Chapter VII

Mr.Bennet's property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year,which,unfortunately for 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.Phillips,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 headquarters.

Their visits to Mrs.Philips were now productive of the most 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 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 tete-a-tete 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.”

“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,

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 is 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.”

“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 as Meryton with you,”said Catherine and Lydia.—Elizabeth accepted their company,and the three young ladies set off together.

“If we make haste,”said Lydia,as they walked along,“perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes.”

In Meryton they parted;the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers'wives,and Elizabeth continued her walk alone,crossing field after field at a quick pace,jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity,and finding herself at last within view of the house,with weary ankles,dirty stockings,and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

She was shown into the breakfast-parlour,where all but Jane were assembled,and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise.—That she should have walked three miles so early in the day,in such dirty weather,and by herself,was almost incredible to Mrs.Hurst and Miss Bingley;and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it.She was received,however,very politely by them;and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness;there was good humour and kindness.—Mr.Darcy said very little,and Mr.Hurst nothing at all.The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion,and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone.The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.

Her enquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered.Miss Bennet had slept ill,and though up,was very feverish and not well enough to leave her room.Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately;and Jane,who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience,from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit,was delighted at her entrance.She was not equal,however,to much conversation,and when Miss Bingley left them together,could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with.Elizabeth silently attended her.

When breakfast was over,they were joined by the sisters,and Elizabeth began to like them herself,when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane.The apothecary came,and having examined his patient,said,as might be supposed,that she had caught a violent cold,and that they must endeavour to get the better of it;advised her to return to bed,and promised her some draughts.The advice was followed readily,for the feverish symptoms increased,and her head ached acutely.Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment,nor were the other ladies often absent;the gentlemen being out,they had in fact nothing to do elsewhere.

When the clock struck three,Elizabeth felt that she must go;and very unwillingly said so.Miss Bingley offered her the carriage,and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it,when Jane testified such concern in parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present.Elizabeth most thankfully consented,and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay,and bring back a supply of clothes.

第七節

貝內特先生的財產幾乎完全靠每年兩千英鎊收入的莊園；對他的女兒們來說，不幸的是，因為貝內特先生沒有兒子，所以按法律規定由一位遠親繼承。盡管她們母親的財產足夠應付生活中的局面，但無法彌補父親的虧空。貝內特太太的父親原來是魅力屯的律師，留給了她四千英鎊。

她有一個妹妹，嫁給了菲利普斯先生。菲利普斯先生原先是她父親的秘書，后來接替她的父親成了律師；她還有一個兄弟住在倫敦，從事一樁體面的生意。

朗伯恩村離魅力屯只有一英里，這是對小姐們極其便利的距離，她們常常情不自禁一星期去那里三四次，看看她們的姨媽，順便逛逛街對面那家女帽店。家里兩個最小的姐妹凱瑟琳和麗迪雅向那里跑得特別勤；她們沒有姐姐們的心事多，當沒有更好的事兒消遣時，就必定要去魅力屯，消遣一下清晨的時光，為晚上提供話題；盡管村子里通常沒有什么新聞，但她們總是千方百計從她們姨媽那里打聽到一些。目前，附近新到了一個民兵團，她們的消息供應充分，皆大歡喜；這個團要在此駐扎一個冬天，魅力屯就是司令部所在地。

現在她們每次拜訪菲利普太太都能獲得很多極為有趣的新聞。每天都會增加對那些軍官的名字和關系的一些了解。軍官們的住所早就不是秘密了，最后小姐們就開始了解軍官本人了。菲利普先生一一拜訪了那些軍官，這給她的姨侄女們開辟了一個前所未有的幸福源泉；她們只會談論那些軍官。只要提到賓利先生的大筆財產，她們的母親就會眉飛色舞；與軍官們的制服相比，但在她們的眼里大筆財產一文不值。

一天上午，聽過她們喋喋不休地討論這個話題之后，貝內特先生冷靜地評論道：

“從你們說話的方式，我可以推斷，你們倆一定是這一帶最傻的姑娘。我曾經懷疑過這一點，現在卻深信不疑?！?

凱瑟琳驚慌失措，沒有回答，但麗迪雅完全無動于衷，接著表達她對卡特上尉的愛慕之情，希望當天見到他，因為他第二天上午要去倫敦。

“親愛的，我感到驚訝，”貝內特太太說，“你動不動就這樣認為自己的孩子們傻。然而，就算是我想瞧不起什么人的孩子，也不應該是自己的孩子?！?

“要是我的孩子們傻，我就必須希望始終理智行事。”

“是的——但碰巧，她們都很聰明?！?

“我個人認為，這是我們看法唯一不一致的地方。我本來希望我們的情緒在各個方面都一致，但我們的兩個小女兒非常愚蠢，我在這一點上跟你的看法完全不一樣。”

“親愛的貝內特先生，你不能指望這些姑娘都跟她們的父母親有一樣的見識。——等她們到了我們這樣的年齡時，我敢說她們就會跟我們一樣，不會再想什么軍官了。我還記得從前有一個時期，我非常喜歡紅制服——事實上，我現在心里還喜歡紅制服；要是有一位聰明瀟灑的年輕上校，每年有五、六千英鎊的收入，想要我的哪個女兒，我就不會拒絕他；前兩天晚上，在威廉爵士的家里，我認為福斯特上校一身軍裝，看上去一表人才。”

“媽媽，”麗迪雅嚷道，“姨媽說，福斯特上校和卡特爾上尉到沃森小姐家里去得沒有像剛來時那樣頻繁了；她現在常?？匆娝麄冋驹诳死私钑帯！?

還沒等貝內特太太回答，一個仆人帶著一封給貝內特小姐的短信走了進來；是內瑟菲爾德莊園的來信；仆人等著取回信。貝內特太太高興得兩眼發亮。簡讀信時，她急切地叫道：

“喂，簡，是誰來的信？信上說什么？他是怎么說的？喂，簡，趕緊告訴我們；趕緊，寶貝?！?

“是賓利小姐寫來的?！闭f著，簡念了起來：

“親愛的朋友：

你要是不行行好今天跟我和路易莎共進晚餐，我們就會有相互怨恨終生的危險。兩個女人整天在一起促膝談心，絕不可能不吵嘴。收到信后請盡快過來。我的哥哥和那些先生會跟那些軍官吃飯。

你永遠的

卡羅琳·賓利”

“跟軍官們吃飯！”麗迪雅嚷道，“我納悶，這件事姨媽怎么沒有告訴我們?！?

“外出就餐，”貝內特太太說，“這真不吉利?！?

“我能坐馬車去嗎？”簡問。

“不，親愛的，你最好騎馬去，因為很可能天要下雨；那樣，你就必須待一整夜?！?

“要是你確信他們不會主動送她回來，”伊麗莎白說，“那將是一個好主意?！?

“噢！不過，那些先生要坐賓利先生的馬車去魅力屯，赫斯特夫婦有車無馬。”

“我倒愿意乘四輪馬車去?！?

“可是，親愛的，我相信，你的爸爸騰不出馬來。貝內特先生，農莊上要用它們，不是嗎？”

“農莊上常要用馬，我常常得不到。”

“不過，要是你今天得到它們，”伊麗莎白說，“我母親的心愿就達到了?！?

她終于逼迫她的父親承認那些馬在用著。所以，簡只好騎馬去，母親送她走到門口，興高采烈地預測說今天會是壞天氣。她的希望得到了滿足；簡沒走多久，天就下起了大雨。雨連續不斷地下了整整一夜；簡當然無法回來。

“幸虧我想出了這個好主意！”貝內特太太不止一次地說，好像天下雨都是她一手造成的。然而，她的神機妙算到底產生了多大的幸福，她直到第二天早上才知道。剛吃完早飯，內瑟菲爾德莊園派了一個仆人給伊麗莎白送來一封短信：

“最親愛的麗齊：

今天早上，我感覺自己很不舒服，我想是因為昨天渾身濕透了。幾位好心的朋友要看到我好轉才讓我回家。她們還堅持讓我見瓊斯先生——所以，要是你聽到他來過我這里，那就不要驚慌——我只是喉嚨痛和頭痛，沒有大病。

姐字?！?

“啊，親愛的，”伊麗莎白念完短信之后，貝內特先生說，“要是你的女兒突發危險病癥，要是她搭上性命，這都是奉你之命去追求賓利先生所致，知道這一點倒是一種安慰?！?

“噢！我根本不怕她送命。哪有小小的傷風感冒就會送命。人家一定會好好關照她。只要她待在那里，就會萬事大吉。要是能有馬車的話，我也想去看看她?！?

伊麗莎白的確感到憂心忡忡，即使沒有馬車，也要下定決心去看簡；她不會騎馬，走路是唯一的選擇。她說出了自己的決定。

“你怎能這么傻！”她的媽媽嚷道，“路上泥濘不堪，居然想起這事兒！等你走到那里，你都不配見人了?！?

“我只要見到簡就行了?！?

“麗齊，”她的父親說，“你這是暗示讓我給你派幾匹馬吧？”

“當然不是。我不希望避開步行。一個人只要有動機，遠近都不算什么；只不過才三英里路。晚飯前，我就會回來?！?

“我欽佩你的善行，”瑪麗說，“可是，每次感情的沖動都要由理智來引導；而且，我認為，即使盡力，也要恰到好處?！?

“我們陪你去魅力屯，”凱瑟琳和麗迪雅說。——伊麗莎白接受了她們的陪伴，姐妹仨就一起上路了。

“要是我們趕快走，”她們一邊走，麗迪雅一邊說，“也許在卡特上尉走之前，我們還能見他一面?！?

到了魅力屯，她們便分了手；兩個妹妹去了一位軍官太太的住所，伊麗莎白獨自繼續趕路，快步穿過了一片又一片田地，跳過籬笆兩側的一道道階梯，迫不及待地縱身躍過一個個水坑，終于看到了內瑟菲爾德莊園。這時，她腳踝乏力，長筒襪上泥點斑斑，累得滿面通紅。

她被領進了早餐廳；除了簡之外，大家都聚在那里；她的出現讓人大吃了一驚?！账固靥唾e利小姐簡直不敢相信，時間這么早，天氣這么糟，她步行三英里獨自趕到這里。伊麗莎白確信，她們會為此瞧不起她。然而，她受到了她們彬彬有禮的接待；她們的兄弟不僅客氣，而且脾氣好，人又善良。——達西先生說話不多，赫斯特先生完全一聲不吭。達西先生一方面愛慕她步行之后富有光澤的臉色，另一方面又懷疑她是不是有必要為這件事獨自從大老遠趕來。赫斯特先生只想著吃早飯。

她問起姐姐的病情，得到的回答不是很好。貝內特小姐沒有睡好覺，盡管起了床，但發著高燒，不大好出門。伊麗莎白非常高興，馬上被帶去見姐姐?？吹剿M來，簡也非常高興。原來簡只是擔心引起家人的驚慌或不便，沒有在信里表達她是多么渴望見到他們。然而，她無力多說話，連賓利小姐離開她們倆時，她也沒能說幾句話，只是對她受到的格外善待表示感謝。伊麗莎白默默地伺候她。

早飯過后，賓利姐妹也來陪她們；看到她們對簡是那么關愛，伊麗莎白本人也開始喜歡上了她們。醫生來了，給病人做了檢查，不出所料，說她是重感冒，他囑咐她們必須盡力讓這病好轉，建議簡上床睡覺，并給她開了幾服藥。她們馬上遵照醫生的囑咐，因為病人熱征又升高了，而且頭劇烈疼痛。伊麗莎白片刻也沒有離開她的房間，另外兩位小姐也不大走開；男客們都不在家里，其實她們在別處也無事可做。

鐘表敲響三點時，伊麗莎白覺得她必須走了，就很不情愿地這樣說了。賓利小姐要給她派馬車，她只是想稍微推辭便接受，但這時簡舍不得跟伊麗莎白分開，賓利小姐只好把派馬車改為請伊麗莎白暫時留在內瑟菲爾德莊園。伊麗莎白滿懷感激地答應了。隨后，就是派仆人去朗伯恩，把她暫住這里的事兒告訴她的家人，并捎回來一些衣服。