登陆注册
3553800000013

第13章

'Oh!dear,yes;—but you must own she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so,and envied me Jane's beauty.I do not like to boast of my own child,but to be sure,Jane—one does not often see any body better looking.It is what every body says.I do not trust my own partiality.When she was only fifteen,there was a gentleman at my brother Gardiner's in town,so much in love with her,that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away.But however he did not.Perhaps he thought her too young.However,he wrote some verses on her,and very pretty they were.'

'And so ended his affection,'said Elizabeth impatiently.'There has been many a one,I fancy,overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of poetry in driving away love!'

'I have been used to consider poetry as the food of love,'said Darcy.

'Of a fine,stout,healthy love it may. Every thing nourishes what is strong already.But if it be only a slight,thin sort of inclination,I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely away.'

Darcy only smiled;and the general pause which ensued made Elizabeth tremble lest her mother should be exposing herself again. She longed to speak,but could think of nothing to say;and after a short silence Mrs.Bennet began repeating her thanks to Mr.Bingley for his kindness to Jane,with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy.Mr.Bingley was unaffectedly civil in his answer,and forced his younger sister to be civil also,and say what the occasion required.She performed her part indeed without much graciousness,but Mrs.Bennet was satisfied,and soon afterwards ordered her carriage.Upon this signal,the youngest of her daughters put herself forward.The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit,and the result of it was,that the youngest should tax Mr.Bingley with having promised on his first coming into the country to give a ball at Netherfield.

Lydia was a stout,well-grown girl of fifteen,with a fine complexion and good-humoured countenance;a favourite with her mother,whose affection had brought her into public at an early age. She had high animal spirits,and a sort of natural self-consequence,which the attentions of the officers,to whom her uncle's good dinners and her own easy manners recommended her,had increased into assurance.She was very equal therefore to address Mr.Bingley on the subject of the ball,and abruptly reminded him of his promise;adding,that it would be the most shameful thing in the world if he did not keep it.His answer to this sudden attack was delightful to their mother's ear.

'I am perfectly ready,I assure you,to keep my engagement;and when your sister is recovered,you shall if you please name the very day of the ball. But you would not wish to be dancing while she is ill.'

Lydia declared herself satisfied.'Oh!yes—it would be much better to wait till Jane was well,and by that time most likely Captain Carter would be at Meryton again. And when you have given your ball,'she added,'I shall insist on their giving one also.I shall tell Colonel Forster it will be quite a shame if he does not.'

<p class="left">Mrs. Bennet and her daughters then departed,and Elizabeth returned instantly to Jane,leaving her own and her relations'behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr.Darcy;the latter of whom,however,could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her,in spite of all Miss Bingley's witticisms on fine eyes.

X

T he day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs.Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid,who continued,though slowly,to mend;and in the evening Elizabeth joined their party in the drawing-room.The loo table,however,did not appear.Mr.Darcy was writing,and Miss Bingley,seated near him,was watching the progress of his letter,and repeatedly calling off his attention by messages to his sister.Mr.Hurst and Mr.Bingley were at piquet,and Mrs.Hurst was observing their game.

Elizabeth took up some needlework,and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual commendations of the lady either on his hand-writing,or on the evenness of his lines,or on the length of his letter,with the perfect unconcern with which her praises were received,formed a curious dialogue,and was exactly in unison with her opinion of each.

'How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!'

He made no answer.

'You write uncommonly fast.'

'You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.'

'How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of the year!Letters of business too!How odious I should think them!'

'It is fortunate,then,that they fall to my lot instead of to yours.'

'Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.'

'I have already told her so once,by your desire.'

'I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you.I mend pens remarkably well.'

'Thank you—but I always mend my own.

'How can you contrive to write so even?'

He was silent.

'Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp,and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures with her beautiful little design for a table,and I think it infinitely superior to Miss Grantley's.'

'Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again?—At present I have not room to do them justice.'

'Oh!it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January.But do you always write such charming long letters to her,Mr.Darcy?'

'They are generally long;but whether always charming,it is not for me to determine.'

'It is a rule with me,that a person who can write a long letter,with ease,cannot write ill.'

'That will not do for a compliment to Darcy,Caroline,'cried her brother—'because he does not write with ease. He studies too much for words of four syllables.—Do not you,Darcy?'

'My stile of writing is very different from yours.'

同类推荐
  • 冯延巳祠集评

    冯延巳祠集评

    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。
  • 明道篇

    明道篇

    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。
  • 士昏礼

    士昏礼

    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。
  • 噶玛阑志略

    噶玛阑志略

    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。
  • 宏远谟斋家塾程课条录

    宏远谟斋家塾程课条录

    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
  • 妃颜倾尽天下

    妃颜倾尽天下

    一朝穿越成将军之女,不受宠就算了,还来欺负我,丫的,不知道我是跆拳道当过教练吗?人打我,我不还手!嘿嘿,我还脚!皇帝安排,嫁给王爷,听说他奇丑无比,是个文盲,而且很没素质。狗屁传言!他简直才高八斗、满腹经纶,连我这个博士之后都不能比,都无法用词语形容了!
  • 天级心法

    天级心法

    二十一世纪的年轻武学大师冰封万年,一朝觉醒世界大变。醒后世界充斥精气,修炼文明排山倒海。只有一个特殊组织科学院,保留着部分文明……武学大师在这个已经完全没有之前模样的地球步步向前……
  • 绝响之机动战队

    绝响之机动战队

    机甲涌现的年代,一场不平凡的旅途就此开始
  • 文学鉴赏

    文学鉴赏

    本书在内容上注重鉴赏方法的介绍和审美能力的培养,追求理论与实践的结合,选取了名家名篇作为经典鉴赏实例。选文贴近高职学生的特点,在注重介绍中国传统文学,展现中国优秀文化精神的基础上,努力做到严肃文学与通俗文学、古代文学与现当代文学相结合,对外国文学也有涉及。在形式上采用了“理论知识”“作品示例”“讨论探究”和“拓展阅读”,部分作品增加了“辑评”。“理论”部分简明扼要,条理清晰,便于学生掌握;“示例”部分经典而生动;“探究”部分激发兴趣,让学生有话可说;“辑评”“拓展”部分让学生课堂得法,举一反三,相关篇目、不同观点举证链接,课堂内外融会贯通。
  • 王子苏亚历险记:故事起源&月宫之战

    王子苏亚历险记:故事起源&月宫之战

    在《王子苏亚历险记》系列一中,为了让后代不致灭亡,我们的战士——超级英雄苏亚王子漫游在时间长河中,坚定不移地在宇宙的每一个角落找寻爱与正义的真谛。在这场凶险的旅途中,王子不得不孤身一人,与藏身宇宙深处的黑魔法大师、以及一整个科技先进的外星种族进行战斗。在这场惊心动魄的冒险里,苏亚除了要和时间赛跑、争分夺秒的拯救自己的后代外,还得和过去经历的梦魇作斗争,以防它从生命中偷走自己的爱人。在独自和黑魔法大师、自身命运以及众多敌人斗争的过程中,苏亚的超能力天赋得到了极致的成长……
  • 佛说造塔延命功德经

    佛说造塔延命功德经

    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。
  • 缃素杂记

    缃素杂记

    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。
  • 灵狐岛之水国崛起

    灵狐岛之水国崛起

    水国国王系冰花魂魄化身,爱上了抚养长大的谋士,却因黑暗力量的到来只能与爱人隔绝。水国为了抵御黑暗力量,造十二座岛,派谋士出使四国借粮。谋士大获而归,得到了诸国的美人,并被封为太平王,代理水国政事。随着黑暗力量的增加,冰花逐渐调零,谋士必须找到勇士,寻到卷轴,方能度过劫难。人类与异域的神力对决的同时,五国之乱也拉开了帷幕。
  • 成功100,说话90

    成功100,说话90

    在高度协作的世界中,沟通为王。一个人说的话,包含一个人的眼光、胸怀、智力、素养。别人要感知你、了解你、信服你,都是从你的话语中获取信息。你要带领一群人,要带他们去哪里?没有说服力,没有人愿意跟随你。说话是成功者的游戏!书中汇总沟通专家顾风老师10年培训经验的核心精华,抛开常见的教授套路,52个技巧,精准实用,新鲜有趣。每个小节讲述一种说话之道,传输最实用的说话技巧,让你对生活中的沟通规则有一个全新而有益的认识。避免社交尴尬,成功塑造个人形象,以最短的时间掌握说话的精进技巧。在出身、机遇、智力、意志之外,做一个真正的在说话中成功的人。
  • 你听谁说我爱你

    你听谁说我爱你

    一次意外,让夏小满失去了好的朋友,也让夏小满从此深陷愧疚。为了履行对好友的承诺,夏小满咬牙踏上“非常心愿之旅”,展开对高冷教授霍知非的疯狂追求。从一开始的置之不理、冷嘲热讽到不知不觉的情根深种,一对活宝冤家上演着既温暖又爆笑的生动情事!眼看心愿将了,夏小满却意外发现,好友的死似有蹊跷,而自己也被卷入一场“以爱为名”的阴谋之中……