ELIZABETH passed the chief of the night in her sister's room, and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send a tolerable answer to the enquiries which she very early received from Mr. Bingley by a housemaid, and some time afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters. In spite of this amendment, however, she requested to have a note sent to Longbourn, desiring her mother to visit Jane, and form her own judgment of her situation. The note was immediately dispatched, and its contents as quickly complied with. Mrs. Bennet, accompanied by her two youngest girls, reached Netherfield soon after the family breakfast.
Had she found Jane in any apparent danger, Mrs. Bennet would have been very miserable; but being satisfied on seeing her, that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield. She would not listen therefore to her daughter's proposal of being carried home; neither did the apothecary, who arrived about the same time, think it at all advisable. After sitting a little while with Jane, on Miss Bingley's appearance and invitation the mother and three daughters all attended her into the breakfast parlour. Bingley met them with hopes that Mrs. Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she expected.
"Indeed I have, Sir," was her answer. "She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness."
"Removed!" cried Bingley. "It must not be thought of. My sister, I am sure, will not hear of her removal."
"You may depend upon it, Madam," said Miss Bingley, with cold civility, "that Miss Bennet shall receive every possible attention while she remains with us."
Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgments.
"I am sure," she added, "if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world -- which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over that gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry I hope, though you have but a short lease."
"Whatever I do is done in a hurry," replied he; "and therefore if I should resolve to quit Netherfield, I should probably be off in five minutes. At present, however, I consider myself as quite fixed here."
"That is exactly what I should have supposed of you," said Elizabeth.
"You begin to comprehend me, do you?" cried he, turning towards her.
"Oh! yes -- I understand you perfectly."
"I wish I might take this for a compliment; but to be so easily seen through I am afraid is pitiful."
"That is as it happens. It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours."
"Lizzy," cried her mother, "remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home."
"I did not know before," continued Bingley immediately, "that you were a studier of character. It must be an amusing study."
"Yes; but intricate characters are the most amusing. They have at least that advantage."
"The country," said Darcy, "can in general supply but few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society."
"But people themselves alter so much, that there is something new to be observed in them for ever."
"Yes, indeed," cried Mrs. Bennet, offended by his manner of mentioning a country neighbourhood. "I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town."
Every body was surprised; and Darcy, after looking at her for a moment, turned silently away. Mrs. Bennet, who fancied she had gained a complete victory over him, continued her triumph.
"I cannot see that London has any great advantage over the country for my part, except the shops and public places. The country is a vast deal pleasanter, is not it, Mr. Bingley?"
"When I am in the country," he replied, "I never wish to leave it; and when I am in town it is pretty much the same. They have each their advantages, and I can be equally happy in either."
"Aye -- that is because you have the right disposition. But that gentleman," looking at Darcy, "seemed to think the country was nothing at all."
"Indeed, Mama, you are mistaken," said Elizabeth, blushing for her mother. "You quite mistook Mr. Darcy. He only meant that there were not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in town, which you must acknowledge to be true."
"Certainly, my dear, nobody said there were; but as to not meeting with many people in this neighbourhood, I believe there are few neighbourhoods larger. I know we dine with four and twenty families."
Nothing but concern for Elizabeth could enable Bingley to keep his countenance. His sister was less delicate, and directed her eye towards Mr. Darcy with a very expressive smile. Elizabeth, for the sake of saying something that might turn her mother's thoughts, now asked her if Charlotte Lucas had been at Longbourn since her coming away.
"Yes, she called yesterday with her father. What an agreeable man Sir William is, Mr. Bingley -- is not he? so much the man of fashion! so genteel and so easy! -- He has always something to say to every body. -- That is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who fancy themselves very important and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter."
"Did Charlotte dine with you?"
"No, she would go home. I fancy she was wanted about the mince pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; my daughters are brought up differently. But every body is to judge for themselves, and the Lucases are very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so very plain -- but then she is our particular friend."
"She seems a very pleasant young woman," said Bingley.
"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."
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.
--正文
伊丽莎白一晚上基本上都待在姐姐屋里，早上宾利先生又派了女佣过来询问简的病情，伊丽莎白总算能给个稍好些的回答了。又过了不久，那两个高贵的小姐也过来询问了下。尽管简的病情有所好转，但是伊丽莎白还是坚持送一份信去蘑菇屯，要求本内特太太过来看看简，自己看看她的病怎么样了。信很快送出去了，很快去意就被照办了。这边刚吃完早饭，本内特太太和两个小女儿就到了耐热屯。
本内特太太要是看到简病得很重，那她可能会很难受。但看到简实际上病情并不严重，本内特太太很满意，倒不希望她能很快康复。因为要是简早早病好了，可就得离开耐热屯了。所以她就没理简要被带回家的请求。差不多一起到的医师，也不同意把简带走。在跟简做了一会后，宾利小姐来邀请母女四个一起过去吃早饭。宾利先生前来欢迎她们，说着希望本内特太太发现女儿病情并没有她想的那么重。
“确实没有，先生，”本内特太太回复说，“但是也病得不轻，不能随便挪地方。琼斯医师说我们不能让她挪地方。我们只能冒昧地在您家里再住几日了。”
“挪地方？”宾利吃惊的说，“不可能的事情。我姐姐肯定不会同意她挪的。”
“你可放老鼻子心吧，太太，”宾利小姐客套地说，“本内特小姐只要在我们这儿，肯定是会被悉心照料得。”
本内特太太立刻接受了这份好意。
她又说：“我可以确信，要不是有你们这帮好朋友，我们家简病得那么重，受了那么大罪，都不知道会怎么样。这病可真是不长眼，她待人那么有礼貌——她一直是这样，可以说是我认识得人里脾气最好的姑娘了。我经常说其他的闺女跟她比，什么都不是。宾利先生，你的房子可真是漂亮极了，风景也很好，屋里就能看到外面的砾石路。你应该会在这儿长待的吧，虽然你现在只租了很短的时间。”
“我做什么事情都很快，”宾利回答说，“所以如果我决定要离开耐热屯的话，我可能5分钟就走人了。但是现在，我哪儿也不会去。”
“我早就该看出你是这样的人。”伊丽莎白说。
“你现在认识我了，是吧？”宾利转过身来看着她，大声说。
“是啊！我可是了解你透透！”
“我希望你这是在夸我。但被人这么容易看穿，我想应该很可怜吧。”
“我确实是在夸你。复杂深刻的性格，并不一定说比你这样单纯的性格，更容易猜到。”
“小伊！”她老娘大声讲，“你可在别人家里，可别以为家里人容忍你，就也能在使着野性子乱来。”
“我之前不知道，”宾利立刻接着说“你是个喜欢研究性格的人？这肯定很有意思吧。”
“是啊，复杂性格是最有意思的，对这种性格的人来说，他们至少也有这个优点吧。”
“村子里可没有多少这样的人供你研究吧。农村社会可是封闭的，永远没什么变化。”
“可村子里的人可以变化啊，他们身上的新鲜事可是永远都研究不过来。”
“是啊，那可不，”本内特太太听到达西提到农村这个词，立刻炸毛了，“我们村子里可不比你镇上差。谁瞧不起谁啊。”
每个人都吃惊了。达西看了本内特太太一会，默默地走开了。本内特一看，认为自己赢了达西，便接着发表获胜宣言：“依我看，除了商店和些大型场所，我可真没看出来伦敦比我们这农村社会好哪儿去。农村可是好玩的多了嘛，是吧达西？”
“我待在村子里，就从来没想过走，”达西回复说，“但我在城里也是这样。各有千秋吧，我在哪儿都一样的开心。”
“是哦，那也是因为你有个好性格。你看那位先生，”本内特太太望着达西，“可是觉得我们村子没一点好呢。”
”妈妈你可错了，“伊丽莎白说，她因为老娘都脸红了，”你可是误会达西先生了。他只是说村子里碰不到像镇上那么多形形色色的人罢了，人家这说得可是真话。“
”当然了，小宝贝，没人说有啊。但是要说我们这村子碰不到多少人，也没有几个村子能碰到更多的。我们平时可是跟二十来户人家来往啊。“
要不是照顾伊丽莎白的面子，宾利先生可能就笑出来了。而她姐姐就没那么周到了，她咧着个大嘴，一直望着达西笑。伊丽莎白这时候只想着说点什么。能让她老娘换个话题，就问她老娘自己走了之后夏洛特.卢卡斯小姐有没有去过蘑菇屯。
”来了，她跟她爸爸一起来的。威廉姆爵士是多么和颜悦色的人啊，宾利先生，你说是么？他可真是又潮，又礼貌，又随和。他总是跟谁都能聊上两句。这就是我眼里的有教养。有些人总觉得自己很了不起，从来不理人，可是把教养这事给理解错了。“
”那夏洛特跟你们吃晚饭了吗？“
”没有，她直接回家了。我猜应该是被叫回去坐肉馅饼了。宾利先生，我一向只雇那些能处理好分内事情的人，但我的女儿们就不是这样被养大的。但是她们还是得为自己打算的。卢卡斯姐妹也是十分好的姑娘，就可惜长得不好看。倒不是我说夏洛特长得很一般啊，她毕竟是我们的好朋友。“
”她看起来是个十分惹人喜欢的姑娘。“宾利说
”确实如此，但是你得承认她确实长得一般。卢卡斯太太自己也经常说，嫉妒我们家简的美貌。我不喜欢瞎吹自己家的孩子，但是确实没几个姑娘能比我们家简好看。这是大家都说的啊，可不是我自己说偏心话。她才十五岁的时候，在我城里兄弟嘎丁乐的家里，有个先生就疯狂得爱上了她。我那嫂嫂很确定我们一家子走之前，他一定会向简求婚。但不知怎么滴，最终他没有。也许是觉得简太小了把。无论如何，他给简写了几首诗，这些诗十分漂亮。”
“于是他的感情就这么结束了，”伊丽莎白不耐烦的打断了，“应该是有很多人这样杀死爱情的。我不知道是谁第一个发现，诗杀死爱情的神奇功能。”
“我一直觉得诗歌是滋长爱情的”达西说。
“对于一段美好坚实健康的爱情，确实如此。一段已经十分强烈的感情，任何东西都能让它更热烈一些。但如果只是一种轻微的好感，我觉得一首短诗就能把这种好感扫个一干二净。”
达西只是笑了笑，没有说话。一段漫长的沉默，伊丽莎白吓得发抖，害怕她老娘又开始喋喋不休。她很想说点什么，但是啥都想不出来。沉默了一些，本内特太太又向宾利先生表达了谢意，感谢他悉心照料简，又让小伊利给麻烦了一阵。宾利先生非常真诚有礼的，搞得她妹妹也不得不友好地，说了些得体的话。他妹妹得态度并不十分真诚。但是本内特太太已经很满足了，很快就去叫了马车。一听到这话，最小得女儿走上前来。两个小女儿从刚来就一直在互相说悄悄话，最后商定得结果是，由最小的女儿去找宾利先生来实现刚来蘑菇屯的时候许下的诺言——在耐热屯举办一场舞会。
莉迪亚是个结识的，发育良好的十五岁姑娘，肤色很好，面容和悦。莉迪亚是本内特太太的掌上明珠，由于骄纵过度让她过早的进入了公众视野。她性格好动，又不知道分寸。他叔叔的美酒佳肴，和她自己的有些不检点的举止，让那些军官们注意到了她，而这让她更加肆无忌惮了。因此她十分直接的跟宾利先生提起舞会的事情，唐突的提醒他实现诺言，还说如果他不实现诺言的话这就是世界上最丢人的事情。而宾利先生对于这个突然攻击的回答让本内特太太很开心：
“我时刻准备好实现自己的诺言，请放心。当你的姐姐康复了，你指定个日期，我给你们办舞会。但她还生病的时候，你们可不能还想着跳舞吧。”
莉迪亚十分满意：“等到简康复的时候再跳，可是更好了。到那时候，卡特上尉应该也回了梅屯。你举办了舞会之后，我也会要求他们举办一个，我要跟福斯特上校说如果他不办可就丢人丢大了。”
说完本内特太太和两个小女儿就走了，伊丽莎白立刻回到了简身边，也不管宾利那两位姐姐和达西先生怎么议论她和自己家人的举止。而不管宾利小姐怎么调侃伊丽莎白的“美丽眼睛”，达西一直不肯受她们怂恿，一起去挑伊丽莎白的刺。