pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第6章
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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
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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。
He 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？’
‘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。’
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；
‘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？’
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‘With great energy；—but it is a subject which always makes a
lady energetic。’
‘You are severe on us。’
‘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。’
Her 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。
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
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two or three officers joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the
room。
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。
‘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。’
Sir 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。’
‘You saw me dance at Meryton； I believe； Sir。’
‘Yes； indeed； and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the
sight。 Do you often dance at St。 James’s？’
‘Never； sir。’
‘Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place？’
‘It is a compliment which I never pay to any place if I can avoid
it。’
‘You have a house in town； I conclude？’
Mr。 Darcy bowed。
‘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。’
He paused in hopes of an answer； but his companion was not
disposed to make any； and Elizabeth at that instant moving
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towards them； he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant
thing； and called out to her；
‘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；
‘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。
‘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。’
‘Mr。 Darcy is all politeness；’ said Elizabeth； smiling。
‘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。
‘I should imagine not。’
‘You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass
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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！’
‘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。’
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；
‘Miss Elizabeth Bennet。’
‘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？’
‘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。’
‘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。
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。
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