pride and prejudice(傲慢与偏见)-第9节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and me； we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of
our lives； for a whole day’s tête…à…tête 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。’
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 39…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 39
‘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；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 40…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 40
‘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 as 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。’
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 41…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 41
‘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 ancles；
dirty stockings； and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise。
She was shewn 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
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 42…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 42
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 shewed 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
