pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第89节
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soon。’
But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into； was
shortly relieved； and her mind opened again to the agitation of
hope； by an article of news； which then began to be in circulation。
The housekeeper at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for
the arrival of her master； who was coming down in a day or two； to
shoot there for several weeks。 Mrs。 Bennet was quite in the
fidgets。 She looked at Jane； and smiled； and shook her head by
turns。
‘Well； well； and so Mr。 Bingley is coming down； sister；’ （for Mrs。
Phillips first brought her the news。） ‘Well； so much the better。 Not
that I care about it； though。 He is nothing to us； you know； and I
am sure I never want to see him again。 But； however； he is very
welcome to come to Netherfield； if he likes it。 And who knows
what may happen？ But that is nothing to us。 You know； sister； we
agreed long ago never to mention a word about it。 And so； is it
quite certain he is coming？’
‘You may depend on it；’ replied the other； ‘for Mrs。 Nicholls was
in Meryton last night； I saw her passing by； and went out myself
on purpose to know the truth of it； and she told me that it was
certain true。 He comes down on Thursday at the latest； very likely
on Wednesday。 She was going to the butcher’s； she told me； on
purpose to order in some meat on Wednesday； and she has got
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three couple of ducks； just fit to be killed。’
Miss Bennet had not been able to hear of his coming； without
changing colour。 It was many months since she had mentioned his
name to Elizabeth； but now； as soon as they were alone together；
she said；
‘I saw you look at me to…day； Lizzy； when my aunt told us of the
present report； and I know I appeared distressed。 But don’t
imagine it was from any silly cause。 I was only confused for the
moment； because I felt that I should be looked at。 I do assure you；
that the news does not affect me either with pleasure or pain。 I am
glad of one thing； that he comes alone； because we shall see the
less of him。 Not that I am afraid of myself； but I dread other
people’s remarks。’
Elizabeth did not know what to make of it。 Had she not seen
him in Derbyshire； she might have supposed him capable of
coming there； with no other view than what was acknowledged；
but she still thought him partial to Jane； and she wavered as to the
greater probability of his coming there with his friend’s
permission； or being bold enough to come without it。
‘Yet it is hard；’ she sometimes thought； ‘that this poor man
cannot come to a house； which he has legally hired； without
raising all this speculation！ I will leave him to himself。’
In spite of what her sister declared； and really believed to be
her feelings； in the expectation of his arrival； Elizabeth could
easily perceive that her spirits were affected by it。 They were more
disturbed； more unequal； than she had often seen them。
The subject which had been so warmly canvassed between
their parents； about a twelvemonth ago； was now brought forward
again。
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‘As soon as ever Mr Bingley comes； my dear；’ said Mrs。 Bennet；
‘you will wait on him of course。’
‘No； no。 You forced me into visiting him last year； and promised
if I went to see him； he should marry one of my daughters。 But it
ended in nothing； and I will not be sent on a fool’s errand again。
His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an
attention would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen； on his
returning to Netherfield。
‘’Tis an etiquette I despise；’ said he。 ‘If he wants our society； let
him seek it。 He knows where we live。 I will not spend my hours in
running after my neighbours every time they go away； and come
back again。’
‘Well； all I know is； that it will be abominably rude if you do not
wait on him。 But； however； that shan’t prevent my asking him to
dine here； I am determined。 We must have Mrs。 Long and the
Gouldings soon。 That will make thirteen with ourselves； so there
will be just room at table for him。’
Consoled by this resolution； she was the better able to bear her
husband’s incivility； though it was very mortifying to know that
her neighbours might all see Mr。 Bingley in consequence of it；
before they did。 As the day of his arrival drew near；
‘I begin to be sorry that he comes at all；’ said Jane to her sister。
‘It would be nothing； I could see him with perfect indifference； but
I can hardly bear to hear it thus perpetually talked of。 My mother
means well； but she does not know； no one can know how much I
suffer from what she says。 Happy shall I be； when his stay at
Netherfield is over！’
‘I wish I could say any thing to comfort you；’ replied Elizabeth；
‘but it is wholly out of my power。 You must feel it； and the usual
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satisfaction of preaching patience to a sufferer is denied me；
because you have always so much。’
Mr。 Bingley arrived。 Mrs。 Bennet； through the assistance of
servants； contrived to have the earliest tidings of it； that the period
of anxiety and fretfulness on her side； might be as long as it could。
She counted the days that must intervene before their invitation
could be sent； hopeless of seeing him before。 But on the third
morning after his arrival in Hertfordshire； she saw him from her
dressing…room window； enter the paddock； and ride towards the
house。
Her daughters were eagerly called to partake of her joy。 Jane
resolutely kept her place at the table； but Elizabeth； to satisfy her
mother； went to the window—she looked；—she saw Mr。 Darcy
with him； and sat down again by her sister。
‘There is a gentleman with him； mamma；’ said Kitty； ‘who can it
be？’
‘Some acquaintance or other； my dear； I suppose； I am sure I do
not know。’
‘La！’ replied Kitty； ‘it looks just like that man that used to be
with him before。 Mr。 what’s his name。 That tall； proud man。’
‘Good gracious！ Mr。 Darcy！—and so it does I vow。 Well； any
friend of Mr。 Bingley’s will always be welcome here to be sure； but
else I must say that I hate the very sight of him。’
Jane looked at Elizabeth with surprise and concern。 She knew
but little of their meeting in Derbyshire； and therefore felt for the
awkwardness which must attend her sister； in seeing him almost
for the first time after receiving his explanatory letter。 Both sisters
were uncomfortable enough。 Each felt for the other； and of course
for themselves； and their mother talked on； of her dislike of Mr。
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Darcy； and her resolution to be civil to him only as Mr。 Bingley’s
friend； without being heard by either of them。 But Elizabeth had
sources of uneasiness which could not be suspected by Jane； to
whom she had never yet had courage to shew Mrs。 Gardiner’s
letter； or to relate her own change of sentiment towards him。 To
Jane； he could be only a man whose proposals she had refused；
and whose merit she had undervalued； but to her own more
extensive information； he was the person； to whom the whole
family were indebted for the first of benefits； and whom
