Kitabı oku: «Гордость и предубеждение / Pride and Prejudice», sayfa 3
Chapter 5
Within a short walk of Longbourn lived a family with whom the Bennets were particularly intimate. Lady Lucas was a very good kind of woman, not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs. Bennet. Her eldest daughter, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth’s best friend.
Miss Lucas and Miss Bennet met to talk about the ball, it was absolutely necessary.
“Youbegan the evening well, Charlotte,” said Mrs. Bennet to Miss Lucas. “Youwere Mr. Bingley’s first choice.”
“Yes; but he seemed to like his second better.”
“Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice.”
“But Darcy!” said Charlotte. “He is terrible.”
“Miss Bingley told me,” said Jane, “that he never speaks much, unless among his intimate acquaintances. Withthemhe is agreeable.”
“I wish he had danced with Eliza,” said Miss Lucas.
“Another time, Lizzy,” said her mother, “I would not dance withhim, if I were you.”
“I believe, ma’am, I may promise youneverto dance with him.”
“His pride,” said Miss Lucas, “does not offendmeso much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. We cannot wonder that a young man, with family, fortune, everything, should think highly of himself. He has a rightto be proud.”
“Pride,” observed Mary, “is a very common failing, I believe. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would 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 keepa pack of dogs,16 and drink a bottle of wine a day.”
Chapter 6
The ladies of Longbourn soon visited Netherfield. The visit was soon returned. Miss Bennet’s pleasing manners made good impressions; and though the motherwas found to be intolerable,17 and the younger sisters not worth speaking to,18 the two eldest were very nice and well-behaved. By Jane, this attention was received with the greatest pleasure, but could not like them.
Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley’s attentions to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspect-ing that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy was caught by her playfulness. But Elizabeth did not know anything. To her he was only the man whohad not thought her handsome enough to dance with.19
He began to wish to know more of her. Once at Sir William Lucas’s a large party was assembled.
Sir William began: “What a charming amusement for young people the balls are, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all.”
“Certainly, sir; every savage can dance.”
Sir William only smiled. “Your friend performs delightfully,” he continued after a pause; “Do you often dance?”
“Never, sir.”
He paused in hopes of an answer; and Elizabeth at that instant moved towards them. Sir William called out to her:
“My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure when so much beauty is before you.” And, taking her hand, he gave it to Mr. Darcy. But Elizabeth instantly drew back, and said to Sir William:
“Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing.”
Mr. Darcy requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain. Elizabeth was determined.
“You dance so well, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you.”
“Mr. Darcy is all politeness,20” said Elizabeth, smiling. She looked archly, and turned away.
