pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第14部分
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Bennet； she turned suddenly towards him and said；
‘By the bye； Charles； are you really serious in meditating a
dance at Netherfield？—I would advise you； before you determine
on it； to consult the wishes of the present party； I am much
mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be
rather a punishment than a pleasure。’
‘If you mean Darcy；’ cried her brother； ‘he may go to bed； if he
chuses； before it begins—but as for the ball； it is quite a settled
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thing； and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall
send round my cards。’
‘I should like balls infinitely better；’ she replied； ‘if they were
carried on in a different manner； but there is something
insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting。 It
would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of
dancing made the order of the day。’
‘Much more rational； my dear Caroline； I dare say but it would
not be near so much like a ball。’
Miss Bingley made no answer； and soon afterwards got up and
walked about the room。 Her figure was elegant； and she walked
well；—but Darcy； at whom it was all aimed； was still inflexibly
studious。 In the desperation of her feelings she resolved on one
effort more； and； turning to Elizabeth； said；
‘Miss Eliza Bennet； let me persuade you to follow my example；
and take a turn about the room。—I assure you it is very refreshing
after sitting so long in one attitude。’
Elizabeth was surprised； but agreed to it immediately。 Miss
Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility； Mr。
Darcy looked up。 He was as much awake to the novelty of attention
in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be； and unconsciously
closed his book。 He was directly invited to join their party； but he
declined it； observing； that he could imagine but two motives for
their chusing to walk up and down the room together； with either
of which motives his joining them would interfere。 ‘What could he
mean？ she was dying to know what could be his meaning’—and
asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him？
‘Not at all；’ was her answer； ‘but depend upon it； he means to be
severe on us； and our surest way of disappointing him； will be to
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ask nothing about it。’
Miss Bingley； however； was incapable of disappointing Mr。
Darcy in any thing； and persevered therefore in requiring an
explanation of his two motives。
‘I have not the smallest objection to explaining them；’ said he； as
soon as she allowed him to speak。 ‘You either chuse this method of
passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence
and have secret affairs to discuss； or because you are conscious
that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking；—if
the first； I should be completely in your way；—and if the second； I
can admire you much better as I sit by the fire。’
‘Oh！ shocking！’ cried Miss Bingley。 ‘I never heard any thing so
abominable。 How shall we punish him for such a speech？’
‘Nothing so easy； if you have but the inclination；’ said Elizabeth。
‘We can all plague and punish one another。 Teaze him—laugh at
him。—Intimate as you are； you must know how it is to be done。’
‘But upon my honour I do not。 I do assure you that my intimacy
has not yet taught me that。 Teaze calmness of temper and presence
of mind！ No； no—I feel he may defy us there。 And as to laughter；
we will not expose ourselves； if you please； by attempting to laugh
without a subject。 Mr。 Darcy may hug himself。’
‘Mr。 Darcy is not to be laughed at！’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘That is an
uncommon advantage； and uncommon I hope it will continue； for
it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance。 I
dearly love a laugh。’
‘Miss Bingley；’ said he； ‘has given me credit for more than can
be。 The wisest and the best of men； nay； the wisest and best of their
actions； may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object
in life is a joke。’
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‘Certainly；’ replied Elizabeth—‘there are such people； but I hope
I am not one of them。 I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good。
Follies and nonsense； whims and inconsistencies do divert me； I
own； and I laugh at them whenever I can。—But these； I suppose；
are precisely what you are without。’
‘Perhaps that is not possible for any one。 But it has been the
study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a
strong understanding to ridicule。’
‘Such as vanity and pride。’
‘Yes； vanity is a weakness indeed。 But pride—where there is a
real superiority of mind； pride will be always under good
regulation。’
Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile。
‘Your examination of Mr。 Darcy is over； I presume；’ said Miss
Bingley；—‘and pray what is the result？’
‘I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr。 Darcy has no defect。 He
owns it himself without disguise。’
‘No’—said Darcy； ‘I have made no such pretension。 I have faults
enough； but they are not； I hope； of understanding。 My temper I
dare not vouch for。—It is I believe too little yielding—certainly too
little for the convenience of the world。 I cannot forget the follies
and vices of others so soon as I ought； nor their offences against
myself。 My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to
move them。 My temper would perhaps be called resentful。—My
good opinion once lost is lost for ever。’
‘That is a failing indeed！’—cried Elizabeth。 ‘Implacable
resentment is a shade in a character。 But you have chosen your
fault well。—I really cannot laugh at it。 You are safe from me。’
‘There is； I believe； in every disposition a tendency to some
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particular evil； a natural defect； which not even the best education
can overcome。’
‘And your defect is a propensity to hate every body。’
‘And yours；’ he replied with a smile； ‘is wilfully to mis…
understand them。’
‘Do let us have a little music；’—cried Miss Bingley； tired of a
conversation in which she had no share。—‘Louisa； you will not
mind my waking Mr。 Hurst。’
Her sister made not the smallest objection； and the pianoforté
was opened； and Darcy； after a few moments recollection； was not
sorry for it。 He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too
much attention。
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CHAPTER XII
n consequence of an agreement between the sisters； Eliza…
beth wrote the next morning to her mother； to beg that the
I
carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day。 But
Mrs。 Bennet； who had calculated on her daughters remaining at
Netherfield till the following Tuesday； which would exactly finish
Jane’s week； could not bring herself to receive them with pleasure
before。 Her answer； therefore； was not propitious； at least not to
Elizabeth’s wishes； for she was impatient to get home。 Mrs。
Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the
carriage before Tuesday； and in her postscript it was added； that if
Mr。 Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer； she could
spare them very well。—Against staying longer； however； Elizabeth
was positively resolved—nor did she much expect it would be
asked； and fearful； on the contrary； as being considered as
intruding themselves needlessly long； she urged Jane to borrow
Mr。 Bingley’s carriage immediately； and at length it was settled
that their original design of leaving Netherfield that morning
should be mentioned； and the request made。
The communication excited many professions of concern； and
enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following
day to work on Jane； and till the morrow； their going was deferred。
Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had propo
