pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第7章
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her that all was safe； her wit flowed long。
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CHAPTER VII
r。 Bennet’s property consisted almost entirely in an
estate of two thousand a year； which； unfortunately for
M
his daughters； was entailed in default of heirs male； on
a distant relation； and their mother’s fortune； though ample for
her situation in life； could but ill supply the deficiency of his。 Her
father had been an attorney in Meryton； and had left her four
thousand pounds。
She had a sister married to a Mr。 Philips； who had been a clerk
to their father； and succeeded him in the business； and a brother
settled in London in a respectable line of trade。
The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton； a
most convenient distance for the young ladies； who were usually
tempted thither three or four times a week； to pay their duty to
their aunt and to a milliner’s shop just over the way。 The two
youngest of the family； Catherine and Lydia； were particularly
frequent in these attentions； their minds were more vacant than
their sisters’； and when nothing better offered； a walk to Meryton
was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish
conversation for the evening； and however bare of news the
country in general might be； they always contrived to learn some
from their aunt。 At present； indeed； they were well supplied both
with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment
in the neighbourhood； it was to remain the whole winter； and
Meryton was the head quarters。
Their visits to Mrs。 Philips were now productive of the most
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interesting intelligence。 Every day added something to their
knowledge of the officers’ names and connections。 Their lodgings
were not long a secret； and at length they began to know the
officers themselves。 Mr。 Philips visited them all； and this opened to
his nieces a source of felicity unknown before。 They could talk of
nothing but officers； and Mr。 Bingley’s large fortune； the mention
of which gave animation to their mother； was worthless in their
eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign。
After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject；
Mr。 Bennet coolly observed；
‘From all that I can collect by your manner of talking； you must
be two of the silliest girls in the country。 I have suspected it some
time； but I am now convinced。’
Catherine was disconcerted； and made no answer； but Lydia；
with perfect indifference； continued to express her admiration of
Captain Carter； and her hope of seeing him in the course of the
day； as he was going the next morning to London。
‘I am astonished； my dear；’ said Mrs。 Bennet； ‘that you should
be so ready to think your own children silly。 If I wished to think
slightingly of any body’s children； it should not be of my own
however。’
‘If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it。’
‘Yes—but as it happens； they are all of them very clever。’
‘This is the only point； I flatter myself； on which we do not
agree。 I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every
particular； but I must so far differ from you as to think our two
youngest daughters uncommonly foolish。’
‘My dear Mr。 Bennet； you must not expect such girls to have the
sense of their father and mother。—When they get to our age I dare
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say they will not think about officers any more than we do。 I
remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well—and
indeed so I do still at my heart； and if a smart young colonel； with
five or six thousand a year； should want one of my girls； I shall not
say nay to him； and I thought Colonel Forster looked very
becoming the other night at Sir William’s in his regimentals。’
‘Mama；’ cried Lydia； ‘my aunt says that Colonel Forster and
Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson’s as they did
when they first came； she sees them now very often standing in
Clarke’s library。’
Mrs。 Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the
footman with a note for Miss Bennet； it came from Netherfield； and
the servant waited for an answer。 Mrs。 Bennet’s eyes sparkled with
pleasure； and she was eagerly calling out； while her daughter read；
‘Well； Jane； who is it from？ what is it about？ what does he say？
Well； Jane； make haste and tell us； make haste； my love。’
‘It is from Miss Bingley；’ said Jane； and then read it aloud。
‘My dear Friend；
‘If you are not so compassionate as to dine to…day with Louisa
and me； we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of
our lives； for a whole day’s tête…à…tête between two women can
never end without a quarrel。 Come as soon as you can on the
receipt of this。 My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the
officers。 Yours ever；
‘Caroline Bingley。’
‘With the officers！’ cried Lydia。 ‘I wonder my aunt did not tell us
of that。’
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‘Dining out；’ said Mrs。 Bennet； ‘that is very unlucky。’
‘Can I have the carriage？’ said Jane。
‘No； my dear； you had better go on horseback； because it seems
likely to rain； and then you must stay all night。’
‘That would be a good scheme；’ said Elizabeth； ‘if you were sure
that they would not offer to send her home。’
‘Oh！ but the gentlemen will have Mr。 Bingley’s chaise to go to
Meryton； and the Hursts have no horses to theirs。’
‘I had much rather go in the coach。’
‘But； my dear； your father cannot spare the horses； I am sure。
They are wanted in the farm； Mr。 Bennet； are not they？’
‘They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them。’
‘But if you have got them to…day；’ said Elizabeth； ‘my mother’s
purpose will be answered。’
She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that
the horses were engaged。 Jane was therefore obliged to go on
horseback； and her mother attended her to the door with many
cheerful prognostics of a bad day。 Her hopes were answered； Jane
had not been gone long before it rained hard。 Her sisters were
uneasy for her； but her mother was delighted。 The rain continued
the whole evening without intermission； Jane certainly could not
come back。
‘This was a lucky idea of mine； indeed！’ said Mrs。 Bennet； more
than once； as if the credit of making it rain were all her own。 Till
the next morning； however； she was not aware of all the felicity of
her contrivance。 Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from
Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth：
‘My dearest Lizzy；
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‘I find myself very unwell this morning； which； I suppose is to be
imputed to my getting wet through yesterday。 My kind friends will
not hear of my returning home till I am better。 They insist also on
my seeing Mr。 Jones—therefore do not be alarmed if you should
hear of his having been to me—and excepting a sore…throat and
head…ache there is not much the matter with me。
‘Yours； &c。’
‘Well； my dear；’ said Mr。 Bennet； when Elizabeth had read the
note aloud； ‘if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness；
if she should die； it would be a comfort to know that it was all in
pursuit of Mr。 Bingley； and under your orders。’
‘Oh！ I am not at all afraid of her dying。 People do not die of little
trifling colds。 She will be taken good care of。 As long as she stays
there； it is all very well。 I would go and see her； if I could have the
carriage。’
Elizabeth； feeling really anxious； was determined to go to her；
though the carriage was not to be had； and as she was no horse…
woman； walking was her only alternative。 She declared her
resolution。
‘How can you be so silly；’ cried her mother； ‘as to think of such a
thing； in all this dirt！ You will not be fit to be seen when you get
there。’
‘I shall be very fit to see Jane—which is all I want。’
‘Is this a hint to me； Lizzy；’ said her father； ‘to send for the
horses？’
‘No； indeed。 I do not wish to avoid the walk。 The distance is
nothing； when one has a motive； only three miles。 I shall be back
by dinner。’
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‘I admire the activity of your benevolence；’ observed Mary； ‘but
every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason； and； in my
opinion； exertion should always be in proportion to what is
required。’
‘We will go as far
