pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第11章
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affection and solicitude they shewed for Jane。 The apothecary
came； and having examined his patient； said； as might be
supposed； that she had caught a violent cold； and that they must
endeavour to get the better of it； advised her to return to bed； and
promised her some draughts。 The advice was followed readily； for
the feverish symptoms increased； and her head ached acutely。
Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment； nor were the other
ladies often absent； the gentlemen being out； they had in fact
nothing to do elsewhere。
When the clock struck three； Elizabeth felt that she must go；
and very unwillingly said so。 Miss Bingley offered her the carriage；
and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it； when Jane
testified such concern in parting with her； that Miss Bingley was
obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to
remain at Netherfield for the present。 Elizabeth most thankfully
consented； and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint
the family with her stay； and bring back a supply of clothes。
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CHAPTER VIII
t five o’clock the two ladies retired to dress； and at half
Apast six Elizabeth was summoned to dinner。 To the civil
enquiries which then poured in； and amongst which she
had the pleasure of distinguishing the much superior solicitude of
Mr。 Bingley’s； she could not make a very favourable answer。 Jane
was by no means better。 The sisters； on hearing this； repeated
three or four times how much they were grieved； how shocking it
was to have a bad cold； and how excessively they disliked being ill
themselves； and then thought no more of the matter： and their
indifference towards Jane when not immediately before them；
restored Elizabeth to the enjoyment of all her original dislike。
Their brother； indeed； was the only one of the party whom she
could regard with any complacency。 His anxiety for Jane was
evident； and his attentions to herself most pleasing； and they
prevented her feeling herself so much an intruder as she believed
she was considered by the others。 She had very little notice from
any but him。 Miss Bingley was engrossed by Mr。 Darcy； her sister
scarcely less so； and as for Mr。 Hurst； by whom Elizabeth sat； he
was an indolent man； who lived only to eat； drink； and play at
cards； who when he found her prefer a plain dish to a ragout； had
nothing to say to her。
When dinner was over； she returned directly to Jane； and Miss
Bingley began abusing her as soon as she was out of the room。 Her
manners were pronounced to be very bad indeed； a mixture of
pride and impertinence； she had no conversation； no stile； no taste；
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no beauty。 Mrs。 Hurst thought the same； and added；
‘She has nothing； in short； to recommend her； but being an
excellent walker。 I shall never forget her appearance this morning。
She really looked almost wild。’
‘She did indeed； Louisa。 I could hardly keep my countenance。
Very nonsensical to come at all！ Why must she be scampering
about the country； because her sister had a cold？ Her hair so
untidy； so blowsy！’
‘Yes； and her petticoat； I hope you saw her petticoat； six inches
deep in mud； I am absolutely certain； and the gown which had
been let down to hide it； not doing its office。’
‘Your picture may be very exact； Louisa；’ said Bingley； ‘but this
was all lost upon me。 I thought Miss Elizabeth Bennet looked
remarkably well； when she came into the room this morning。 Her
dirty petticoat quite escaped my notice。’
‘You observed it； Mr。 Darcy； I am sure；’ said Miss Bingley； ‘and I
am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister
make such an exhibition。’
‘Certainly not。’
‘To walk three miles； or four miles； or five miles； or whatever it
is； above her ancles in dirt； and alone； quite alone！—what could she
mean by it？ It seems to me to shew an abominable sort of
conceited independence； a most country town indifference to
decorum。’
‘It shews an affection for her sister that is very pleasing；’ said
Bingley。
‘I am afraid； Mr。 Darcy；’ observed Miss Bingley； in a half
whisper； ‘that this adventure has rather affected your admiration
of her fine eyes。’
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‘Not at all；’ he replied； ‘they were brightened by the exercise。’—
A short pause followed this speech； and Mrs。 Hurst began again。
‘I have an excessive regard for Jane Bennet； she is really a very
sweet girl； and I wish with all my heart she were well settled。 But
with such a father and mother； and such low connections； I am
afraid there is no chance of it。’
‘I think I have heard you say； that their uncle is an attorney in
Meryton。’
‘Yes； and they have another； who lives somewhere near
Cheapside。’
‘That is capital；’ added her sister； and they both laughed
heartily。
‘If they had uncles enough to fill all Cheapside；’ cried Bingley； ‘it
would not make them one jot less agreeable。’
‘But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying
men of any consideration in the world；’ replied Darcy。
To this speech Bingley made no answer； but his sisters gave it
their hearty assent； and indulged their mirth for some time at the
expense of their dear friend’s vulgar relations。
With a renewal of tenderness； however； they repaired to her
room on leaving the dining…parlour； and sat with her till
summoned to coffee。 She was still very poorly； and Elizabeth
would not quit her at all； till late in the evening； when she had the
comfort of seeing her asleep； and when it appeared to her rather
right than pleasant that she should go down stairs herself。 On
entering the drawing…room she found the whole party at loo； and
was immediately invited to join them； but suspecting them to be
playing high she declined it； and making her sister the excuse； said
she would amuse herself for the short time she could stay below
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with a book。 Mr。 Hurst looked at her with astonishment。
‘Do you prefer reading to cards？’ said he； ‘that is rather
singular。’
‘Miss Eliza Bennet；’ said Miss Bingley； ‘de
