed long。
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CHAPTER VII
r。 Bennet’s property consisted almost entirely in an
estate of two thousand a year； which； unfortunately for
M
his daughters； was entailed in default of heirs male； on
a distant relation； and their mother’s fortune； though ample for
her situation in life； could but ill supply the deficiency of his。 Her
father had been an attorney in Meryton； and had left her four
thousand pounds。
She had a sister married to a Mr。 Philips； who had been a clerk
to their father； and succeeded him in the business； and a brother
settled in London in a respectable line of trade。
The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton； a
most convenient distance for the young ladies； who were usually
tempted thither three or four times a week； to pay their duty to
their aunt and to a milliner’s shop just over the way。 The two
youngest of the family； Catherine and Lydia； were particularly
frequent in these attentions； their minds were more vacant than
their sisters’； and when nothing better offered； a walk to Meryton
was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish
conversation for the evening； and however bare of news the
country in general might be； they always contrived to learn some
from their aunt。 At present； indeed； they were well supplied both
with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment
in the neighbourhood； it was to remain the whole winter； and
Meryton was the head quarters。
Their visits to Mrs。 Philips were now productive of the most
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interesting intelligence。 Every day added something to their
knowledge of the officers’ names and connections。 Their lodgings
were not long a secret； and at length they began to know the
officers themselves。 Mr。 Philips visited them all； and this opened to
his nieces a source of felicity unknown before。 They could talk of
nothing but officers； and Mr。 Bingley’s large fortune； the mention
of which gave animation to their mother； was worthless in their
eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign。
After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject；
Mr。 Bennet coolly observed；
‘From all that I can collect by your manner of talking； you must
be two of the silliest girls in the country。 I have suspected it some
time； but I am now convinced。’
Catherine was disconcerted； and made no answer； but Lydia；
with perfect indifference； continued to express her admiration of
Captain Carter； and her hope of seeing him in the course of the
day； as he was going the next morning to London。
‘I am astonished； my dear；’ said Mrs。 Bennet； ‘that you should
be so ready to think your own children silly。 If I wished to think
slightingly of any body’s children； it should not be of my own
however。’
‘If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it。’
‘Yes—but as it happens； they are all of them very clever。’
‘This is the only point； I flatter myself； on which we do not
agree。 I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every
particular； but I must so far differ from you as to think our two
youngest daughters uncommonly foolish。’
‘My dear Mr。 Bennet； you must not expect such girls to have the
sense of their father and mother。—When they get to our age I dare
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say they will not think about officers any more than we do。 I
remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well—and
indeed so I do still at my heart； and if a smart young colonel； with
five or six thousand a year； should want one of my girls； I shall not
say nay to him； and I thought Colonel Forster looked very
becoming the other night at Sir William’s in his regimentals。’
‘Mama；’ cried Lydia； ‘my aunt says that Colonel Forster and
Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson’s as they did
when they first came； she sees them now very often standing in
Clarke’s library。’
Mrs。 Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the
footman with a note for Miss Bennet； it came from Netherfield； and
the servant waited for an answer。 Mrs。 Bennet’s eyes sparkled with
pleasure； and she was eagerly calling out； while her daughter read；
‘Well； Jane； who is it from？ what is it about？ what does he say？
Well； Jane； make haste and tell us； make haste； my love。’
‘It is from Miss Bingley；’ said Jane； and then read it aloud。
‘My dear Friend；
‘If you are not so compassionate as to dine to…day with Louisa
and me； we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest o
