pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第76章
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Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 394
But when her mother was gone； Jane would not be prevailed on
to go down without one of her sisters。
The same anxiety to get them by themselves； was visible again
in the evening。 After tea； Mr。 Bennet retired to the library； as was
his custom； and Mary went up stairs to her instrument。 Two
obstacles of the five being thus removed； Mrs。 Bennet sat looking
and winking at Elizabeth and Catherine for a considerable time；
without making any impression on them。 Elizabeth would not
observe her； and when at last Kitty did； she very innocently said；
‘What is the matter mamma？ What do you keep winking at me
for？ What am I to do？’
‘Nothing child； nothing。 I did not wink at you。’ She then sat still
five minutes longer； but unable to waste such a precious occasion；
she suddenly got up； and saying to Kitty；
‘Come here； my love； I want to speak to you；’ took her out of the
room。 Jane instantly gave a look at Elizabeth； which spoke her
distress at such premeditation； and her intreaty that she would not
give into it。 In a few minutes； Mrs。 Bennet half opened the door
and called out；
‘Lizzy； my dear； I want to speak with you。’
Elizabeth was forced to go。
‘We may as well leave them by themselves you know；’ said her
mother as soon as she was in the hall。 ‘Kitty and I are going up
stairs to sit in my dressing room。’
Elizabeth made no attempt to reason with her mother； but
remained quietly in the hall； till she and Kitty were out of sight；
then returned into the drawing room。
Mrs。 Bennet’s schemes for this day were ineffectual。 Bingley
was every thing that was charming； except the professed lover of
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her daughter。 His ease and cheerfulness rendered him a most
agreeable addition to their evening party； and he bore with the ill…
judged officiousness of the mother； and heard all her silly remarks
with a forbearance and command of countenance； particularly
grateful to the daughter。
He scarcely needed an invitation to stay supper； and before he
went away； an engagement was formed； chiefly through his own
and Mrs。 Bennet’s means； for his coming next morning to shoot
with her husband。
After this day； Jane said no more of her indifference。 Not a
word passed between the sisters concerning Bingley； but
Elizabeth went to bed in the happy belief that all must speedily be
concluded； unless Mr。 Darcy returned within the stated time。
Seriously； however； she felt tolerably persuaded that all this must
have taken place with that gentleman’s concurrence。
Bingley was punctual to his appointment； and he and Mr。
Bennet spent the morning together； as had been agreed on。 The
latter was much more agreeable than his companion expected。
There was nothing of presumption or folly in Bingley； that could
provoke his ridicule； or disgust him into silence； and he was more
communicative； and less eccentric than the other had ever seen
him。 Bingley of course returned with him to dinner； and in the
evening Mrs。 Bennet’s invention was again at work to get every
body away from him and her daughter。 Elizabeth； who had a letter
to write； went into the breakfast room for that purpose soon after
tea； for as the others were all going to sit down to cards； she could
not be wanted to counteract her mother’s schemes。
But on returning to the drawing room； when her letter was
finished； she saw； to her infinite surprise； there was reason to fear
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that her mother had been too ingenious for her。 On opening the
door she perceived her sister and Bingley standing together over
the hearth； as if engaged in earnest conversation； and had this led
to no suspicion； the faces of both as they hastily turned round； and
moved away from each other； would have told it all。 Their situation
her s
was awkward enough； but ’ she thought was still worse。 Not a
syllable was uttered by either； and Elizabeth was on the point of
going away again； when Bingley； who as well as the other had sat
down； suddenly rose； and whispering a few words to her sister； ran
out of the room。
Jane could have no reserves from Elizabeth； where confidence
would give pleasure； and instantly embracing her； acknowledged；
with the liveliest emotion； that she was the happiest creature in
the world。
‘’Tis too much！’ she added； ‘by far too much。 I do not deserve it。
Oh！ why is not every body as happy？’
Elizabeth’s congratulations were given with a sincerity； a
warmth； a delight； which words could but poorly express。 Every
sentence of kindness was a fresh source of happiness to Jane。 But
she would not allow herself to stay with her sister； or say half that
remained to be said； for the present。
‘I must go instantly to my mother；’ she cried。 ‘I would not on
any account trifle with her affectionate solicitude； or allow her to
hear it from any one but myself。 He is gone to my father already。
Oh！ Lizzy； to know that what I have to relate will give such
pleasure to all my dear family！ how shall I bear so much
happiness！’
She then hastened away to her mother； who had purposely
broken up the card party； and was sitting up stairs with Kitty。
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Elizabeth； who was left by herself； now smiled at the rapidity
and ease with which an affair was finally settled； that had given
them so many previous months of suspense and vexation。
‘And this；’ said she； ‘is the end of all his friend’s anxious
circumspection！ of all his sister’s falsehood and contrivance！ the
happiest； wisest； most reasonable end！’
In a few minutes she was joined by Bingley； whose conference
with her father had been short and to the purpose。
‘Where is your sister？’ said he hastily； as he opened the door
‘With my mother up stairs。 She will be down in a moment I dare
say。’
He then shut the door； and coming up to her； claimed the good
wishes and affection of a sister。 Elizabeth honestly and heartily
expressed her delight in the prospect of their relationship。 They
shook hands with great cordiality； and then till her sister came
down； she had to listen to all he had to say； of his own happiness；
and of Jane’s perfections； and in spite of his being a lover；
Elizabeth really believed all his expectations of felicity； to be
rationally founded； because they had for basis the excellent
understanding； and super…excellent disposition of Jane； and a
general similarity of feeling and taste between her and himself。
It was an evening of no common delight to them all； the
satisfaction of Miss Bennet’s mind gave a glow of such sweet
animation to her face； as made her look handsomer than ever。
Kitty simpered and smiled； and hoped her turn was coming soon。
Mrs。 Bennet could not give her consent； or speak her approbation
in terms warm enough to satisfy her feelings； though she talked to
Bingley of nothing else； for half an hour； and when Mr。 Bennet
joined them at supper； his voice and manner plainly shewed how
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really happy he was。
Not a word； however； passed his lips in allusion to it； till their
visitor took his leave for the night； but as soon as he was gone； he
turned to his daughter and said；
‘Jane； I congratulate you。 You will be a very happy woman。’
Jane went to him instantly； kissed him； and thanked him for his
goodness。
‘You are a good girl；’ he replied； ‘and I have great pleasure in
thinking you will be so happily settled。 I have not a doubt of your
doing very well together。 Your tempers are by no means unlike。
You are each of you so complying； that nothing will ever be
resolved on； so easy； that every servant will cheat you； and so
generous； that you will always exceed your income。’
‘I hope not so。 Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money
matters； would be unpardonable in me。’
‘Exceed their income！ My dear Mr。 Bennet；’ cried his wife；
‘what are you talking of？ Why； he has four or five thousand a…year；
and very likely more。’ Then addressing her daughter； ‘Oh！ my
dear； dear Jane； I am so happy！ I am sure I sha’nt get a wink of
sleep all night。 I knew how it would be。 I always said it must be so；
at last。 I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing！ I
remember； as soon as ever I saw him； when he first came into
Hertfordshire last year； I thought how likely it was that you should
come together。 Oh！ he is the handsomest young man that ever was
seen！’
Wickham； Lydia； were all forgotten。 Jane was beyond com…
petition her favourite child。 At that moment； she cared for
