pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第7章
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have others think of us。’
‘If I were as rich as Mr。 Darcy；’ cried a young Lucas who came
with his sisters； ‘I should not care how proud I was。 I would keep a
pack of foxhounds； and drink a bottle of wine every day。’
‘Then you would drink a great deal more than you ought；’ said
Mrs。 Bennet； ‘and if I were to see you at it I should take away your
bottle directly。’
The boy protested that she should not； she continued to declare
that she would； and the argument ended only with the visit。
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CHAPTER VI
he ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of
Netherfield。 The visit was returned in due form。 Miss
T
Bennet’s pleasing manners grew on the good will of Mrs。
Hurst and Miss Bingley； and though the mother was found to be
intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to； a wish
of being better acquainted with them； was expressed towards the
two eldest。 By Jane this attention was received with the greatest
pleasure； but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their
treatment of every body； hardly excepting even her sister； and
could not like them； though their kindness to Jane； such as it was；
had a value as arising in all probability from the influence of their
brother’s admiration。 It was generally evident whenever they met；
that he did admire her； and to her it was equally evident that Jane
was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain
for him from the first； and was in a way to be very much in love；
but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be
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 tha
