pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第39章
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several times； that she will never play really well； unless she
practises more； and though Mrs。 Collins has no instrument； she is
very welcome； as I have often told her； to come to Rosings every
day； and play on the pianoforté in Mrs。 Jenkinson’s room。 She
would be in nobody’s way； you know； in that part of the house。’
Mr Darcy looked a little ashamed of his aunt’s ill breeding and
made no answer。
When coffee was over； Colonel Fitzwilliam reminded Elizabeth
of having promised to play to him； and she sat down directly to the
instrument。 He drew a chair near her。 Lady Catherine listened to
half a song； and then talked； as before； to her other nephew； till
the latter walked away from her； and moving with his usual
deliberation towards the pianoforté； stationed himself so as to
command a full view of the fair performer’s countenance。
Elizabeth saw what he was doing； and at the first convenient
pause； turned to him with an arch smile； and said；
‘You mean to frighten me； Mr。 Darcy； by coming in all this state
to hear me？ But I will not be alarmed though your sister does play
so well。 There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to
be frightened at the will of others。 My courage always rises with
every attempt to intimidate me。’
‘I shall not say that you are mistaken；’ he replied； ‘because you
could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming
you； and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long
enough to know； that you find great enjoyment in occasionally
professing opinions which in fact are not your own。’
Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself； and said to
Colonel Fitzwilliam； ‘Your cousin will give you a very pretty notion
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of me； and teach you not to believe a word I say。 I am particularly
unlucky in meeting with a person so well able to expose my real
character； in a part of the world； where I had hoped to pass myself
off with some degree of credit。 Indeed； Mr。 Darcy； it is very
ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to my
disadvantage in Hertfordshire—and； give me leave to say； very
impolitic too—for it is provoking me to retaliate； and such things
may come out； as will shock your relations to hear。’
‘I am not afraid of you；’ said he； smilingly。
‘Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of；’ cried Colonel
Fitzwilliam。 ‘I should like to know how he behaves among
strangers。’
‘You shall hear then—but prepare yourself for something very
dreadful。 The first time of my ever seeing him in Hertfordshire；
you must know； was at a ball—and at this ball； what do you think
he did？ He danced only four dances！ I am sorry to pain you—but
so it was。 He danced only four dances； though gentlemen were
scarce； and； to my certain knowledge； more than one young lady
was sitting down in want of a partner。 Mr。 Darcy； you cannot deny
the fact。’
‘I had not at that time the honour of knowing any lady in the
assembly beyond my own party。’
‘True； and nobody can ever be introduced in a ball room。 Well；
Colonel Fitzwilliam； what do I play next？ My fingers wait your
orders。’
‘Perhaps；’ said Darcy； ‘I should have judged better； had I sought
an introduction； but I am ill qualified to recommend myself to
strangers。’
‘Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this？’ said Elizabeth；
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still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam。 ‘Shall we ask him why a man
of sense and education； and who has lived in the world； is ill
qualified to recommend himself to strangers？’
‘I can answer your question；’ said Fitzwilliam； ‘without applying
to him。 It is because he will not give himself the trouble。’
‘I certainly have not the talent which some people possess；’ said
Darcy； ‘of conversing easily with those I have never seen before。 I
cannot catch their tone of conversation； or appear interested in
their concerns； as I often see done。’
‘My fingers；’ said Elizabeth； ‘do not move over this instrument
in the masterly manner which I see so many women’s do。 They
have not the same force or rapidity； and do not produce the same
expression。 But then I have always supposed it to be my own
fault—because I would not take the trouble of practising。 It is not
that I do not believe my fingers as capable as any other woman’s of
superior execution。’
Darcy smiled and said； ‘You are perfectly right。 You have
employed your time much better。 No one admitted to the privilege
of hearing you； can think any thing wanting。 We neither of us
perform to strangers。’
Here they were interrupted by Lady Catherine； who called out
to know what they were talking of。 Elizabeth immediately began
playing again。 Lady Catherine approached； and； after listening for
a few minutes； said to Darcy；
‘Miss Bennet would not play at all amiss； if she practised more；
and could have the advantage of a London master。 She has a very
good notion of fingering； though her taste is not equal to Anne’s。
Anne would have been a delightful performer； had her health
allowed her to learn。’
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Elizabeth looked at Darcy to see how cordially he assented to
his cousin’s praise； but neither at that moment nor at any other
could she discern any symptom of love； and from the whole of his
behaviour to Miss De Bourgh she derived this comfort for Miss
Bingley； that he might have been just as likely to marry her； had
she been his relation。
Lady Catherine continued her remarks on Elizabeth’s per…
formance； mixing with them many instructions on execution and
taste。 Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility；
and at the request of the gentlemen remained at the instrument
till her Ladyship’s carriage was ready to take them all home。
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CHAPTER IX
lizabeth was sitting by herself the next morning； and
writing to Jane； while Mrs。 Collins and Maria were gone
E
on business into the village； when she was startled by a
ring at the door； the certain signal of a visitor。 As she had heard no
carriage； she thought it not unlikely to be Lady Catherine； and
under that apprehension was putting away her half…finished letter
that she might escape all impertinent questions； when the door
opened； and to her very great surprise； Mr。 Darcy； and Mr。 Darcy
only； entered the room。
He seemed astonished too on finding her alone； and apologised
for his intrusion； by letting her know that he had understood all
the ladies to be within。
They then sat down； and when her enquiries after Rosings were
made； seemed in danger of sinking into total silence。 It was
absolutely necessary； therefore； to think of something； and in this
emergence recollecting when she had seen him last in
Hertfordshire； and feeling curious to know what he would say on
the subject of their hasty departure； she observed；
‘How very suddenly you all quitted Netherfield last November；
Mr。 Darcy！ It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr。
Bingley to see you all after him so soon； for； if I recollect right； he
went but the day before。 He and his sisters were well； I hope；
when you left London。’
‘Perfectly so—I thank you。’
She found that she was to receive no other answer—and； after a
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short pause； added；
‘I think I have understood that Mr。 Bingley has not much idea
of ever returning to Netherfield again？’
‘I have never heard him say so； but it is probable that he may
spend very little of his time there in future。 He has many friends；
and he is at a time of life when friends and engagements are
continually increasing。’
‘If he means to be but little at Netherfield； it would be better for
the neighbourhood that he should give up the place entirely； for
then we might possibly get a settled family there。 But perhaps Mr。
Bingley did not take the house so much for the convenience of the
neighbourhood as for his own； and we must expect him to keep or
quit it on the same principle。’
‘I should not be surprised；’ said Darcy； ‘if he were to give it up；
as soon as any eligible purchase offers。’
Elizabeth made no answer。 She was afraid of talking longer of
his friend； and； having nothing else to say； was now determined to
leave the trouble of finding a subject to him。
He took the hint； and soon began with； ‘This seems a very
comfortable house。 Lady Catherine； I believe； did a great deal to it
when Mr。 Collins first came to Hunsford。’
‘I believe she did—and I am sure she could not have bestowed
her kindness on a more grateful object。’
‘Mr。 Collins appears very fortunate in his choice of a wife。’
‘Yes； indeed； his friends may well rejoice in his having met with
one of the very few sensible women who would have accepted him；
or have made him happy if th
