pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第21章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
advantage of some； conversation ought to be so arranged as that
they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible。’
‘Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case； or do
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 110…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 110
you imagine that you are gratifying mine？’
‘Both；’ replied Elizabeth archly； ‘for I have always seen a great
similarity in the turn of our minds。—We are each of an unsocial；
taciturn disposition； unwilling to speak； unless we expect to say
something that will amaze the whole room； and be handed down to
posterity with all the eclat of a proverb。’
‘This is no very striking resemblance of your own character； I
am sure；’ said he。 ‘How near it may be to mine； I cannot pretend to
say。—You think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly。’
‘I must not decide on my own performance。’
He made no answer； and they were again silent till they had
gone down the dance； when he asked her if she and her sisters did
not very often walk to Meryton。 She answered in the affirmative；
and； unable to resist the temptation； added； ‘When you met us
there the other day； we had just been forming a new acquaintance。
The effect was immediate。 A deeper shade of hauteur over…
spread his features； but he said not a word； and Elizabeth； though
blaming herself for her own weakness； could not go on。 At length
Darcy spoke； and in a constrained manner said；
‘Mr。 Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may
ensure his making friends—whether he may be equally capable of
retaining them； is less certain。’
‘He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship；’ replied
Elizabeth with emphasis； ‘and in a manner which he is likely to
suffer from all his life。’
Darcy made no answer； and seemed desirous of changing the
subject。 At that moment Sir William Lucas appeared close to them；
meaning to pass through the set to the other side of the room； but
on perceiving Mr。 Darcy he stopt with a bow of superior courtesy
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 111…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 111
to compliment him on his dancing and his partner。
‘I have been most highly gratified indeed； my dear Sir。 Such
very superior dancing is not often seen。 It is evident that you
belong to the first circles。 Allow me to say； however； that your fair
partner does not disgrace you； and that I must hope to have this
pleasure often repeated； especially when a certain desirable event；
my dear Miss Eliza； （glancing at her sister and Bingley；） shall take
place。 What congratulations will then flow in！ I appeal to Mr。
Darcy：—but let me not interrupt you； Sir。—You will not thank me
for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady；
whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me。’
The latter part of this address was scarcely heard by Darcy； but
Sir William’s allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly；
and his eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards
Bingley and Jane； who were dancing together。 Recovering himself；
however； shortly； he turned to his partner； and said；
‘Sir William’s interruption has made me forget what we were
talking of。’
‘I do not think we were speaking at all。 Sir William could not
have interrupted any two people in the room who had less to say
for themselves。—We have tried two or three subjects already
without success； and what we are to talk of next I cannot imagine。’
‘What think you of books？’ said he； smiling。
‘Books—Oh！ no。—I am sure we never read the same； or not with
the same feelings。’
‘I am sorry you think so； but if that be the case； there can at
least be no want of subject。—We may compare our different
opinions。’
‘No—I cannot talk of books in a ball…room； my head is always
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 112…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 112
full of something else。’
‘The present always occupies you in such scenes—does it？’ said
he； with a look of doubt。
‘Yes； always；’ she replied； without knowing what she said； for
her thoughts had wandered far from the subject； as soon
afterwards appeared by her suddenly exclaiming； ‘I remember
hearing you once say； Mr。 Darcy； that you hardly ever forgave； that
your resentment once created was unappeasable。 You are very
cautious； I suppose； as to its being created。’
‘I am；’ said he； with a firm voice。
‘And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice？’
‘I hope not。’
‘It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their
opinion； to be secure of judging properly at first。’
‘May I ask to what these questions tend？’
‘Merely to the illustration of your character；’ said she；
endeavouring to shake off her gravity。 ‘I am trying to make it out。’
‘And what is your success？’
She shook her head。 ‘I do not get on at all。 I hear such different
accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly。’
‘I can readily believe；’ answered he gravely； ‘that report may
vary greatly with respect to me； and I could wish； Miss Bennet；
that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment；
as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no
credit on either。’
‘But if I do not take your likeness now； I may never have
another opportunity。’
‘I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours；’ he coldly
replied。 She said no more； and they went down the other dance
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 113…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 113
and parted in silence； on each side dissatisfied； though not to an
equal degree； for in Darcy’s breast there was a tolerable powerful
feeling towards her； which soon procured her pardon； and directed
all his anger against another。
They had not long separated when Miss Bingley came towards
her； and with an expression of civil disdain thus accosted her；
‘So； Miss Eliza； I hear you are quite delighted with George
Wickham！—Your sister has been talking to me about him； and
asking me a thousand questions； and I find that the young man
forgot to tell you； among his other communications； that he was the
son of old Wickham； the late Mr。 Darcy’s steward。 Let me
recommend you； however； as a friend； not to give implicit
confidence to all his assertions； for as to Mr。 Darcy’s using him ill；
it is perfectly false； for； on the contrary； he has been always
remarkably kind to him； though George Wickham has treated Mr。
Darcy； in a most infamous manner。 I do not know the particulars；
but I know very well that Mr。 Darcy is not in the least to blame；
that he cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned； and that
though my brother thought he could not well avoid including him
in his invitation to the officers； he was excessively glad to find that
he had taken himself out of the way。 His coming into the country at
all； is a most insolent thing indeed； and I wonder how he could
presume to do it。 I pity you； Miss Eliza； for this discovery of your
favourite’s guilt； but really considering his descent； one could not
expect much better。’
‘His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the
same；’ said Elizabeth angrily； ‘for I have heard you accuse him of
nothing worse than of being the son of Mr。 Darcy’s steward； and of
that； I can assure you； he informed me himself。’
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 114…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 114
‘I beg your pardon；’ replied Miss Bingley； turning away with a
sneer。 ‘Excuse my interference。—It was kindly meant。’
‘Insolent girl！’ said Elizabeth to herself。—‘You are much
mistaken if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as
this。 I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the
malice of Mr。 Darcy。’ She then sought her eldest sister； who had
undertaken to make inquiries on the same subject of Bingley。 Jane
met her with a smile of such sweet complacency； a glow of such
happy expression； as sufficiently marked how well she was
satisfied with the occurrences of the evening。
Elizabeth instantly read her feelings； and at that moment
solicitude for Wickham； resentment against his enemies； and every
thing else gave way before the hope of Jane’s being in the fairest
way for happiness。
‘I want to know；’ said she； with a countenance no less smiling
than her sister’s； ‘what you have learnt about Mr。 Wickham。 But
perhaps you have been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third
person； in which case you may be sure of my pardon。’
‘No；’ replied Jane； ‘I have not forgotten him； but I have nothing
satisfactory to tell you。 Mr。 Bingley does not know the whole of his
history； and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have
principally offended Mr。 Darcy； but he will vouch for the good
conduct； the probity and honour of his friend； and is perfectly
convinced that Mr。 Wickham has deserved much le
