第7章

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.

贝内特先生的财产几乎完全靠每年两千英镑收入的庄园；对他的女儿们来说，不幸的是，因为贝内特先生没有儿子，所以按法律限定由一位远亲继承。尽管她们母亲的财产足够应付生活中的局面，但无法弥补父亲的亏空。贝内特太太的父亲原来是魅力屯的律师，留给了她四千英镑。

她有一个妹妹，嫁给了菲利普斯先生。菲利普斯先生原先是她父亲的秘书，后来接替她的父亲成了律师；她还有一个兄弟住在伦敦，从事一桩体面的生意。

朗伯恩村离魅力屯只有一英里，这是对小姐们极其便利的距离，常常情不自禁一星期去那里三四次，看看她们的姨妈，顺便逛逛街对面那家女帽店。家里两个最小的姐妹凯瑟琳和丽迪雅向那里跑得特别勤；她们没有姐姐们的心事多，当没有更好的事儿消遣时，就必定要去魅力屯，消遣一下清晨的时光，为晚上提供话题；尽管村子里通常没有什么新闻，但她们总是千方百计从她们姨妈那里打听到一些。目前，附近新到了一个民兵团，她们的消息供应充分，皆大欢喜；这个团要驻扎一个冬天，魅力屯就是司令部所在地。

现在她们拜访菲利普太太成了最有趣的消息来源。每天都会增加对那些军官的名字和关系的一些了解。军官们的住所早就不是秘密了，最后小姐们就开始了解军官本人了。菲利普先生一一拜访了那些军官，这给她的姨侄女们开辟了一个前所未有的幸福源泉；她们只会谈论那些军官。只要提到宾利先生的大笔财产，她们的母亲就会眉飞色舞；与军官们的制服相比，在她们的眼里大笔财产一文不值。

一天上午，听过她们喋喋不休地讨论这个话题之后，贝内特先生冷静地评论道：

“从你们说话的方式，我可以推断，你们俩一定是这一带最傻的姑娘。我曾经怀疑过这一点，现在却深信不疑。”

凯瑟琳惊慌失措，没有回答，但丽迪雅完全无动于衷，接着表达她对卡特上尉的爱慕之情，希望当天见到他，因为他第二天上午要去伦敦。

“亲爱的，我感到惊讶，”贝内特太太说，“你动不动就这样认为自己的孩子们傻。然而，就是我想瞧不起什么人的孩子，也不应该是自己的孩子。”

“要是我的孩子们傻，我就必须希望始终理智行事。”

“是的——但碰巧，她们都很聪明。”

“我个人认为，这是我们看法唯一不一致的地方。我本来希望我们的情绪在各个方面都一致，但我们的两个小女儿非常愚蠢，我在这一点上跟你的看法完全不一样。”

“亲爱的贝内特先生，你不能指望这些姑娘都跟她们的父母亲有一样的见识。——等她们到了我们这样的年龄时，我敢说她们就会跟我们一样，不会再想什么军官了。我还记得从前有一个时期，我非常喜欢红制服——事实上，我现在心里还喜欢红制服；要是有一位聪明潇洒的年轻上校，每年有五、六千磅的收入，想要我的哪个女儿，我就不会拒绝他；前两天晚上，在威廉爵士的家里，我认为福斯特上校一身军装，看上去一表人才。”

“妈妈，”丽迪雅嚷道，“姨妈说，福斯特上校和卡特尔上尉到沃森小姐家里去得没有像刚来时那样频繁了；她现在常常看见他们站在克拉克借书处。”

还没等贝内特太太回答，一个仆人带着一封给贝内特小姐的短信走了进来；是内瑟菲尔德庄园的来信；仆人等着取回信。贝内特太太高兴得两眼发亮。简读信时，她急切地叫道：

“喂，简，是谁来的信？信上说什么？他是怎么说的？喂，简，赶紧告诉我们；赶紧，宝贝。”

“是宾利小姐写来的，”说着，简念了起来：

“亲爱的朋友：

你要是不行行好今天跟我和路易莎共进晚餐，我们就会有相互怨恨终生的危险。两个女人整天在一起促膝谈心，绝不可能不吵嘴。收到信后尽快过来。我的哥哥和那些先生会跟那些军官吃饭。

你永远的

卡罗琳·宾利”

“跟军官们吃饭！”丽迪雅嚷道，“我纳闷，这件事姨妈怎么没有告诉我们。”

“外出就餐，”贝内特太太说，“这真不吉利。”

“我能坐马车去吗？”简问。

“不，亲爱的，你最好骑马去，因为很可能天要下雨；那样，你就必须待一整夜。”

“要是你确信他们不会主动送她回来，”伊丽莎白说，“那将是一个好主意。”

“噢！不过，那些先生要坐宾利先生的马车去魅力屯，赫斯特夫妇有车无马。”

“我倒愿意乘四轮马车去。”

“可是，亲爱的，我相信，你的爸爸腾不出马来。贝内特先生，农庄上要用它们，不是吗？”

“农庄上需要用马经常得多，我常常得不到。”

“不过，要是你今天得到它们，”伊丽莎白说，“我母亲的心愿就达到了。”

她终于逼迫她的父亲承认那些马在用着。所以，简只好骑马去，母亲送她走到门口，兴高采烈地预测说会是坏天气。她的希望得到了满足；简没走多久，天就下起了大雨。雨连续不断地下了整整一夜；简当然无法回来。

“幸亏我想出了这个好主意！”贝内特太太不止一次地说，好像天下雨都是她一手造成的。然而，她的神机妙算到底产生了多大的幸福，她直到第二天早上才知道。刚早饭吃完，内瑟菲尔德庄园派了一个仆人给伊丽莎白送来一封短信：

“最亲爱的丽齐：

今天早上，我感觉自己很不舒服，我想是因为昨天浑身湿透了。几位好心的朋友要看到我好转才让我回家。她们还坚持让我看琼斯先生——所以，要是你听到他来过我这里，那就不要惊慌——我只是喉咙痛和头痛，没有大病。

姐字。”

“啊，亲爱的，”伊丽莎白念完短信之后，贝内特先生说，“要是你的女儿突发危险病症，要是她一病不起，就会知道追求宾利先生将是一种安慰。”

“噢！我根本不怕她送命。哪有小小的伤风感冒就会送命。人家一定会好好关照她。只要她待在那里，就会万事大吉。要是能有马车的话，我也想去看看她。”

伊丽莎白的确感到忧心忡忡，即使没有马车，也要下定决心去看简；她不会骑马，走路是唯一的选择。她说出了自己的决定。

“你怎能这么傻！”她的妈妈嚷道，“路上泥泞不堪，居然想起这事儿！等你走到那里，你都不配见人了。”

“我只要见到简就行了。”

“丽齐，”她的父亲说，“你这是暗示让我给你派几匹马吧？”

“当然不是。我不希望避开步行。一个人只要有动机，远近就不算什么；只不过才三英里路。晚饭前，我就会回来。”

“我钦佩你的善行活动，”玛丽说，“可是，每次感情的冲动都要由理智来引导；而且，我认为，即使尽力，也要恰到好处。”

“我们陪你去魅力屯，”凯瑟琳和丽迪雅说。——伊丽莎白接受了她们的陪伴，姐妹仨就一起上路了。

“要是我们赶快走，”她们一边走，丽迪雅一边说，“也许在卡特上尉走之前，我们还能见他一面。”

到了魅力屯，她们便分了手；两个妹妹去了一位军官太太的住所，伊丽莎白独自继续赶路，快步穿过了一片又一片田地，跳过篱笆两侧的一道道阶梯，迫不及待地纵身跃过一个个水坑，终于看到了内瑟菲尔德庄园。这时，她脚踝乏力，长筒袜上泥点斑斑，累得满面通红。

她被领进了早餐厅；除了简之外，大家都聚在那里；她的出现让人大吃了一惊。——赫斯特太太和宾利小姐简直不敢相信，时间这么早，天气这么糟，她步行三英里独自赶到这里。伊丽莎白确信，她们会为此瞧不起她。然而，她受到了她们彬彬有礼的接待；她们的兄弟不仅客气，而且脾气好，人又善良。——达西先生说话不多，赫斯特先生完全一声不吭。达西先生一方面爱慕她步行之后富有光泽的脸色，另一方面又怀疑她是不是有理由为这件事独自从大老远赶来。赫斯特先生只想着吃早饭。

她问起姐姐的病情，得到的回答不是很有利。贝内特小姐没有睡好觉，尽管起了床，但发着高烧，不大好出门。伊丽莎白非常高兴，马上被带去见姐姐。看到她进来，简也非常高兴。原来简只是担心引起家人的惊慌或不便，没有在信里表达她是多么渴望见到他们。然而，她无力多说话，连宾利小姐离开她们俩时，她也没能说几句话，只是表示感谢她受到的格外善待。伊丽莎白默默地伺候她。

早饭过后，宾利姐妹也来陪她们；看到她们对简是那么关爱，伊丽莎白本人也开始喜欢上了她们。药剂师来了，给病人做了检查，不出所料，说她是重感冒，他嘱咐她们必须尽力让这病好转，建议简上床睡觉，并给她开了几副药。她们马上遵照医生的嘱咐，因为病人热症又升高了，而且头剧烈疼痛。伊丽莎白片刻也没有离开她的房间，另外两位小姐也不大走开；男客们都不在家里，其实她们在别处也无事可做。

钟表敲响三点时，伊丽莎白觉得她必须走了，就很不情愿地这样说了。宾利小姐要给她派马车，她只是想稍微推辞就接受，这时简舍不得跟伊丽莎白分开，宾利小姐只好把派马车改为请伊丽莎白暂时留在内瑟菲尔德庄园。伊丽莎白满怀感激地答应了。随后，就是派仆人去朗伯恩，把她暂住这里的事儿告诉她的家人，并捎回来一些衣服。