pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第12章
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Darcy’s eyes were fixed on her。 She hardly knew how to suppose
that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man； and yet
that he should look at her because he disliked her； was still more
strange。 She could only imagine however at last； that she drew his
notice because there was a something about her more wrong and
reprehensible； according to his ideas of right； than in any other
person present。 The supposition did not pain her。 She liked him
too little to care for his approbation。
After playing some Italian songs； Miss Bingley varied the charm
by a lively Scotch air； and soon afterwards Mr。 Darcy； drawing
near Elizabeth； said to her—
‘Do not you feel a great inclination； Miss Bennet； to seize such
an opportunity of dancing a reel？’
She smiled； but made no answer。 He repeated the question；
with some surprise at her silence。
‘Oh！’ said she； ‘I heard you before； but I could not immediately
determine what to say in reply。 You wanted me； I know； to say
“Yes；” that you might have the pleasure of despising my taste； but I
always delight in overthrowing those kind of schemes； and
cheating a person of their premeditated contempt。 I have therefore
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made up my mind to tell you； that I do not want to dance a reel at
all—and now despise me if you dare。’
‘Indeed I do not dare。’
Elizabeth； having rather expected to affront him； was amazed at
his gallantry； but there was a mixture of sweetness and archness in
her manner which made it difficult for her to affront anybody； and
Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by
her。 He really believed； that were it not for the inferiority of her
connections； he should be in some danger。
Miss Bingley saw； or suspected enough to be jealous； and her
great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane； received
some assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth。
She often tried to provoke Darcy into disliking her guest； by
talking of their supposed marriage； and planning his happiness in
such an alliance。
‘I hope；’ said she； as they were walking together in the
shrubbery the next day； ‘you will give your mother…in…law a few
hints； when this desirable event takes place； as to the advantage of
holding her tongue； and if you can compass it； do cure the younger
girls of running after the officers。—And； if I may mention so
delicate a subject； endeavour to check that little something；
bordering on conceit and impertinence； which your lady
possesses。’
‘Have you any thing else to propose for my domestic felicity？’
‘Oh！ yes。—Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Philips be
placed in the gallery at Pemberley。 Put them next to your great
uncle the judge。 They are in the same profession； you know； only in
different lines。 As for your Elizabeth’s picture； you must not
attempt to have it taken； for what painter could do justice to those
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beautiful eyes？’
‘It would not be easy； indeed； to catch their expression； but their
colour and shape； and the eye…lashes； so remarkably fine； might be
copied。’
At that moment they were met from another walk； by Mrs。
Hurst and Elizabeth herself。
‘I did not know that you intended to walk；’ said Miss Bingley； in
some confusion； lest they had been overheard。
‘You used us abominably ill；’ answered Mrs。 Hurst； ‘in running
away without telling us that you were coming out。’
Then taking the disengaged arm of Mr。 Darcy； she left Elizabeth
to walk by herself。 The path just admitted three。 Mr。 Darcy felt
their rudeness and immediately said；—
‘This walk is not wide enough for our party。 We had better go
into the avenue。’
But Elizabeth； who had not the least inclination to remain with
them； laughingly answered；
‘No； no； stay where you are。—You are charmingly group’d； and
appear to uncommon advantage。 The picturesque would be spoilt
by admitting a fourth。 Good bye。’
She then ran gaily off； rejoicing as she rambled about； in the
hope of being at home again in a day or two。 Jane was already so
much recovered as to intend leaving her room for a couple of hours
that evening。
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CHAPTER XI
hen the ladies removed after dinner； Elizabeth ran up
Wto her sister； and seeing her well guarded from cold；
attended her into the drawing…room； where she was
welcomed by her two friends with many professions of pleasure；
and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were
during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared。
Their powers of conversation were considerable。 They could
describe an entertainment with accuracy； relate an anecdote with
humour； and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit。
But when the gentlemen entered； Jane was no longer the first
object。 Miss Bingley’s eyes were instantly turned towards Darcy；
and she had something to say to him before he had advanced many
steps。 He addressed himself directly to Miss Bennet； with a polite
congratulation； Mr。 Hurst also made her a slight bow； and said he
was ‘very glad；’ but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley’s
salutation。 He was full of joy and attention。 The first half hour was
spent in piling up the fire； lest she should suffer from the change of
room； and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fire…
place； that she might be farther from the door。 He then sat down
by her； and talked scarcely to any one else。 Elizabeth； at work in
the opposite corner； saw it all with great delight。
When tea was over； Mr。 Hurst reminded his sister…in…law of the
card…table—but in vain。 She had obtained private intelligence that
Mr。 Darcy did not wish for cards； and Mr。 Hurst soon found even
his open petition rejected。 She assured him that no one intended to
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play； and the silence of the whole party on the subject； seemed to
justify her。 Mr。 Hurst had therefore nothing to do； but to stretch
himself on one of the sophas and go to sleep。 Darcy took up a book；
Miss Bingley did the same； and Mrs。 Hurst； principally occupied in
playing with her bracelets and rings； joined now and then in her
brother’s conversation with Miss Bennet。
Miss Bingley’s attention was quite as much engaged in watching
Mr。 Darcy’s progress through his book； as in reading her own； and
she was perpetually either making some inquiry； or looking at his
page。 She could not win him； however； to any conversation； he
merely answered her question； and read on。 At length； quite
exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book； which
she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his； she
gave a great yawn and said； ‘How pleasant it is to spend an evening
in this way！ I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading！
How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book！—When I
have a house of my own； I shall be miserable if I have not an
excellent library。’
No one made any reply。 She then yawned again； threw aside her
book； and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some
amusement； when hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss
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
