pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第6部分
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discovered by the world in general； since Jane united with great
strength of feeling； a composure of temper and a uniform
cheerfulness of manner； which would guard her from the
suspicions of the impertinent。 She mentioned this to her friend
Miss Lucas。
‘It may perhaps be pleasant；’ replied Charlotte； ‘to be able to
impose on the public in such a case； but it is sometimes a
disadvantage to be so very guarded。 If a woman conceals her
affection with the same skill from the object of it； she may lose the
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opportunity of fixing him； and it will then be but poor consolation
to believe the world equally in the dark。 There is so much of
gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment； that it is not safe to
leave any to itself。 We can all begin freely—a slight preference is
natural enough； but there are very few of us who have heart
enough to be really in love without encouragement。 In nine cases
out of ten； a woman had better shew more affection than she feels。
Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly； but he may never do more
than like her； if she does not help him on。’
‘But she does help him on； as much as her nature will allow。 If I
can perceive her regard for him； he must be a simpleton indeed not
to discover it too。’
‘Remember； Eliza； that he does not know Jane’s disposition as
you do。’
‘But if a woman is partial to a man； and does not endeavour to
conceal it； he must find it out。’
‘Perhaps he must； if he sees enough of her。 But though Bingley
and Jane meet tolerably often； it is never for many hours together；
and as they always see each other in large mixed parties； it is
impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing
together。 Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour
in which she can command his attention。 When she is secure of
him； there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chuses。’
‘Your plan is a good one；’ replied Elizabeth； ‘where nothing is in
question but the desire of being well married； and if I were
determined to get a rich husband； or any husband； I dare say I
should adopt it。 But these are not Jane’s feelings； she is not acting
by design。 As yet； she cannot even be certain of the degree of her
own regard； nor of its reasonableness。 She has known him only a
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fortnight。 She danced four dances with him at Meryton； she saw
him one morning at his own house； and has since dined in
company with him four times。 This is not quite enough to make her
understand his character。’
‘Not as you represent it。 Had she merely dined with him； she
might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite； but
you must remember that four evenings have been also spent
together—and four evenings may do a great deal。’
‘Yes； these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that
they both like Vingt…un better than Commerce； but with respect to
any other leading characteristic； I do not imagine that much has
been unfolded。’
‘Well；’ said Charlotte； ‘I wish Jane success with all my heart； and
if she were married to him to…morrow； I should think she had as
good a chance of happiness； as if she were to be studying his
character for a twelve…month。 Happiness in marriage is entirely a
matter of chance。 If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well
known to each other； or ever so similar before…hand； it does not
advance their felicity in the least。 They always contrive to grow
sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation； and it
is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person
with whom you are to pass your life。’
‘You make me laugh； Charlotte； but it is not sound。 You know it
is not sound； and that you would never act in this way yourself。’
Occupied in observing Mr。 Bingley’s attentions to her sister；
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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