pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第92节
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fall a victim to her mother’s rapacity for whist players； and in a few
moments after seated with the rest of the party。 She now lost
every expectation of pleasure。 They were confined for the evening
at different tables； and she had nothing to hope； but that his eyes
were so often turned towards her side of the room； as to make him
play as unsuccessfully as herself。
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Mrs。 Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield
gentlemen to supper； but their carriage was unluckily ordered
before any of the others； and she had no opportunity of detaining
them。
‘Well girls；’ said she； as soon as they were left to themselves；
‘What say you to the day？ I think every thing has passed off
uncommonly well； I assure you。 The dinner was as well dressed as
any I ever saw。 The venison was roasted to a turn—and everybody
said； they never saw so fat a haunch。 The soup was fifty times
better than what we had at the Lucas’s last week； and even Mr。
Darcy acknowledged； that the partridges were remarkably well
done； and I suppose he has two or three French cooks at least。
And； my dear Jane； I never saw you look in greater beauty。 Mrs。
Long said so too； for I asked her whether you did not。 And what do
you think she said besides？ “Ah！ Mrs。 Bennet； we shall have her at
Netherfield at last。” She did indeed。 I do think Mrs。 Long is as
good a creature as ever lived—and her nieces are very pretty
behaved girls； and not at all handsome： I like them prodigiously。’
Mrs。 Bennet； in short； was in very great spirits； she had seen
enough of Bingley’s behaviour to Jane； to be convinced that she
would get him at last； and her expectations of advantage to her
family； when in a happy humour； were so far beyond reason； that
she was quite disappointed at not seeing him there again the next
day； to make his proposals。
‘It has been a very agreeable day；’ said Miss Bennet to
Elizabeth。 ‘The party seemed so well selected； so suitable one with
the other I hope we may often meet again。’
Elizabeth smiled。
‘Lizzy； you must not do so。 You must not suspect me。 It
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mortifies me。 I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his
conversation as an agreeable and sensible young man； without
having a wish beyond it。 I am perfectly satisfied from what his
manners now are； that he never had any design of engaging my
affection。 It is only that he is blessed with greater sweetness of
address； and a stronger desire of generally pleasing than any other
man。’
‘You are very cruel；’ said her sister； ‘you will not let me smile；
and are provoking me to it every moment。’
‘How hard it is in some cases to be believed！’
‘And how impossible in others！’
‘But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than
I acknowledge？’
‘That is a question which I hardly know how to answer。 We all
love to instruct； though we can teach only what is not worth
knowing。 Forgive me； and if you persist in indifference； do not
make me your confidante。’
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CHAPTER XIII
few days after this visit； Mr。 Bingley called again； and
Aalone。 His friend had left him that morning for London；
but was to return home in ten days time。 He sat with
them above an hour； and was in remarkably good spirits。 Mrs。
Bennet invited him to dine with them； but； with many expressions
of concern； he confessed himself engaged elsewhere。
‘Next time you call；’ said she； ‘I hope we shall be more lucky。’
He should be particularly happy at any time； &c。 &c。； and if she
would give him leave； would take an early opportunity of waiting
on them。
‘Can you come to…morrow？’
Yes； he had no engagement at all for to…morrow； and her
invitation was accepted with alacrity。
He came； and in such very good time； that the ladies were none
of them dressed。 In ran Mrs。 Bennet to her daughter’s room； in
her dressing gown； and with her hair half finished； crying out；
‘My dear Jane； make haste and hurry down。 He is come—Mr。
Bingley is come。—He is； indeed。 Make haste； make haste。 Here；
Sarah； come to Miss Bennet this moment； and help her on with
her gown。 Never mind Miss Lizzy’s hair。’
‘We will be down as soon as we can；’ said Jane； ‘but I dare say
Kitty is forwarder than either of us； for she went up stairs half an
hour ago。’
‘Oh！ hang Kitty！ what has she to do with it？ Come be quick； be
quick！ where is your sash my dear？’
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But when her mother was gone； Jane would not be prevailed on
to go down without one of her sisters。
The same anxiety to get them by themselves； was visible again
in the evening。 After tea； Mr。 Bennet retired to the library； as was
his custom； and Mary went up stairs to her instrument。 Two
obstacles of the five being thus removed； Mrs。 Bennet sat looking
and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time；
without making any impression on them。 Elizabeth would not
observe her； and when at last Kitty did； she very innocently said；
‘What is the matter mamma？ What do you keep winking at me
for？ What am I to do？’
‘Nothing child； nothing。 I did not wink at you。’ She then sat still
five minutes longer； but unable to waste such a precious occasion；
she suddenly got up； and saying to Kitty；
‘Come here； my love； I want to speak to you；’ took her out of the
room。 Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth； which spoke her
distress at such premeditation； and her intreaty that she would not
give into it。 In a few minutes； Mrs。 Bennet half opened the door
and called out；
‘Lizzy； my dear； I want to speak with you。’
Elizabeth was forced to go。
‘We may as well leave them by themselves you know；’ said her
mother as soon as she was in the hall。 ‘Kitty and I are going up
stairs to sit in my dressing room。’
Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother； but
remained quietly in the hall； till she and Kitty were out of sight；
then returned into the drawing room。
Mrs。 Bennet’s schemes for this day were ineffectual。 Bingley
was every thing that was charming； except the professed lover of
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her daughter。 His ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most
agreeable addition to their evening party； and he bore with the ill…
judged officiousness of the mother； and heard all her silly remarks
with a forbearance and command of countenance； particularly
grateful to the daughter。
He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper； and before he
went away； an engagement was formed； chiefly through his own
and Mrs。 Bennet’s means； for his coming next morning to shoot
with her husband。
After this day； Jane said no more of her indifference。 Not a
word passed between the sisters concerning Bingley； but
Elizabeth went to bed in the happy belief tha
