傲慢与偏见。原版连载

荔枝啊荔枝

Chapter 1
IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

+ f. T, k& A# g``My dear Mr. Bennet,'' said his lady to him one day, ``have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?''
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3 ^* D5 q. a2 x2 G# B5 |Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
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; y6 q; `3 o1 m, d8 E``But it is,'' returned she; ``for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.''

Mr. Bennet made no answer.
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) n, O4 `' ~3 R) Y- D1 j- ^2 h9 ^``Do not you want to know who has taken it?'' cried his wife impatiently.

: \4 }! w! g0 s* B1 K5 p``You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.''

/ g9 F0 t5 D* MThis was invitation enough.

``Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.''
2 F6 @1 K4 R/ `  J
$ P3 J/ d& H$ k) N9 T2 ~``What is his name?''

1 A8 D3 L2 J4 U+ i2 g& H( A) P``Bingley.''
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``Is he married or single?''
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, G5 t3 j& ]" i8 B" ```Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!''
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``How so? how can it affect them?''
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0 Y5 c+ K) H) Y! d# h' t  M1 C``My dear Mr. Bennet,'' replied his wife, ``how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.''

8 V6 t: N) @9 `, ?``Is that his design in settling here?''
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``Design! nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.''

* ^3 S9 D7 S" Z# O# }( Q``I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better; for, as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party.''
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; p+ J' t! L# C- J1 m3 |+ v1 S/ n``My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.''
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``In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.''
" V7 Y( T7 m7 d
0 F& }4 l+ d1 H``But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.''
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7 ^" M% O& f5 {9 ~+ y``It is more than I engage for, I assure you.''

# R$ [9 ~- u( Z``But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know they visit no new comers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him, if you do not.''
5 w0 _" ~! O4 g8 n% c
``You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying which ever he chuses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.''
! b, |! C9 t" [" N' s; q
``I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.''
2 O" s' D3 z. z/ i$ q; s
* W# A, U) F) M0 h``They have none of them much to recommend them,'' replied he; ``they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.''

: u/ r% y9 }( K9 k+ {``Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.''

3 j& U5 D# I  o2 M9 g``You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.''

``Ah! you do not know what I suffer.''
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``But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.''

``It will be no use to us if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them.''

``Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty I will visit them all.''

1 J. x; I8 C# t: ~  AMr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develope. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

荔枝啊荔枝

Chapter 2
MR. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid, she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,
) |7 ?( h' S" x``I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.''

0 W( Z% [/ {  {5 \7 Y1 O' |``We are not in a way to know what Mr. Bingley likes,'' said her mother resentfully, ``since we are not to visit.''
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  H5 a! q% R: t3 I- J``But you forget, mama,'' said Elizabeth, ``that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.''
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``I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion of her.''
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``No more have I,'' said Mr. Bennet; ``and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you.''
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Mrs. Bennet deigned not to make any reply; but unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.
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  h3 s" @& r4 ~8 j. ]& e* D% E* J% U``Don't keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.''

. B3 _' T" A+ t) o8 h``Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,'' said her father; ``she times them ill.''

) T) a" {- J& F9 U- c2 ~* T  c``I do not cough for my own amusement,'' replied Kitty fretfully.

``When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?''
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4 S" Q& f7 l1 m4 W& [% E``To-morrow fortnight.''

``Aye, so it is,'' cried her mother, ``and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.''

``Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.''
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``Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teazing?''
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- R) a( k) _5 p) b* @9 V8 w``I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture, somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her nieces must stand their chance; and therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself.''
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The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only, ``Nonsense, nonsense!''

``What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?'' cried he. ``Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? for you are a young lady of deep reflection I know, and read great books, and make extracts.''
* {! V* y7 ~3 x2 G. y
2 T; N: o% }- c* E# zMary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.
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``While Mary is adjusting her ideas,'' he continued, ``let us return to Mr. Bingley.''

$ B/ i" P9 `- u) M8 P9 v7 A2 R``I am sick of Mr. Bingley,'' cried his wife.
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  c( h" {& J# B6 J" j$ x- P``I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.''

# V1 y! x1 p# J' G, }The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs. Bennet perhaps surpassing the rest; though when the first tumult of joy was over, she began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while.
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``How good it was in you, my dear Mr. Bennet! But I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved our girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! and it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning, and never said a word about it till now.''

5 q7 C9 F% q% [+ R# `2 l8 |0 y1 Z5 a``Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you chuse,'' said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the raptures of his wife.

! S( Q" x: z. f7 Z- @4 d( `/ r0 h``What an excellent father you have, girls,'' said she, when the door was shut. ``I do not know how you will ever make him amends for his kindness; or me either, for that matter. At our time of life, it is not so pleasant I can tell you, to be making new acquaintance every day; but for your sakes, we would do any thing. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.''

& h! X% H8 r1 g/ U1 k# A* X``Oh!'' said Lydia stoutly, ``I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest.''

1 v% [0 T" e) n3 E( x2 ]) EThe rest of the evening was spent in conjecturing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner.

荔枝啊荔枝

Chapter 3
NOT all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the subject was sufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him in various ways; with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all; and they were at last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley's heart were entertained.
``If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,'' said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, ``and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.''

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining, from an upper window, that he wore a blue coat and rode a black horse.
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An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and consequently unable to accept the honour of their invitation, &c. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a large number of ladies; but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing that, instead of twelve, he had brought only six with him from London, his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the assembly room, it consisted of only five altogether; Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the oldest, and another young man.

, i6 O. J6 c# A" EMr. Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien; and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

6 L+ w$ K. }  ~1 u* D; B& i9 V6 V, dMr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters.
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/ e5 F+ c8 [- P& F0 JElizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it.
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``Come, Darcy,'' said he, ``I must have you dance. I hate to see you 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 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.''
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``You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,'' said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

! b& }% G& a. i% E6 S. U2 i``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.''
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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.
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" I) y& I* u  YThe 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 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.
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``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 --''

; p0 H9 J9 D, ~6 b5 s``If he had had any compassion for me,'' cried her husband 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!''
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``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 --''
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. |$ g. J- q+ R2 r, tHere 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.

( g. `1 O* S; @* y+ J) E``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.''

荔枝啊荔枝

:) 今天就那么多了$ok$ $ok$ 漫漫消化
2 ]* I" z% l" y3 ^% ^
傲慢与偏见

: f7 V2 N5 ]+ H, b                    作者 （英）  奥斯汀

                           第一章
1 W; r; c! I- n" k
    凡是有钱的单身汉，总想娶位太太，这已经成了一条举世公认的真理。
+ {, B; ?, J, j- }+ m这样的单身汉，每逢新搬到一个地方，四邻八舍虽然完全不了解他的性情如
何，见解如何，可是，既然这样的一条真理早已在人们心目中根深蒂固，因
此人们总是把他看作自己某一个女儿理所应得的一笔财产。
$ Z, @- a" H" @$ f- Y* g9 o    有一天班纳特太太对她的丈夫说：“我的好老爷，尼日斐花园终于租出
去了，你听说过没有？”
    班纳特先生回答道，他没有听说过。
) y6 _' h4 f( j' }' u1 `: ^9 y! I    “的确租出去了，”她说，“朗格太太刚刚上这儿来过，她把这件事的
$ \9 L+ C+ z$ e% }7 r底细，一五一十地告诉了我。”
% _3 Y7 M# h! _" h    班纳特先生没有理睬她。
& f+ i% u, V8 x6 s* o. n$ w6 m& d    “你难道不想知道是谁租去的吗？”太太不耐烦地嚷起来了。
    “既是你要说给我听，我听听也无妨。”
    这句话足够鼓励她讲下去了。
6 q9 ^1 v7 A, }& x% R8 U    “哦！亲爱的，你得知道，郎格太太说，租尼日斐花园的是个阔少爷，
他是英格兰北部的人；听说他星期一那天，乘着一辆驷马大轿车来看房子，
看得非常中意，当场就和莫理斯先生谈妥了；他要在‘米迦勒节’以前搬进
来，打算下个周未先叫几个佣人来住。”
1 s% c& F# j) O0 ]    “这个人叫什么名字？”
    “彬格莱。”
    “有太太的呢，还是单身汉？”
7 B, `, c! q5 M    “噢！是个单身汉，亲爱的，确确实实是个单身汉！一个有钱的单身汉；
2 D6 x6 q( N( \2 \& ?每年有四五千磅的收入。真是女儿们的福气！”
    “这怎么说？关女儿女儿们什么事？”
8 {# E: t7 X- t; y+ o    “我的好老爷，”太太回答道，“你怎么这样叫人讨厌！告诉你吧，我
正在盘算，他要是挑中我们一个女儿做老婆，可多好！”
1 v% h: e4 Y9 R% I/ O" d    “他住到这儿来，就是为了这个打算吗？”
6 c8 D; b/ b/ C) Q; N, v- l3 s    “打算！胡扯，这是哪儿的话！不过，他倒作兴看中我们的某一个女儿
) x* J; g% D- ^+ f呢。他一搬来，你就得去拜访拜访他。”
    “我不用去。你带着女儿们去就得啦，要不你干脆打发她们自己去，那
或许倒更好些，因为你跟女儿们比起来，她们哪一个都不能胜过你的美貌,
你去了，彬格莱先生倒可能挑中你呢？”
    “我的好老爷，你太捧我啦。从前也的确有人赞赏过我的美貌，现在我
: W$ H0 G3 }$ l2 H0 Y可有敢说有什么出众的地方了。一个女人家有了五个成年的女儿，就不该对
1 w% e7 B: ^. [0 U' u' `* U+ ~自己的美貌再转什么念头。”
! A1 I7 r' z9 p, x6 Q    “这样看来，一个女人家对自己的美貌也转不了多少念头喽。”
9 a* @: l* z* _( A# Z9 Z    “不过，我的好老爷，彬格莱一搬到我们的邻近来，你的确应该去看看
他。”
/ B1 d, T  ~; o. A0 J0 a    “老实跟你说吧，这不是我份内的事。”
  M" `4 t0 B( t3 \% o% R    “看女儿的份上吧。只请你想一想，她们不论哪一个，要是攀上了这样
+ G5 w8 M& C0 X# x; L一个人家，够多么好。威廉爵士夫妇已经决定去拜望他，他们也无非是这个
" e# o5 k# y1 R6 s5 t- {用意。你知道，他们通常是不会拜望新搬来的邻居的。你的确应该去一次，
/ z* L7 C' v* \要是你不去，叫我们怎么去。”
    “你实在过分心思啦。彬格莱先生一定高兴看到你的；我可以写封信给
你带去，就说随便他挑中我哪一个女儿，我都心甘情愿地答应他把她娶过去；
' e& L6 Q- B% J不过，我在信上得特别替小丽萃吹嘘几句。”
' b- g; w) ]0 b& o* D   

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" g' p& l6 A+ x' x+ K( P" k    “我希望你别这么做。丽萃没有一点儿地方胜过别的几个女儿；我敢说，
$ |$ R1 S9 f" X9 u$ y论漂亮，她抵不上吉英一半；论性子，好抵不上丽迪雅一半。你可老是偏爱
6 ^( b& n2 Z4 @$ `她。”“她们没有哪一个值得夸奖的，”他回答道；“他们跟人家的姑娘一
样，又傻，又无知；倒是丽萃要比她的几个姐妹伶俐些。”
    “我的好老爷，你怎么舍得这样糟蹋自己的新生亲生女儿？你是在故意
8 l) C2 J8 p5 P: f4 q叫我气恼，好让你自己得意吧。你半点儿也不体谅我的神经衰弱。”
    “你真错怪了我，我的好太太。我非常尊重你的神经。它们是我的老朋
友。至少在最近二十年以来，我一直听道你慎重其事地提到它们。”
* U7 a( s- d2 T  Y! k  g! G    “啊！ 你不知道我怎样受苦呢！”
    “不过我希望你这毛病会好起来，那么，象这种每年有四千镑收入的阔
少爷，你就可以眼看着他们一个个搬来做你的邻居了。”
    “你既然不愿意去拜访他们，即使有二十个搬了来，对我们又有什么好
) v0 A$ P6 L  N- c) E' Y处！”
    “放心吧，我的好太太，等到有了二十个，我一定去一个个拜望到。”
: x  H3 n1 r. n0 A' Y" K7 c    班纳特先生真是个古怪人，他一方面喜欢插科打浑，爱挖苦人，同时又
0 z0 g+ d8 u$ t/ c* [" a  s% _& C不拘言笑，变幻莫测，真使他那位太太积二十三年之经验，还摸不透他的性
格。太太的脑子是很容易加以分析的。她是个智力贫乏、不学无术、喜怒无
2 I4 K! ^4 f( n( P% N3 n; w% e% X常的女人，只要碰到不称心的事，她就以为神经衰弱。她生平的大事就是嫁
- U" y* i0 Y+ a! A; e7 M1 X: F9 j1 G6 y9 |女儿；她生平的安慰就是访友拜客和打听新闻。
; ~4 {7 f+ M( o$ L( P" {* b
1 v& \2 q* e+ s/ K. c" i: P. T- t8 i

2 U' L( K! ~7 F# j. s7 T/ U' g                         第二章

    班纳特先生尽管在自己太太面前自始至终都说是不想去拜访彬格莱先生，
事实上一直都打算去拜访他，而且还是跟第一批人一起去拜访他的。等到他
" a8 u' s+ X  k& m去拜访过以后，当天晚上太太才知道实情。这消息透露出来的经过是这样的
) w! v+ G: q6 T- l% M－－他看到第二个女儿在装饰帽子，就突然对她说：
    “我希望彬格莱先生会喜欢你这顶帽子，丽萃。”
    她母亲气愤愤地说：“我们既然不预备去看彬格莱先生，当然就无从知
道他喜欢什么。”
    “可是你忘啦，妈妈，”伊丽莎白说，“我们将来可以在跳舞会上碰到
8 Z$ r" R% \- J$ x0 @他的，郎格太太不是答应过把他介绍给我们吗？”
    “我不相信郎格太太肯这么做。她自己有两个亲侄女。她是个自私自利、
( s& M$ R) G$ a假仁假义的女人，我睢不起她。”
    “我也瞧不起她，”班纳特先生说；“你倒不指望她来替你效劳，这叫
我听到高兴。”
! F0 S" K+ I7 E5 c( ?    班纳特太太没有理睬他，可是忍不住气，便骂起女儿来。
    “别那么咳个不停，吉蒂，看老天爷份上吧！稍许体谅一下我的神经吧。
你简直叫我的神经要胀裂啦。”
    “吉蒂真不知趣，”她的父亲说；“咳嗽也不知道拣个时候。”
8 j+ b# f: Q4 s: e' Z  V8 n    “我又不是故意咳着玩儿。”吉蒂气恼地回答道。
+ z$ p4 ^" t4 A    “你们的跳舞会定在那一天开，丽萃？”
    “从明天算起，还得再过两个星期。”
    “唔，原来如此，”她的母亲嚷道，“郎格太太可要挨到开跳舞会的前
' S3 \4 K$ q  y& `" C. I9 t5 e一天才能赶回来；那么，她可来不及把他介绍给你们啦，她自己也还不认识
: a  i2 C( f& ~6 U& f他呢。”
    “那么，好太太，你正可以占你朋友的上风，反过来替她介绍这位贵人
啦。”
4 ^6 i" b8 l" o* s+ ^. `- w    “办不到，我的好老爷，办不到，我自己还不认识他呢；你怎么可以这
样嘲笑人？”
    “我真佩服你想得这般周到。两个星期的认识当然谈不上什么。跟一个
人相处了两个星期，不可能就此了解他究竟是怎样一个人。不过，要是我们
+ V, l( z+ [" C7 Q! Z不去尝试尝试，别人可少不了要尝试的。话说到底，郎格太太和她的侄女一
5 A1 A1 b8 M5 j0 ^! Z! Y( j* R定不肯错过这个良机。因此，要是你不愿意办这件事，我自己来办好了，反
( k* k, z# s5 s6 p7 u- u' E7 _! t9 T% `正她会觉得这是我们对她的一片好意。”
1 @- ?) Y  r3 o    女儿们都对父亲瞪着眼。班纳特太太只随口说了声：“毫无意思！”
; B# [0 u( o( F- J8 [3 R    “你怎么这样大惊小怪！”他嚷道。“你以为替人家效点儿劳介绍是毫
无意思的事吗？你这样的说法我可不大同意。你说呢，曼丽？我知道你是个
- |5 d; l+ y! f; f2 g有独到见解的少女，读的书都是皇皇巨著，而且还要做札记。”
# ~" c, k# m& q& i+ F    曼丽想说几句有见识的话可又不知道怎么说才好。
    于是班纳特先生接下去说：“让曼丽仔细想一想再发表意见吧，我们还
是重新来谈谈彬格莱先生。”
9 v1 o* {9 E5 H7 Z    “我就讨厌谈彬格莱先生，”他的太太嚷起来了。
4 n% G, r; H( x) T# k4 b8 s    “遗憾得很，你竟会跟我说这种话；你怎么不早说呢？要是今天上午听
. x, `6 M6 X2 S% |6 _到你这样说，那我当然不会去拜访他啦。这真叫不凑巧。现在既然拜访也拜
访过了，我们今后就少不了要结交这个朋友。“
, Y/ m) |4 y# v+ Q# ]% C7 m, ]    果然不出他所料，娘儿们一听此说，一个个都大这惊异，尤其是班纳特
太太，比谁都惊异得厉害；不过，这样欢天喜地地喧嚷了一阵以后，她便当
众宣布，说这件事她早就料到的。
    “你真是个好心肠的人，我的好老爷！我早就知道你终究会给我说服的。
你既然疼爱自己的女儿，当然就不会把这样一个朋友不放在心上。我真太高
兴了！你这个玩笑开得真太有意思，谁想到你竟会今天上午去拜访他，而且
! Q0 e! V8 b4 S2 ]& y) N到现在一字不提。”
    “吉蒂，现在你可以放心大胆地咳嗽啦，”班纳特先生一面说，一面走
+ t: P* I# [3 c" [7 n" \; r出房间，原来他看到太太那样得意忘形，不免觉得有些厌恶。门一关上，
3 g5 l3 |+ @9 Q2 V2 n$ Y班纳特太太便对她的几个女儿说“孩子们，你们的爸爸真太好了，我不知道
/ t# _$ z; D/ V! v" q0 }# h$ T你们怎样才能报答他的恩典；再说，你们还应该好好报答我一番呢。老实跟
5 k1 N5 _( _. m, U6 \/ W+ I5 N你们说吧，我们老夫妻活到这么一把年纪了，哪儿有兴致天天去交朋结友；
) F' T* l  u& T/ S4 B可是为了你们，我们随便什么事都乐意去做。丽迪雅，乖宝贝，虽然你年纪
, _# j1 I. Z, H; E! j4 P最小，开起跳舞会来，彬格莱先生或许就偏偏要跟你跳呢。”
    “噢！”丽迪雅满不在乎地说。
/ B+ f% O+ a" K. Z: q" b, M3 U    “我才不当它一回事。年纪虽然是我最小，个儿算我顶高。”
    于是她们一方面猜测那位贵人什么时候会来回拜班纳特先生，一方面
盘算着什么时候请他来吃饭，就这样把一个晚上的工夫在闲谈中度过去了。



  F0 k9 d7 ]8 Y  m+ s: ~                           第三章

% b4 E, \5 I% A- _    尽管班纳特太太有了五个女儿帮腔，向她丈夫问起彬格莱先生这样那样，
6 R) `7 J. m5 m5 V" C3 j' a4 G3 y可是丈夫的回答总不能叫她满意。母女们想尽办法对付他－－赤裸裸的问
句，巧妙的设想，离题很远的猜测，什么办法都用到了；可是他并没有上她
/ D1 ~5 a9 {" X* {( n1 u: L们的圈套。最后她们迫不得已，只得听取邻居卢卡斯太太的间接消息。她的
; P& s& ?  e& ?8 D3 |报道全是好话。据说威廉爵士很喜欢他。他非常年轻，长得特别漂亮，为人
! c, F& K6 D; D( I6 S又极其谦和，最重要的一点是，他打算请一大群客人来参加下次的舞会。这
真是再好也没有的事；喜欢跳舞是谈情说爱的一个步骤；大家都热烈地希望
去获得彬格莱先生的那颗心。
    “我只要能看到一个女儿在尼日斐花园幸福地安了家，”班纳特太太对
/ u+ `' ~, b+ A+ R她的丈夫说，“看到其他几个也匹配得这样门当户对，此生就没有别的奢望
$ v; N$ S; B# d% k2 z9 T了。”
    不到几天功夫，彬格莱先生上门回拜班纳特先生，在他的书房里跟他盘
* L& i0 I% u' z桓了十分钟左右。他久仰班纳特先生几位小姐的年轻美貌，很希望能够见见
她们；但是他只见到了她们的父亲。倒是小姐们比他幸运，他们利用楼上的
, q2 P- U" P6 r窗口，看清了他穿的是蓝外套，骑的是一匹黑马。
2 ]0 o3 k! b0 t/ Y) e    班府上不久就发请贴请他吃饭；班纳特太太已经计划了好几道菜，每道
( l$ {6 A1 b" E. K6 B9 |2 d$ G4 J0 ~菜都足以增加她的体面，说明她是个会当家的贤主妇，可是事不凑巧，彬格
莱先生第二天非进城不可，他们这一番盛意叫他无法领情，因此回信给他们，
说是要迟一迟再说。班纳特太太大为不安。她想，此人刚来到哈福德郡，怎
么就要进城有事，于是她开始担心思了；照理他应该在尼日斐花园安安定定
住下来，看现在的情形，莫不是他经常都得这样东漂西泊，行踪不定？亏得
9 s- N6 W! D, j) a" \8 }卢卡斯太太对她说，可能他是到伦敦去邀请那一大群客人来参加舞会，这才
使她稍许减除了一些顾虑。外面马上就纷纷传说彬格莱先生并没有带来十二
7 t+ _2 o. P/ X个女宾，仅仅只带来六个，其中五个是他自己的姐妹，一个是表姐妹，这个
消息才使小姐们放了心。后来等到这群贵客走进舞场的时候，却一共只有五
个人－－彬格莱先生，他的两个姐妹，姐夫，还有另外一个青年。
7 a3 X) H$ D& t# D% a    彬格莱先生仪表堂堂，大有绅士风度，而且和颜悦色，没有拘泥做作的
/ X: ?# B) X' |# s* w- p气习。他的姐妹也都是些优美的女性，态度落落大方。他的姐夫赫斯脱只不
过像个普通绅士，不大引人注目，但是他的朋友达西却立刻引起全场的注意，
因为他身材魁伟，眉清目秀，举止高贵，于是他进场不到五分钟，大家都纷
纷传说他每年有一万磅的收入。男宾们都称赞他的一表人才，女宾们都说他
: \; d0 C5 Z# b0 K% g比彬格莱先生漂亮得多。人们差不多有半个晚上都带着爱慕的目光看着他。
$ U: N  v8 @' l% Z6 J& q* h最后人们才发现他为人骄傲，看不起人，巴结不上他，因此对他起了厌恶的
感觉，他那众望所归的极盛一时的场面才黯然失色。他既然摆起那么一副讨
人嫌惹人厌的面貌，那么，不管他在德比郡有多大的财产，也挽救不了他，
% q9 I+ p) I+ y8 @1 D. Y. i况且和他的朋友比起来，他更没有什么大不了。
& f7 D- A3 |* v6 c. O    彬格莱先生很快就熟悉了全场所有的主要人物。他生气勃勃，为人又不
6 e# V! D, k) w* `" X( y6 C/ a拘泥，每一场舞都可以少不了要跳。使他气恼的是，舞会怎么散场得这样早。
+ n7 o) ?5 |3 i3 k/ ]* E他又谈起他自己要在尼日斐花园开一次舞会。他这些可爱的地方自然会引起
人家对他发生好感。他跟他的朋友是多么显著的对照啊！达西先生只跟赫斯
脱太太跳了一次舞，跟彬格莱小姐跳了一次舞，此外就在室内踱来踱去，偶
而找他自己人谈谈，人家要介绍他跟别的小姐跳舞，他怎么也不肯。大家都
断定他是世界上最骄傲，最讨人厌的人，希望他不要再来。其中对他反感最
) @5 D  o  L8 U! c1 `厉害的是班纳特太太，她对他的整个举止都感到讨厌，而且这种讨厌竟变本
加厉，形成了一种特殊的气愤，因为他得罪了他的一个女儿。
0 {) D6 w$ m0 d    由于男宾少，伊丽莎白·班纳特有两场舞都不得不空坐。达西先生当时
曾一度站在她的身旁，彬格莱先生特地歇了几分钟没有跳舞，走到他这位朋
友跟前，硬要他去跳，两个人谈话给她听到了。
    “来吧，达西，”彬格莱说，“我一定要你跳。我不愿看到你独个儿这
么傻里傻气地站在这儿。还是去跳舞吧。”
    “我绝对不跳。你知道我一向多么讨厌跳舞，除非跟特别熟的人跳。在
这样的舞会上跳舞，简直叫人受不了。你的姐妹们都在跟别人跳，要是叫舞
% a0 v' x4 _% \$ Y场里别的女人跟我跳，没有一个不叫我活受罪的。”
: l7 B' m4 [" X' {' o    “我可不愿意象你那样挑肥拣瘦，”彬格莱嚷道，“随便怎么我也不愿
意；不瞒你说，我生平没有见过今天晚上这么许多可爱的姑娘；你瞧，其中
! @& G6 L2 u" Q: @, T3 `几位真是美貌绝伦。”
) r$ i, u5 a! e' H. z: M" j5 H    “你当然罗，舞场上唯一的一位漂亮姑娘在跟你跳舞！”达西先生说，
- V5 |9 I( y9 m! Z8 s- c一面望着班府上年纪最大的一位小姐。
    “噢！我从来没有见过这么美丽的一个尤物！可是她的一个妹妹就坐在
% T9 ~+ Z8 C  S- s1 y+ A9 c9 Q你后面，她也很漂亮，而且我敢说，她也很讨人爱。让我来请我的舞伴给你
' g- Q0 |* [/ m& a+ j8 s' q们介绍一下吧。”
! f3 ~; O4 q$ I; }5 ^$ b3 o    “你说的是哪一位？”他转过身来，朝着伊丽莎白望了一会儿，等她也
看见了他，他才收回自己的目光，冷冷的说：“她还可以，但还没有漂亮到
打动我的心，眼前我可没有兴趣去抬举那些受到别人冷眼看待的小姐。你还
是回到你的舞伴身边去欣赏她的笑脸吧，犯不着把时间浪费在我的身上。”
    彬格莱先生依了达西先生的话走开以后，达西自己也走开了。伊丽莎白
' M9 v% y- L/ b9 y7 K7 }依旧坐在那里，对达西先生委实没有甚好感。不过她却满有兴致地把这段偷
听到的话去讲给她的朋友听，因为她的个性活泼调皮，遇到任何可笑的事情
5 s5 f1 r; |! i$ A8 ~都会感到兴趣。
, N" ^3 Z' W6 f4 t) ^5 G( v0 j    班府上全家上这一个晚上大致都过得很高兴。大小姐蒙彬格莱先生
0 L2 _5 H0 Y( W' p5 e' A$ F  Z邀她跳了两次舞，而且这位贵人的姐妹们都对她另眼相看。班太太看到尼日
2 Y& f' v: Q6 I. |( L& U, z. v5 H斐花园的一家人都这么喜爱她的大女儿，觉得非常得意。吉英跟她母亲一样
6 _9 r0 F. R9 f6 m' x  T得意，只不过没有象她母亲那样声张。伊丽莎白也为吉英快活。曼丽曾听到
人们在彬格莱小姐面前提到她自己，说她是邻近一带最有才干的姑娘；咖苔
琳和丽迪雅运气最好，没有那一场舞缺少舞伴，这是她们每逢开舞会时唯一
关心的一件事。母女们高高兴兴地回到她们所住的浪搏恩村（她们算是这个
村子里的旺族），看见班纳特先生还没有睡觉。且说这位先生平常只要捧上
一本书，就忘了时间，可是这次他没有睡觉，却是因为他极想知道大家朝思
暮想的这一盛会，经过情形究竟如何。他满以为他太太对那位贵客一定很失
: P/ j; O% h5 T% ~望，但是，他立刻就发觉事实并非如此。“噢！我的好老爷，”她一走进房
间就这么说，“我们这一个晚上过得太快活了，舞会太好了。你没有去真可
. X8 V9 P3 p& I( {& D惜。吉英那么吃香，简直是无法形容。什么人都说她长得好；彬格莱先生认
为她很美，跟她跳了两场舞！你光想想这一点看吧，亲爱的；他确实跟她跳
  y2 V; {$ L$ z了两场！全场那么多女宾，就只有她一个人蒙受了他两次邀请。他头一场舞
是邀请卢卡斯小姐跳的。我看到他站到她身边去，不禁有些气恼！不过，他
对她根本没意思，其实，什么人也不会对她有意思；当吉英走下舞池的时候，
' G$ w* R1 P$ u他可就显得非常着迷了。他立刻打听她的姓名，请人介绍，然后邀她跳下一
场舞。他第三场舞是跟金小姐跳的，第四场跟玛丽雅·卢卡斯跳，第五场又
跟吉英跳，第六场是跟丽萃跳，还有‘布朗谢’。”
  |( y+ V3 k6 g    “要是他稍许体谅我一点，”她的丈夫不耐烦地叫起来了，“他就不会
0 t- \) V& G! K) k跳这么多，一半也不会！天哪，不要提他那些舞伴了吧。噢！但愿他头一场
: P; Y9 _  l; p7 E+ _舞就跳得脚踝扭了筋！”
    “噢！亲爱的，”班纳特太太接下去说，“我非常喜欢他。他真太漂亮
啦！他的姐妹们也都很讨人喜欢。我生平没有看见过任何东西比她们的衣饰
更讲究。我敢说，赫斯脱太太衣服上的花边－－”说到这里又给岔断了。
" y% {. C/ W) v    班纳特先生不愿意听人谈到衣饰。她因此不得不另找话题，于是就谈到
4 m" f# S" I  `达西先生那不可一世的傲慢无礼的态度，她的措辞辛辣刻薄，而又带几分夸
* }% F6 r7 W0 c+ W/ [* N6 G张。
    “不过我可以告诉你，”她补充道，“丽萃不中他的意，这对丽萃并没
有什么可惜，因为他是个最讨厌、最可恶的人不值得去奉承他。那么高傲，
( l7 Y. T8 t. w" w. g5 u5 {那么自大，叫人不可容忍！他一会儿走到这里，一会儿走到那里，把自己看
得那么了不起！还要嫌人家不够漂亮，配不上跟他跳舞呢！要是你在场的话，
6 C: k0 Y( Y9 ?8 k  M4 X0 E你就可以好好地教训他一顿。我厌恶透了那个人。”

[ 本帖最后由 others 于 2007-5-6 02:23 编辑 ]

美妙妙

:mad: :mad: :mad: such a beautiful story

iceyoghurt

$支持$ $支持$ $支持$

荔枝啊荔枝

Chapter 4
WHEN Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how very much she admired him.
9 A1 B, a$ z* g4 s1 e; B# N``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!''

( j+ g9 p0 w* x  h/ j``He is also handsome,'' replied Elizabeth, ``which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.''

% M, x0 U' n% ]2 g9 w" C, W``I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment.''

' [7 V1 i* {( r* D3 U% B4 l``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 women 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.''
3 ^7 a+ S+ m8 B1 x
``Dear Lizzy!''
9 i; q2 p9 T( a6 H6 o
  e1 D2 h" K- E6 S$ k7 F``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.''
1 m$ T0 J  q5 ~& e! W2 q( ^  y& s8 L
``I would wish not to be hasty in censuring any one; but I always speak what I think.''

``I know you do; and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be 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? Their manners are not equal to his.''

``Certainly not; at first. But they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother and keep his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbour in her.''
$ v0 X% u7 O: _( @9 r# s
: t& n4 }8 M2 iElizabeth listened in silence, but was not convinced. Their behaviour at the assembly had not been calculated to please in general; and with more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temper than her sister, and with a judgment, too, unassailed by any attention to herself, she was very little disposed to approve them. They were in fact very fine ladies, not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of being agreeable where they chose it; but proud and conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother's fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.
7 \0 ]2 m4 r. A& v) H* ?% d
Mr. Bingley inherited property to the amount of nearly an hundred thousand pounds from his father, who had intended to purchase an estate, but did not live to do it. -- Mr. Bingley intended it likewise, and sometimes made choice of his county; but as he was now provided with a good house and the liberty of a manor, it was doubtful to many of those who best knew the easiness of his temper, whether he might not spend the remainder of his days at Netherfield, and leave the next generation to purchase.

9 w9 ^/ A4 }9 y6 `His sisters were very anxious for his having an estate of his own; but though he was now established only as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table, nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married a man of more fashion than fortune, less disposed to consider his house as her home when it suited her. Mr. Bingley had not been of age two years, when he was tempted by an accidental recommendation to look at Netherfield House. He did look at it and into it for half an hour, was pleased with the situation and the principal rooms, satisfied with what the owner said in its praise, and took it immediately.
+ f0 n+ O( u2 e* @( r. g3 i
Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character. -- Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgment the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared; Darcy was continually giving offence.

The manner in which they spoke of the Meryton assembly was sufficiently characteristic. Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life; every body had been most kind and attentive to him, there had been no formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful. Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was little beauty and no fashion, for none of whom he had felt the smallest interest, and from none received either attention or pleasure. Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.
/ T6 i) f+ \! I; W: B: x8 |* Q
& [! w; s2 j/ J" r7 P" _5 XMrs. Hurst and her sister allowed it to be so -- but still they admired her and liked her, and pronounced her to be a sweet girl, and one whom they should not object to know more of. Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such commendation to think of her as he chose.
$ c) H& d6 y- \* i/ `6 z7 j
4 o7 f" N! [- m) B: |[ 本帖最后由 others 于 2007-5-6 02:26 编辑 ]

荔枝啊荔枝

Chapter 5
WITHIN a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Sir William Lucas had been formerly in trade in Meryton, where he had made a tolerable fortune and risen to the honour of knighthood by an address to the King during his mayoralty. The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. It had given him a disgust to his business and to his residence in a small market town; and quitting them both, he had removed with his family to a house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world. For though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to every body. By nature inoffensive, friendly and obliging, his presentation at St. James's had made him courteous.
8 o, v; h5 U$ O, m& u* ]Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. -- They had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's intimate friend.

' F' ]& J- ?& n+ h; b& yThat the Miss Lucases and the Miss Bennets should meet to talk over a ball was absolutely necessary; and the morning after the assembly brought the former to Longbourn to hear and to communicate.
; `+ L* g- u9 O5 W" a
2 {; r/ J! K" e. C& {( g; J``You began the evening well, Charlotte,'' said Mrs. Bennet with civil self-command to Miss Lucas. ``You were Mr. Bingley's first choice.''

/ n: ?4 Z1 |% v$ f& P% U! B1 I``Yes; -- but he seemed to like his second better.''
3 F1 C& F: I# v. j% ^
2 a4 j. n! O4 T/ l! ?" _; ~0 h6 ~( w``Oh! -- you mean Jane, I suppose -- because he danced with her twice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired her -- indeed I rather believe he did -- I heard something about it -- but I hardly know what -- something about Mr. Robinson.''
( f! w# u* [0 E  p  X% p
``Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; did not I mention it to you? Mr. Robinson's asking him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he did not think there were a great many pretty women in the room, and which he thought the prettiest? and his answering immediately to the last question -- "Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet beyond a doubt, there cannot be two opinions on that point."''

5 p0 W2 G$ a9 s+ G- P+ B7 `+ n``Upon my word! -- Well, that was very decided indeed -- that does seem as if -- but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know.''

0 A' W/ Q9 ?- B- o: S1 Q* e4 F; w``My overhearings were more to the purpose than yours, Eliza,'' said Charlotte. ``Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he? -- Poor Eliza! -- to be only just tolerable.''
. B. P9 y& |& M) _. _" X
/ t9 @$ t0 \, N& o/ s4 W  x``I beg you would not put it into Lizzy's head to be vexed by his 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.''
7 T' R: C( |) b; R+ U5 y
8 U9 M* _+ J5 t8 W  H& E``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.''
2 z& m3 y# O% W$ G3 O* J  Z$ a& w1 T9 B) E
``Miss Bingley told me,'' said Jane, ``that he never speaks much unless among his intimate acquaintance. With them he is remarkably agreeable.''
7 m+ M3 u# E- q6 h& _2 t
``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.''
" x9 Y2 J. p: E% ]& X; D
``I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. Long,'' said Miss Lucas, ``but I wish he had danced with Eliza.''

8 {( [2 d# u+ c* }. {' A6 \``Another time, Lizzy,'' said her mother, ``I would not dance with him, if I were you.''
" \$ c) V7 N: t8 }! j
``I believe, Ma'am, I may safely promise you never to dance with him.''

* ~. \: L7 S4 v+ ```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.''

/ B. Z  Y" y0 G6 F* L``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 have others think of us.''
" y2 x: `" v* V
``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.

* O) Q6 L/ ^" r, e2 V$ W[ 本帖最后由 others 于 2007-5-6 02:27 编辑 ]

荔枝啊荔枝

Chapter 6
& C" `* A: H2 b4 L' _& BTHE ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form. Miss 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 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.''
, l, B' U6 R7 _+ v4 A$ X+ E
``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.''
5 Q/ u  M: o8 |; [5 A4 ]. o* ^
``Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do.''
2 J; C5 a6 X& |) X3 U8 e6 v$ }
``But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, he must find it out.''

* M1 n+ U5 H$ F6 i``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.''

0 @+ x5 o8 B2 z- o6 ~. N``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 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.''
. Y# T5 R1 R1 [! c% J4 l% T7 U
, K' D% Z$ t  @$ i3 }; r``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.''

0 V9 P- i$ C( r; F``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.''

* \) b! }8 \6 T``Well,'' said Charlotte, ``I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.''
. H9 m: G6 I/ d+ c9 b% y
``You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself.''

Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of this she was perfectly unaware; -- to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable no where, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.
, `( M( J2 F* a$ {
  V3 T3 \! Q- xHe began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were assembled. ``What does Mr. Darcy mean,'' said she to Charlotte, ``by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?''

" H) U' q4 e9 l% O1 L& {' ]``That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer.''

``But if he does it any more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.''

  u) Y! h) ?- U& N, f  }On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,
* F9 ?0 n5 R/ J# |+ H2 i0 T
5 I4 n+ K" r% n2 T! u``Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teazing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?''

+ x' f) i& t! H0 u/ b5 B``With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic.''

``You are severe on us.''

$ T# i7 E' O6 ]``It will be her turn soon to be teazed,'' said Miss Lucas. ``I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows.''

``You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! -- always wanting me to play and sing before any body and every body! -- If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable, but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers.'' On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, ``Very well; if it must be so, it must.'' And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, ``There is a fine old saying, which every body here is of course familiar with -- "Keep your breath to cool your porridge," -- and I shall keep mine to swell my song.''
! y8 b! G; @$ A( {
# W7 Y% [( L% y+ NHer performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.
+ R; F& `9 ^9 g- h5 t9 s, _
Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the Lucases and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.

$ }9 q0 n9 q, {Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by his own thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began.
; R3 ?0 k: Z) J
``What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! -- There is nothing like dancing after all. -- I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies.''

``Certainly, Sir; -- and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. -- Every savage can dance.''
2 Q3 t- E1 e  W# y' S
; v$ M/ [6 D2 v) {  ]  y4 oSir William only smiled. ``Your friend performs delightfully;'' he continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; -- ``and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy.''

0 _2 N- g5 R. h3 a7 Z6 }``You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, Sir.''

& |+ ~% `* }- u# C``Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?''
, O$ z- J, ?0 d0 E" N8 x9 @) S
: U; a- Y' z! M2 W/ Y  G7 Z``Never, sir.''

2 j' i, R. G4 s3 f``Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?''

( O; g% T4 E0 G3 g9 r) _# \: q``It is a compliment which I never pay to any place, if I can avoid it.''
/ m7 }7 q5 b, a' Z/ J
``You have a house in town, I conclude?''
4 i0 m" |+ z5 k" `) R( `, Y8 f
Mr. Darcy bowed.
- v% G- [1 W9 W9 W
/ m) |0 \. r' }4 @: x+ Y``I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself -- for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas.''

( _. H7 n' n5 X, P3 ]He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her,
. M2 b# ~$ |! f& W/ P
``My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? -- Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. -- You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you.'' And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,

% d" ?; R+ B/ Q``Indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. -- I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a 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.

/ |, p2 ]: B7 ~0 `% q' @6 }``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.''
) I6 s7 }8 V3 Y. @
+ g% E; W; h/ @4 A0 u# }``Mr. Darcy is all politeness,'' said Elizabeth, smiling.
5 n# K$ @9 ~: K: h: |
' N  _7 j' W5 T  V( F; n8 ~``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.''
: K( E' G4 y2 s( `
``I should imagine not.''
( m4 P/ g; p! q$ I, A  O, C
; j6 K( U9 i7 M+ S& P``You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass 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!''
0 f$ T3 x: a( }3 f
6 z+ ]" H+ Q( i2 D% w6 V+ ^( G$ ```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.''
  q& g1 t1 T( c
( H/ s2 ~5 V! l8 _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,

( {  y5 F: P& j8 g+ A``Miss Elizabeth Bennet.''

( G+ @$ z8 f* h4 x! ~, D``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?''

4 _8 M% a4 x) ^4 ]8 p6 J* o) B``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.''

8 h0 ^7 g+ ~  Z0 I" \2 N# G2 ]``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.''

% h" {' g; x  j; c6 D7 @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.
& `9 Y& l7 L6 d& z( X" [0 {6 o1 S
[ 本帖最后由 others 于 2007-5-6 02:28 编辑 ]

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