pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第58章
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of his endeavours； and when even the acquaintance of those to
whom his attentions were addressed； would draw down the
ridicule and censure of the ladies both of Netherfield and Rosings。
Their visitors staid with them above half an hour； and when
they arose to depart； Mr。 Darcy called on his sister to join him in
expressing their wish of seeing Mr。 and Mrs。 Gardiner； and Miss
Bennet； to dinner at Pemberley； before they left the country。 Miss
Darcy； though with a diffidence which marked her little in the
habit of giving invitations； readily obeyed。 Mrs。 Gardiner looked at
her niece； desirous of knowing how she； whom the invitation most
concerned； felt disposed as to its acceptance； but Elizabeth had
turned away her head。 Presuming； however； that this studied
avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment； than any
dislike of the proposal； and seeing in her husband； who was fond
of society； a perfect willingness to accept it； she ventured to
engage for her attendance； and the day after the next was fixed on。
Bingley expressed great pleasure in the certainty of seeing
Elizabeth again； having still a great deal to say to her； and many
enquiries to make after all their Hertfordshire friends。 Elizabeth；
construing all this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister；
was pleased； and on this account； as well as some others； found
herself； when their visitors left them； capable of considering the
last half hour with some satisfaction； though while it was passing；
the enjoyment of it had been little。 Eager to be alone； and fearful of
enquiries or hints from her uncle and aunt； she staid with them
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only long enough to hear their favourable opinion of Bingley； and
then hurried away to dress。
But she had no reason to fear Mr。 and Mrs。 Gardiner’s
curiosity； it was not their wish to force her communication。 It was
evident that she was much better acquainted with Mr。 Darcy than
they had before any idea of； it was evident that he was very much
in love with her。 They saw much to interest； but nothing to justify
enquiry。
Of Mr。 Darcy it was now a matter of anxiety to think well； and；
as far as their acquaintance reached； there was no fault to find。
They could not be untouched by his politeness； and had they
drawn his character from their own feelings； and his servant’s
report； without any reference to any other account； the circle in
Hertfordshire to which he was known； would not have recognised
it for Mr。 Darcy。 There was now an interest； however； in believing
the housekeeper； and they soon became sensible； that the
authority of a servant who had known him since he was four years
old； and whose own manners indicated respectability； was not to
be hastily rejected。 Neither had any thing occurred in the
intelligence of their Lambton friends； that could materially lessen
its weight。 They had nothing to accuse him of but pride； pride he
probably had； and if not； it would certainly be imputed by the
inhabitants of a small market…town； where the family did not visit。
It was acknowledged； however； that he was a liberal man； and did
much good among the poor。
With respect to Wickham； the travellers soon found that he was
not held there in much estimation； for though the chief of his
concerns； with the son of his patron； were imperfectly understood；
it was yet a well known fact that； on his quitting Derbyshire； he
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had left many debts behind him； which Mr。 Darcy afterwards
discharged。
As for Elizabeth； her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening
more than the last； and the evening； though as it passed it seemed
long； was not long enough to determine her feelings towards one
in that mansion； and she lay awake two whole hours；
endeavouring to make them out。 She certainly did not hate him。
No； hatred had vanished long ago； and she had almost as long
been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him； that could be
so called。 The respect created by the conviction of his valuable
qualities； though at first unwillingly admitted； had for some time
ceased to be repugnant to her feelings； and it was now heightened
into somewhat of a friendlier nature； by the testimony so highly in
his favour； and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a
light； which yesterday had produced。 But above all； above respect
and esteem； there was a motive within her of good will which
could not be overlooked。 It was gratitude。—Gratitude； not merely
for having once loved her； but for loving her still well enough； to
forgive all the petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting
him； and all the unjust accusations accompanying her rejection。
He who； she had been persuaded； would avoid her as his greatest
enemy； seemed； on this accidental meeting； most eager to preserve
the acquaintance； and without any indelicate display of regard； or
any peculiarity of manner； where their two selves only were
concerned； was soliciting the good opinion of her friends； and bent
on making her known to his sister。 Such a change in a man of so
much pride excited not only astonishment but gratitude—for to
love； ardent love； it must be attributed； and as such its impression
on her was of a sort to be encouraged； as by no means unpleasing；
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though it could not be exactly defined。 She respected； she
esteemed； she was grateful to him； she felt a real interest in his
welfare； and she only wanted to know how far she wished that
welfare to depend upon herself； and how far it would be for the
happiness of both that she should employ the power； which her
fancy told her she still possessed； of bringing on the renewal of his
addresses。
It had been settled in the evening； between the aunt and niece；
that such a striking civility as Miss Darcy’s； in coming to them on
the very day of her arrival at Pemberley； for she had reached it
only to a late breakfast； ought to be imitated； though it could not
be equalled； by some exertion of politeness on their side； and；
consequently； that it would be highly expedient to wait on her at
Pemberley the following morning。 They were； therefore； to go。—
Elizabeth was pleased； though； when she asked herself the reason；
she had very little to say in reply。
Mr。 Gardiner left them soon after breakfast。 The fishing scheme
had been renewed the day before； and a positive engagement
made of his meeting some of the gentlemen at Pemberley by noon。
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CHAPTER III
onvinced as Elizabeth now was that Miss Bingley’s dislike
of her had originated in jealousy； she could not help
C
feeling how very unwelcome her appearance at
Pemberley must be to her； and was curious to know with how
much civility on that lady’s side； the acquaintance would now be
renewed。
On reaching the house； they were shewn through the hall into
the saloon； whose northern aspect rendered it delightful for
summer。 Its windows opening to the ground； admitted a most
refreshing view of the high woody hills behind the house； and of
the beautiful oaks and Spanish chesnuts which were scattered
over the intermediate lawn。
In this room they were received by Miss Darcy； who was sitting
there with Mrs。 Hurst and Miss Bingley； and the lady with whom
she lived in London。 Georgiana’s reception of them was very civil；
but attended with all that embarrassment which； though
proceeding from shyness and the fear of doing wrong； would easily
give to those who felt themselves inferior； the belief of her being
proud and reserved。 Mrs。 Gardiner and her niece； however； did
her justice； and pitied her。
By Mrs。 Hurst and Miss Bingley； they were noticed only by a
curtsey； and on their being seated； a pause； awkward as such
pauses must always be； succeeded for a few moments。 It was first
broken by Mrs。 Annesley； a genteel； agreeable…looking woman；
whose endeavour to introduce some kind of discourse； proved her
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to be more truly well bred than either of the others； and between
her and Mrs。 Gardiner； with occasional help from Elizabeth； the
conversation was carried on。 Miss Darcy looked as if she wished
for courage enough to join in it； and sometimes did venture a short
sentence； when there was least danger of its being heard。
Elizabeth soon saw that she was herself closely watched by
Miss Bingley； and that she could not speak a word； especially to
Miss Darcy； without calling her attention。 This observation would
not have prevented her from trying to talk to the latter； had they
not been seated at an inconvenient distance； but she was not sorry
to be spare
