第十一章
娘兒們吃過晚飯以後，伊莉莎白就上樓到她姐姐那兒去，看她穿戴得妥妥貼貼，不會著涼，便陪著她上客廳去。她的女朋友們見到她，都表示歡迎，一個個都說非常高興。在男客們沒有來的那一個鐘頭裏，她們是那麼和藹可親，伊莉莎白從來不曾看到過。她們的健談本領真是嚇人，描述起宴會來纖毫入微，說起故事來風趣橫溢，譏笑起一個朋友來也是有聲有色。
可是男客們一走進來，吉英就不怎麼引人注目了。達西一進門，彬格萊小姐的眼睛就立刻轉到他身上去，要跟他說話。達西首先向班納特小姐問好，客客氣氣地祝賀她病休複元；赫斯脫先生也對她微微一鞠躬，說是見到她”非常高興”；但是說到詞氣周到，情意懇切，可就比不上彬格萊先生那幾聲問候。彬格萊先生才算得上情深意切，滿懷歡欣。開頭半小時完全消磨在添煤上面，生怕屋子裏冷起來會叫病人受不了。吉英依照彬格萊的話，移坐到火爐的另一邊去，那樣她就離開門口遠一些，免得受涼。接著他自己在她身旁坐下，一心跟她說話，簡直不理睬別人。伊莉莎白正在對面角落裏做活計，把這全部情景都看在眼裏，感到無限高興。
喝過茶以後，赫斯脫先生提醒她的小姨子把牌桌擺好，可是沒有用。她早就看出達西先生不想打牌，因此赫斯脫先生後來公開提出要打牌也被她拒絕了。她跟他說，誰也不想玩牌，只見全場對這件事都不作聲，看來她的確沒有說錯。因此，赫斯脫先生無事可做，只得躺在沙發上打瞌睡。達西拿起一本書來。彬格萊小姐也拿起一本書來。赫斯脫太太聚精會神地在玩弄自己的手鐲和指環，偶而也在她弟弟跟班納特小姐的對話中插幾句嘴。
彬格萊小姐一面看達西讀書，一面自己讀書，兩件事同時並做，都是半心半意。她老是向他問句什麼的，或者是看他讀到哪一頁。不過，她總是沒有辦法逗她說話；她問一句他就答一句，答過以後便繼續讀他的書。彬格萊小姐所以要挑選那一本書讀，只不過因為那是達西所讀的第二卷，她滿想讀個津津有味，不料這會兒倒讀得精疲力盡了。她打了個呵欠，說道：”這樣度過一個晚上，真是多麼愉快啊！我說呀，什麼娛樂也抵不上讀書的樂趣。無論幹什麼事，都是一上手就要厭倦，讀書卻不會這樣！將來有一天我自己有了家，要是沒有個很好的書房，那會多遺憾喲。”
誰也沒有理睬她。於是她又打了個呵欠，拋開書本，把整個房間裏望了一轉，要想找點兒什麼東西消遺消遺，這時忽聽得她哥哥跟班納特小姐說要開一次跳舞會，她就猛可地掉過頭來對他說：這樣說，查理斯，你真打算在尼日斐花園開一次跳舞會嗎？我勸你最好還是先徵求一下在場朋友們的意見再作決定吧。這裏面就會有人覺得跳舞是受罪，而不是娛樂，要是沒有這種人，你怪我好了。”如果你指的是達西，”她的哥哥大聲說，”那麼，他可以在跳舞開始以前就上床去睡覺，隨他的便好啦。舞會已經決定了非開不可，只等尼可爾斯把一切都準備好了，我就下請貼。”
彬格萊小姐說：”要是開舞會能換些花樣，那我就更高興了，通常舞會上的那老一套，實在討厭透頂。你如果能把那一天的日程改一改，用談話來代替跳舞，那一定有意思得多。”也許有意思得多，珈羅琳，可是那還象什麼舞會呢。”
彬格萊小姐沒有回答。不大一會兒工夫，她就站起身來，在房間裏踱來踱去，故意在達西面前賣弄她優美的體態和矯健的步伐，只可惜達西只顧在那裏一心一意地看書，因此她只落得枉費心機。她絕望之餘，決定再作一次努力，於是轉過身來對伊莉莎白說：伊麗莎?班納特小姐，我勸你還是學學我的樣子，在房間裏瞎走動走動吧。告訴你，坐了那麼久，走動一下可以提提精神。”
伊莉莎白覺得很詫異，可是立刻依了她的意思。於是彬格萊小姐獻殷勤的真正目的達到了──達西先生果然抬起頭來，原來達西也和伊莉莎白一樣，看出了她在耍花招引人注目，便不知不覺地放下了書本。兩位小姐立刻請他來一塊兒踱步，可是他謝絕了，說是她們倆所以要在屋子裏踱來踱去，據他的想像，無非有兩個動機，如果他參加她們一起散步，對於她們的任何一個動機都會有妨礙。他這話是什麼意思？彬格萊小姐極想知道他講這話用意何在，便問伊莉莎白懂不懂。
伊莉莎白回答道：”根本不懂，他一定是存心刁難我們，不過你最好不要理睬他，讓他失望一下。”
可惜彬格萊小姐遇到任何事情都不忍心叫達西先生失望，於是再三要求他非把他的所謂兩個動機解釋一下不可。
達西等她一住口，便馬上說：”我非常願意解釋一下，事情不外乎是這樣的，你們是心腹之交，所以選擇了這個辦法來消磨黃昏，還要談談私事，否則就是你們自以為散起步來體態顯得特別好看，所以要散散步。倘若是出於第一個動機，我夾在你們一起就會妨礙你們；假若是出於第二個動機，那麼我坐在火爐旁邊可以更好地欣賞你們。”噢，嚇壞人！”彬格萊小姐叫起來了。”我從來沒聽到過這麼毒辣的話。──虧他說得出，該怎麼罰他呀？”要是你存心罰他，那是再容易不過的事，”伊莉莎白說。”彼此都可以罰來罰去，折磨來折磨去。作弄他一番吧──譏笑他一番吧。你們既然這麼相熟，你該懂得怎麼對付他呀。”天地良心，我不懂得。不瞞你說，我們雖然相熟，可是要懂得怎樣來對付他，不差得遠呢。想要對付這種性格冷靜和頭腦機靈的人，可不容易！不行，不行，我想我們是搞不過他的。至於譏笑他，說句你不生氣的話，我們可不能憑空笑人家，弄得反而惹人笑話。讓達西先生去自鳴得意吧。”原來達西先生是不能讓人笑話的！”伊莉莎白嚷道。”這種優越的條件倒真少有，我希望一直不要多，這樣的朋友多了，我的損失可大啦。我特別喜歡笑話。”彬格萊小姐過獎我啦。”他說。”要是一個人把開玩笑當作人生最重要的事，那麼，最聰明最優秀的人――不，最聰明最優秀的行為――也就會變得可笑了。”那當然羅，”伊莉莎白回答道，”這樣的人的確有，可是我希望我自己不在其內。我希望我怎麼樣也不會譏笑聰明的行為或者是良好的行為。愚蠢和無聊，荒唐和矛盾，這的確叫我覺得好笑，我自己也承認，我只要能夠加以譏笑，總是加以譏笑。不過我覺得這些弱點正是你身上所沒有的。”或許誰都還會有這些弱點，否則可真糟了，絕頂的聰慧也要招人嘲笑了。我一生都在研究該怎麼樣避免這些弱點。”例如虛榮和傲慢就是屬於這一類弱點。”不錯，虛榮的確是個弱點。可是傲慢──只要你果真聰明過人──你就會傲慢得比較有分寸。”
伊莉莎白掉過頭去，免得人家看見她發笑。你考問達西先生考問好了吧，我想，”彬格萊小姐說。”請問結論如何？”我完全承認達西先生沒有一些缺點。他自己也承認了這一點，並沒有掩飾。”不，”達西說，”我並沒有說過這種裝場面的話。我有夠多的毛病，不過這些毛病與頭腦並沒有關係。至於我的性格，我可不敢自誇。我認為我的性格太不能委曲求全，這當然是說我在處世方面太不能委曲求全地隨和別人。別人的愚蠢和過錯我本應該趕快忘掉，卻偏偏忘不掉；人家得罪了我，我也忘不掉。說到我的一些情緒，也並不是我一打算把它們去除掉，它們就會煙消雲散。我的脾氣可以說是夠叫人厭惡的。我對於某個人一旦沒有了好感，就永遠沒有好感。”這倒的的確確是個大缺點！”伊莉莎白大聲說道。”跟人家怨恨不解，的確是性格上的一個陰影可是你對於自己的缺點，已經挑剔得很嚴格。我的確不能再譏笑你了。你放心好啦。”我，相信一個人不管是怎樣的脾氣，都免不了有某種短處，這是一種天生的缺陷，即使受教育受得再好，也還是克服不了。”你有一種傾向，──對什麼人都感到厭惡，這就是你的缺陷。”而你的缺陷呢，”達西笑著回答。”就是故意去誤解別人。”
彬格萊小姐眼見這場談話沒有她的份，不禁有些厭倦，便大聲說道：”讓我們來聽聽音樂吧，露薏莎，你不怕我吵醒赫斯脫先生嗎？”
她的姐姐毫不反對，於是鋼琴便打開了。達西想了一下，覺得這樣也不錯。他開始感覺到對伊莉莎白似乎已經過分親近了一些。
Chapter 11
WHEN the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to her sister, and, seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the drawing-room; where she was welcomed by her two friends with many professions of pleasure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit.
But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object. Miss Bingley’s eyes were instantly turned towards Darcy, and she had something to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed himself directly to Miss Bennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow, and said he was “very glad;” but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley’s salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The first half hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer from the change of room; and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fireplace, that she might be farther from the door. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to any one else. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all with great delight.
When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the card-table — but in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr. Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open petition rejected. She assured him that no one intended to play, and the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had therefore nothing to do but to stretch himself on one of the sophas and go to sleep. Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now and then in her brother’s conversation with Miss Bennet.
Miss Bingley’s attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy’s progress through his book, as in reading her own; and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her question, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, “How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some amusement; when, hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly towards him and said,
“By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at Netherfield? — I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a pleasure.”
“If you mean Darcy,” cried her brother, “he may go to bed, if he chuses, before it begins — but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall send round my cards.”
“I should like balls infinitely better,” she replied, “if they were carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing made the order of the day.”
“Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like a ball.”
Miss Bingley made no answer; and soon afterwards got up and walked about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; — but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings she resolved on one effort more; and turning to Elizabeth, said,
“Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a turn about the room. — I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.”
Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that he could imagine but two motives for their chusing to walk up and down the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere. “What could he mean? she was dying to know what could be his meaning” — and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him?
“Not at all,” was her answer; “but depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it.”
Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in any thing, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two motives.
“I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,” said he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. “You either chuse this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; — if the first, I should be completely in your way; — and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”
“Oh! shocking!” cried Miss Bingley. “I never heard any thing so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?”
“Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination,” said Elizabeth. “We can all plague and punish one another. Teaze him — laugh at him. — Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done.”
“But upon my honour I do not. I do assure you that my intimacy has not yet taught me that. Teaze calmness of temper and presence of mind! No, no — I feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself.”
“Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!” cried Elizabeth. “That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance. I dearly love a laugh.”
“Miss Bingley,” said he, “has given me credit for more than can be. The wisest and the best of men, nay, the wisest and best of their actions, may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.”
“Certainly,” replied Elizabeth — “there are such people, but I hope I am not one of them. I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. — But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.”
“Perhaps that is not possible for any one. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.”
“Such as vanity and pride.”
“Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride — where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.”
Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.
“Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,” said Miss Bingley; — “and pray what is the result?”
“I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise.”
“No” — said Darcy, “I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. — It is I believe too little yielding — certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. — My good opinion once lost is lost for ever.”
“That is a failing indeed!” — cried Elizabeth. “Implacable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. — I really cannot laugh at it; you are safe from me.”
“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.”
“And your defect is a propensity to hate every body.”
“And yours,” he replied with a smile, “is wilfully to misunderstand them.”
“Do let us have a little music,” — cried Miss Bingley, tired of a conversation in which she had no share. — “Louisa, you will not mind my waking Mr. Hurst.”
Her sister made not the smallest objection, and the piano-forte was opened, and Darcy, after a few moments recollection, was not sorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.
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