登陆注册
3553800000031

第31章

At length however Mrs. Bennet had no more to say;and Lady Lucas,who had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no likelihood of sharing,was left to the comforts of cold ham and chicken.Elizabeth now began to revive.But not long was the interval of tranquillity;for when supper was over,singing was talked of,and she had the mortification of seeing Mary,after very little entreaty,preparing to oblige the company.By many significant looks and silent entreaties,did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance,—but in vain;Mary would not understand them;such an opportunity of exhibiting wasdelightful to her,and she began her song.Elizabeth's eyes were fixed on her with most painful sensations;and she watched her progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very ill rewarded at their close;for Mary,on receiving amongst the thanks of the table,the hint of a hope that she might be pre-vailed on to favour them again,after the pause of half a minute began another.Mary's powers were by no means fitted for such a display;her voice was weak,and her manner affected.—Elizabeth was in agonies.She looked at Jane,to see how she bore it;but Jane was very composedly talking to Bingley.She looked at his two sisters,and saw them making signs of derision at each other,and at Darcy,who continued however impenetrably grave.She looked at her father to entreat his interference,lest Mary should be singing all night.He took the hint,and when Mary had finished her second song,said aloud,

'That will do extremely well,child. You have delighted us long enough.Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.'

Mary,though pretending not to hear,was somewhat disconcerted;and Elizabeth sorry for her,and sorry for her father's speech,was afraid her anxiety had done no good.—Others of the party were now applied to.

'If I,'said Mr. Collins,'were so fortunate as to be able to sing,I should have great pleasure,I am sure,in obliging the company with an air;for I consider music as a very innocent diversion,and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman.—I do not mean however to assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time to music,for there are certainly other things to be attended to.The rector of a parish has much to do.—In the first place,he must make such an agreement for tythes as may bebeneficial to himself and not offensive to his patron.He must write his own sermons;and the time that remains will not be too much for his parish duties,and the care and improvement of his dwelling,which he cannot be excused from making as comfortable as possible.And I do not think it of light importance that he should have attentive and conciliatory manners towards every body,especially towards those to whom he owes his preferment.I cannot acquit him of that duty;nor could I think well of the man who should omit an occasion of testifying his respect towards any body connected with the family.'And with a bow to Mr Darcy,he concluded his speech,which had been spoken so loud as to be heard by half the room.—Many stared.—Many smiled;but no one looked more amused than Mr.Bennet himself,while his wife seriously commended Mr.Collins for having spoken so sensibly,and observed in a half-whisper to Lady Lucas,that he was a remarkably clever,good kind of young man.

To Elizabeth it appeared,that had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening,it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit,or finer success;and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice,and that his feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he must have witnessed. That his two sisters and Mr.Darcy,however,should have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations was bad enough,and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the gentleman,or the insolent smiles of the ladies,were more intolerable.

The rest of the evening brought her little amusement. She was teazed by Mr.Collins,who continued most perseveringly by herside,and though he could not prevail with her to dance with him again,put it out of her power to dance with others.In vain did she entreat him to stand up with somebody else,and offer to introduce him to any young lady in the room.He assured her that as to dancing,he was perfectly indifferent to it;that his chief object was by delicate attentions to recommend himself to her,and that he should therefore make a point of remaining close to her the whole evening.There was no arguing upon such a project.She owed her greatest relief to her friend Miss Lucas,who often joined them,and good-naturedly engaged Mr.Collins's conversation to herself.

She was at least free from the offence of Mr. Darcy's farther notice;though often standing within a very short distance of her,quite disengaged,he never came near enough to speak.She felt it to be the probable consequence of her allusions to Mr.Wickham,and rejoiced in it.

同类推荐
  • 须摩提经

    须摩提经

    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。
  • 比丘避女恶名欲自杀经

    比丘避女恶名欲自杀经

    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。
  • 续画品

    续画品

    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。
  • 明伦汇编家范典嫡庶部

    明伦汇编家范典嫡庶部

    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。
  • 甘水仙源录

    甘水仙源录

    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
  • 打造销售人脉的终极技巧

    打造销售人脉的终极技巧

    本书向读者详细介绍如何拓展自己的人脉圈子,广交朋友,做好、做熟、做深每位客户,扩大自己的个人影响,建立良好的个人口碑,让客户免费帮你销售等一系列的技巧和方法,帮助读者在销售工作中更好地与人交际,做好销售该书它既能为刚入行的销售员雪中送炭,也...
  • 喜欢你,似云追风

    喜欢你,似云追风

    男人不明白,前妻这几年是经历了些什么,如何完成了小白兔变母老虎的物种转换。一见面,整的他是心伤身残,无语凝噎。女人不明白,前夫多年以后再出现,是要出什么幺蛾子,敢招惹她,打得他娘都认不得。总而言之,这就是一场爱情博弈,赢则圆满,输则心伤
  • 完美部下:这样与领导沟通

    完美部下:这样与领导沟通

    俗话说“火车跑得快,全靠车头带。”无论是官场、商场还是职场都是需要一个领导者的,而这个领导者就是我们的火车头。从另一方面讲,领导者有的时候也决定了一个人在这个集体中的地位或者前途,而与领导者的关系相处的如何尤为重要。怎样让自己学会与领导沟通的技巧,或者是怎样改善自己与领导的关系是每个人都必须要考虑的问题。李洁等编著的《完美部下——这样与领导沟通》以通俗易懂的哲理故事告诉你怎样与领导沟通。
  • 动物世界2

    动物世界2

    大千世界,精彩纷呈。面对五彩缤纷的动物世界,孩子们睁大了惊奇的双眼。鸟儿为什么会飞?大象的鼻子为什么那么厉害?鱼怎么会放电?数亿年前,动植物的出现叩响了沉默。也许,它们有的只是一个细胞,渺小得似乎可以忽视,但它们却宣告了一个不平凡的开始——地球上从此有了生命。经过几亿年的进化繁衍,地球上变得日益充盈。从浩瀚的海洋到广阔的天空,从葱翠的平原到荒芜的沙漠,从赤日炎炎的非洲内陆到冰雪覆盖的南极大陆……到处都有动物的踪迹。它们或披着鳞带着甲,或裹着厚厚的皮毛,共同演绎着这个世界的五光十色和盎然生机。
  • 绝色天医:鬼帝,请矜持

    绝色天医:鬼帝,请矜持

    意外穿越,云玖不仅失去记忆,还由天才跌落成废物。族人陷害,世人欺凌,偏偏那个人人谈而色变的鬼帝大人,视她如命,护她若宝。他说,这世间,若有人动她一根头发,他便削了对方脑袋,若有人胆子敢惹她不开心,便剜了对方心肝!据悉鬼帝从不近女色……可是,这个酷爱对她上下其手的又是什么鬼?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 小助理护蛋记

    小助理护蛋记

    小助理阿梅在片场遇到了她的老冤家,一夜爆红的大明星郝英俊,郝英俊说如果阿梅不做我的助理我就不演了。阿梅:“老大!求放过!”郝英俊:“呵呵呵呵,你要对我负责!
  • 皇后保卫战

    皇后保卫战

    宫斗是门学问,更是种战术。当褚月华从常家的姹紫嫣红里脱颖而出,成为陌孤寒的皇后那天起,宫斗就成为她赖以生存的手段。她在紫禁城的四面楚歌中如屡薄冰,步步为营,誓要成为宠冠六宫的一代帝后。百花杀尽,一枝独秀,艳惊天下的白衣卿相,金刀铁马的竹马将军,千帆过尽,却唯独沦陷在少年帝王的痴情里,丢盔弃甲,溃不成军。这场皇后保卫战,究竟谁输谁赢?
  • 没有你,什么都不甜蜜

    没有你,什么都不甜蜜

    本书是斯特凡松《天堂与地狱》三部曲的第一部,曾获意大利格林扎纳·博塔里·拉特斯文学奖。一场大风雪,一个男孩的三天三夜,一百年前那个古老迷人的冰岛世界。男孩和他的伙伴,热爱阅读的巴尔特,跟着捕鳕鱼的船队出海。临行前,巴尔特因诵读弥尔顿《失乐园》的诗句太入迷,忘了带防水服,结果中途遭遇大风雪,冻死在船上。带着巨大的悲痛和迷茫,男孩当晚出发,在大雪纷飞的海边谷地艰难跋涉了两天两夜,代替朋友去咖啡馆还书。他已决定,等把书还掉,就与朋友以死相聚。一本有关生命中那些宏大课题的永恒之书,以天堂般的诗意写就的人生现实。
  • Secrets of the Terra-Cotta Soldier
  • 异事奇谈之灵界

    异事奇谈之灵界

    一位身份神秘的少年,不知道自己从哪里来,又该去往何处。天赋异禀的他更像是有着未完成的使命一样。