登陆注册
3553800000011

第11章

'Neglect!I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles,when you build your house,I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley.'

'I wish it may.'

'But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood,and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire.'

'With all my heart;I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell it.'

'I am talking of possibilities,Charles.'

'Upon my word,Caroline,I should think it more possible to get Pemberley by purchase than by imitation.'

Elizabeth was so much caught by what passed,as to leave her very little attention for her book;and soon laying it wholly aside,she drew near the card-table,and stationed herself between Mr. Bingley and his eldest sister,to observe the game.

'Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?'said Miss Bingley;'will she be as tall as I am?'

'I think she will. She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet's height,or rather taller.'

'How I long to see her again!I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance,such manners!and so extremely accomplished for her age!Her performance on the pianoforté is exquisite.'

'It is amazing to me,'said Bingley,'how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished,as they all are.

'All young ladies accomplished!My dear Charles,what do you mean?'

'Yes,all of them,I think. They all paint tables,cover skreens and net purses.I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this,and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time,without being informed that she was very accomplished.'

'Your list of the common extent of accomplishments,'said Darcy,'has too much truth. The word is applied to many a woman who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse,or covering a skreen.But I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general.I cannot boast of knowing more than half a dozen,in the whole range of my acquaintance,that are really accomplished.'

'Nor I,I am sure,'said Miss Bingley.

'Then,'observed Elizabeth,'you must comprehend a great deal in your idea of an accomplished women.'

'Yes;I do comprehend a great deal in it.'

'Oh!certainly,'cried his faithful assistant,'no one can be really esteemed accomplished,who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music,singing,drawing,dancing,and the modern languages,to deserve the word;and besides all this,she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking,the tone of her voice,her address and expressions,or the word will be but half deserved.'

'All this she must possess,'added Darcy,'and to all this she must yet add something more substantial,in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading.'

'I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.'

'Are you so severe upon your own sex,as to doubt the possibility of all this?'

'I never saw such a woman. I never saw such capacity,and taste,and application,and elegance,as you describe,united.'

Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice of her implied doubt,and were both protesting that they knew many women who answered this deion,when Mr. Hurst called them to order,with bitter complaints of their inattention to what was going forward.As all conversation was thereby at an end,Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room.

'Eliza Bennet,'said Miss Bingley,when the door was closed on her,'is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex,by undervaluing their own;and with many men,I dare say,it succeeds. But,in my opinion,it is a paltry device,a very mean art.'

'Undoubtedly,'replied Darcy,to whom this remark was chiefly addressed,'there is meanness in all the arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.'

Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to continue the subject.

Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was worse,and that she could not leave her. Bingley urged Mr.Jones's being sent for immediately;while his sisters,convinced that no country advice could be of any service,recommended an express to town for one of the most eminent physicians.This,she would not hear of;but she was not so unwilling to comply with their brother's proposal;and it was settled that Mr.Jones should be sent for early in the morning,if Miss Bennet were not decidedly better.Bingley was quite uncomfortable;his sisters declared that they were miserable.They solaced their wretchedness,however,by duets after supper,while he could find no better relief to his feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every possible attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister.

IX

E lizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister's room,and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the enquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid,and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters.In spite of this amendment,however,she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn,desiring her mother to visit Jane,and form her own judgment of her situation.The note was immediately dispatched,and its contents as quickly complied with.Mrs.Bennet,accompanied by her two youngest girls,reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.

同类推荐
  • 家世旧闻

    家世旧闻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说须赖经

    佛说须赖经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 芳兰轩集

    芳兰轩集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 搜神后记

    搜神后记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上灵宝净明九仙水经

    太上灵宝净明九仙水经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 爱妃朕不准你逃

    爱妃朕不准你逃

    他的嗓音很低沉,却很好听,透着迷人的磁性。他的视线落在她的身上后就再也没有离开过。恶魔萌宝横空出世,却因男人独占欲太强,严重缺爱!萌宝狂怒:“禽兽,放开我娘亲,你敢欺负她,把你绑去草船借箭!”他说,若爱,便深深爱,狠狠爱,作死地爱!即使全天下的人都要杀她,他也会挡在她的前面,为她挡刀挡剑!
  • 北大财商课

    北大财商课

    在北大百年的沧桑巨变中,不仅着力培养学子们的智商和情商,更全力培养他们的财商。北大诞生的富豪们都有着独特的财商智慧,从孕育梦想、把握机遇到开启行动,学会创造财富的独特思维方式、理财模式和借力之法,从而收获自我的商机洞察力、人脉扩展力及综合理财力。本书对财富精英们独特的财商智慧进行了系统分析,以期给读者一些点拨,在了解自己的基础上,在进行投资时能够更有依据,提高对市场的关注度,提升自己的财商。
  • 伊索寓言

    伊索寓言

    《伊索寓言》是古希腊文学的重要组成部分,书中的角色大多是拟人化的动物、普通人和神,作者借以形象化的故事说出某种思想、道德意识或生活经验,使读者得到相应的教育。这些故事篇幅短小却寓意深厚,有的教导人们要正直、勤勉;有的劝人不要骄傲、不要说谎;也有的说明办事要按照规律,量力而行;还有不少反映了强者虽凶残但却常被弱者战胜等各种寓意深刻的人生道理。
  • 一品宫女千千岁

    一品宫女千千岁

    无意中在家中摔个跟头,国际级的医师容蕊芯再次睁开眼,发现自己回到了三十年前富贵之家,并且副带一枚拖油瓶!从小失去亲人的容蕊芯重新获得温暖的家庭,打算当米虫的她决定带着宝贝儿子过一生一世,谁知,莫明奇妙出现的英俊帅哥——上校将军把她的伟大心愿搅得稀巴烂。当灰太狼遇上小绵羊时,真得会等着乖乖让他吃么?切,那是绝对不可能的事,且看小绵羊是怎么变成红太狼吧!就算是钢铁咱也要把它给绕指柔了。链接:【她】21世纪最古老的越女派第八十一代少掌门。一个身怀绝技的现代服务员,却意外飞进了古代皇宫大院。请看睿智绝色宫女,与古人们斗智斗勇,乐此不疲。她步步为营,拒绝为妃为后的尊荣,却以一品官仪身份瞰俯后宫。【他】一国储君,温文尔雅的面具下是他,冷漠无情的本质。唯有对她,才会有最纯真的迷恋登基后的第一道圣旨:妄动她者,杀无赦!【他】皇室暗卫,护主是他永远的使命,隐于黑暗是他永恒的生活。人生如若初见,心失何处。第一次,他希望能够站在阳光下,能够不为使命,只为她。【他】江湖圣君失踪,掀起了武林血雨腥风。太医院内却悄然多了一抹最年轻的身影。纵然无果,他也希望守候。只为她最需要的时候,能够伸出一双援手。【他】花名远播的二皇子,第一次懂得了什么叫做痴情。为了博她欢心努力学习练功,把落下的功课补起来,为了博她一笑瞬间解散自己后宫美女。为了……【片段一:】“给我一张白纸可以吗?”纤纤玉手指着案台上的一叠白纸,嫣然巧笑地问。“可以!”萧弘瀚眼底一片痴恋,已经迷失在她倾城一笑之下。“怎么样,这千纸鹤好看吗?送给你!”抬起那双琉光溢彩的眸子,墨晓蝶浅笑轻言,可爱地厥起粉嫩娇唇。萧弘瀚望着振翅欲飞的千纸鹤,温柔问:“晓蝶,千纸鹤有什么寓意吗?”“它代表思念,可以说是思念或者怀念一个人。”粉脸染上晕红的人吱吱唔唔地回应。【片段二:】“白杨,你确定帮我?”墨晓蝶拧着眉头,心中犹疑着该不该把他拖下水。“晓蝶,只要你需要,我义无反顾,你要的药我马上配给你!”白杨深邃的眸子痴痴望着眼前的人儿,俊脸扬起灿烂的笑容。“好,谢谢!”墨晓蝶垂下了目光,假装什么都没有看到,淡雅地道谢。【片段三】“为什么要救我?”墨晓蝶不解地瞅着初次见面的冰块美男子。“不为什么!”玄末按住流血不止的伤口,咬紧牙关,语气透着冰冷。“你叫什么名字?”“玄末!”
  • 佛说不空罥索咒经

    佛说不空罥索咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 成大事必备的9项修炼

    成大事必备的9项修炼

    本书从心智、口才、交际、才智、习惯、性格、养心、学养、敢为等九个方面阐述成功。
  • 地产圈之逆生

    地产圈之逆生

    地产圈深不见底,她数年如一日在浅表层耕耘,某日,蒙尘地块就在眼前,无钱,无势,怎么拿下?她辟了条蹊径……他天赋异禀,不喜权谋,却被卷入重重纷争。她和他一眼千年,又能否携手天涯……
  • 笙知那年,不若笙

    笙知那年,不若笙

    一个关于成长的长编故事。从生,到向死而生,从懂,到万般须臾…从一个人到两个人到无数的牵扯羁绊。
  • 南极姑娘

    南极姑娘

    一个北极熊和一个南极企鹅在北极相遇了,《南极姑娘》的故事由此娓娓展开。善良乐观的女文青企鹅米娜,跨越地球来到北极旅行,偶遇了对过往无法释怀而独居的北极熊大熊。大熊和米娜从吵吵闹闹的欢喜冤家,到逐渐接受彼此成为好友。一次暴风雪过后,他们意外捡到一只走失的小海豹,两人决定南行把小海豹送回族群栖息地。
  • 通天魔尊

    通天魔尊

    中土四万八千国,巨头,霸者,至尊犹如恒河沙数。强者几何?任你绝代天骄,终要化为一抔黄土,最终,谁也无法征服谁。而他,只是一只人元巅峰都不到的蝼蚁,耀眼的光环,从奇遇开始时就剥离他的身体,他咬牙坚忍,从一个蝼蚁逐渐成长为凌驾至尊,焚灭一切阻挡的存在。