pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第75章
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to look round； and happened to smile： it was decided。 He placed
himself by her。
Elizabeth； with a triumphant sensation； looked towards his
friend。 He bore it with noble indifference； and she would have
imagined that Bingley had received his sanction to be happy； had
she not seen his eyes likewise turned towards Mr。 Darcy； with an
expression of half…laughing alarm。
His behaviour to her sister was such； during dinner time； as
shewed an admiration of her； which； though more guarded than
formerly； persuaded Elizabeth； that if left wholly to himself； Jane’s
happiness； and his own； would be speedily secured。 Though she
dared not depend upon the consequence； she yet received
pleasure from observing his behaviour。 It gave her all the
animation that her spirits could boast； for she was in no cheerful
humour。 Mr。 Darcy was almost as far from her； as the table could
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divide them。 He was on one side of her mother。 She knew how
little such a situation would give pleasure to either； or make either
appear to advantage。 She was not near enough to hear any of their
discourse； but she could see how seldom they spoke to each other；
and how formal and cold was their manner； whenever they did。
Her mother’s ungraciousness； made the sense of what they owed
him more painful to Elizabeth’s mind； and she would； at times；
have given any thing to be privileged to tell him； that his kindness
was neither unknown nor unfelt by the whole of the family。
She was in hopes that the evening would afford some
opportunity of bringing them together； that the whole of the visit
would not pass away without enabling them to enter into
something more of conversation； than the mere ceremonious
salutation attending his entrance。 Anxious and uneasy； the period
which passed in the drawing…room； before the gentlemen came；
was wearisome and dull to a degree； that almost made her uncivil。
She looked forward to their entrance； as the point on which all her
chance of pleasure for the evening must depend。
‘If he does not come to me； then；’ said she； ‘I shall give him up
for ever。’
The gentlemen came； and she thought he looked as if he would
have answered her hopes； but； alas！ the ladies had crowded round
the table； where Miss Bennet was making tea； and Elizabeth
pouring out the coffee； in so close a confederacy； that there was
not a single vacancy near her； which would admit of a chair。 And
on the gentlemen’s approaching； one of the girls moved closer to
her than ever； and said； in a whisper；
‘The men shan’t come and part us； I am determined。 We want
none of them； do we？’
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Darcy had walked away to another part of the room。 She
followed him with her eyes； envied every one to whom he spoke；
had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee； and then
was enraged against herself for being so silly！
‘A man who has once been refused！ How could I ever be foolish
enough to expect a renewal of his love？ Is there one among the
sex； who would not protest against such a weakness as a second
proposal to the same woman？ There is no indignity so abhorrent
to their feelings！’
She was a little revived； however； by his bringing back his
coffee cup himself； and she seized the opportunity of saying；
‘Is your sister at Pemberley still？’
‘Yes； she will remain there till Christmas。’
‘And quite alone？ Have all her friends left her？’
‘Mrs。 Annesley is with her。 The others have been gone on to
Scarborough； these three weeks。’
She could think of nothing more to say； but if he wished to
converse with her； he might have better success。 He stood by her；
however； for some minutes； in silence； and； at last； on the young
lady’s whispering to Elizabeth again； he walked away。
When the tea…things were removed； and the card tables placed；
the ladies all rose； and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon
joined by him； when all her views were overthrown； by seeing him
fall a victim to her mother’s rapacity for whist players； and in a few
moments after seated with the rest of the party。 She now lost
every expectation of pleasure。 They were confined for the evening
at different tables； and she had nothing to hope； but that his eyes
were so often turned towards her side of the room； as to make him
play as unsuccessfully as herself。
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Mrs。 Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield
gentlemen to supper； but their carriage was unluckily ordered
before any of the others； and she had no opportunity of detaining
them。
‘Well girls；’ said she； as soon as they were left to themselves；
‘What say you to the day？ I think every thing has passed off
uncommonly well； I assure you。 The dinner was as well dressed as
any I ever saw。 The venison was roasted to a turn—and everybody
said； they never saw so fat a haunch。 The soup was fifty times
better than what we had at the Lucas’s last week； and even Mr。
Darcy acknowledged； that the partridges were remarkably well
done； and I suppose he has two or three French cooks at least。
And； my dear Jane； I never saw you look in greater beauty。 Mrs。
Long said so too； for I asked her whether you did not。 And what do
you think she said besides？ “Ah！ Mrs。 Bennet； we shall have her at
Netherfield at last。” She did indeed。 I do think Mrs。 Long is as
good a creature as ever lived—and her nieces are very pretty
behaved girls； and not at all handsome： I like them prodigiously。’
Mrs。 Bennet； in short； was in very great spirits； she had seen
enough of Bingley’s behaviour to Jane； to be convinced that she
would get him at last； and her expectations of advantage to her
family； when in a happy humour； were so far beyond reason； that
she was quite disappointed at not seeing him there again the next
day； to make his proposals。
‘It has been a very agreeable day；’ said Miss Bennet to
Elizabeth。 ‘The party seemed so well selected； so suitable one with
the other I hope we may often meet again。’
Elizabeth smiled。
‘Lizzy； you must not do so。 You must not suspect me。 It
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mortifies me。 I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his
conversation as an agreeable and sensible young man； without
having a wish beyond it。 I am perfectly satisfied from what his
manners now are； that he never had any design of engaging my
affection。 It is only that he is blessed with greater sweetness of
address； and a stronger desire of generally pleasing than any other
man。’
‘You are very cruel；’ said her sister； ‘you will not let me smile；
and are provoking me to it every moment。’
‘How hard it is in some cases to be believed！’
‘And how impossible in others！’
‘But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than
I acknowledge？’
‘That is a question which I hardly know how to answer。 We all
love to instruct； though we can teach only what is not worth
knowing。 Forgive me； and if you persist in indifference； do not
make me your confidante。’
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CHAPTER XIII
few days after this visit； Mr。 Bingley called again； and
Aalone。 His friend had left him that morning for London；
but was to return home in ten days time。 He sat with
them above an hour； and was in remarkably good spirits。 Mrs。
Bennet invited him to dine with them； but； with many expressions
of concern； he confessed himself engaged elsewhere。
‘Next time you call；’ said she； ‘I hope we shall be more lucky。’
He should be particularly happy at any time； &c。 &c。； and if she
would give him leave； would take an early opportunity of waiting
on them。
‘Can you come to…morrow？’
Yes； he had no engagement at all for to…morrow； and her
invitation was accepted with alacrity。
He came； and in such very good time； that the ladies were none
of them dressed。 In ran Mrs。 Bennet to her daughter’s room； in
her dressing gown； and with her hair half finished； crying out；
‘My dear Jane； make haste and hurry down。 He is come—Mr。
Bingley is come。—He is； indeed。 Make haste； make haste。 Here；
Sarah； come to Miss Bennet this moment； and help her on with
her gown。 Never mind Miss Lizzy’s hair。’
‘We will be down as soon as we can；’ said Jane； ‘but I dare say
Kitty is forwarder than either of us； for she went up stairs half an
hour ago。’
‘Oh！ hang Kitty！ what has she to do with it？ Come be quick； be
quick！ where is your sash my dear？’
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Jane Aust
