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Гордость и предубеждение
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Глава 18
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Pride and Prejudice
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“Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case,
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or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”
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“Both,”
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replied Elizabeth archly;
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“for I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds.
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We are each of an unsocial,
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taciturn disposition,
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unwilling to speak,
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unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room,
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and be handed down to posterity with all the éclat of a proverb.”
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“This is no very striking resemblance of your own character,
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I am sure,”
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said he.
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“How near it may be to mine,
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I cannot pretend to say.
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You think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly.”
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“I must not decide on my own performance.”
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He made no answer,
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and they were again silent till they had gone down the dance,
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when he asked her if she and her sisters did not very often walk to Meryton.
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She answered in the affirmative,
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and,
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unable to resist the temptation,
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added,
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“When you met us there the other day,
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we had just been forming a new acquaintance.”
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The effect was immediate.
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A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features,
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but he said not a word,
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and Elizabeth,
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though blaming herself for her own weakness,
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could not go on.
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At length Darcy spoke,
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and in a constrained manner said,
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“Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends—whether he may be equally capable of retaining them,
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is less certain.”
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“He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship,”
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replied Elizabeth with emphasis,
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“and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life.”
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Darcy made no answer,
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and seemed desirous of changing the subject.
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At that moment,
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Sir William Lucas appeared close to them,
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meaning to pass through the set to the other side of the room;
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but on perceiving Mr. Darcy,
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he stopped with a bow of superior courtesy to compliment him on his dancing and his partner.
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“I have been most highly gratified indeed,
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my dear sir.
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Such very superior dancing is not often seen.
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It is evident that you belong to the first circles.
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Allow me to say,
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however,
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that your fair partner does not disgrace you,
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and that I must hope to have this pleasure often repeated,
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especially when a certain desirable event,
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my dear Eliza (glancing at her sister and Bingley)
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shall take place.
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What congratulations will then flow in!
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I appeal to Mr. Darcy:—
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but let me not interrupt you,
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sir.
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You will not thank me for detaining you from the bewitching converse of that young lady,
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whose bright eyes are also upbraiding me.”
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The latter part of this address was scarcely heard by Darcy;
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but Sir William’s allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly,
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and his eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards Bingley and Jane,
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who were dancing together.
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Recovering himself,
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however,
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shortly,
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he turned to his partner,
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and said,
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“Sir William’s interruption has made me forget what we were talking of.”
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“I do not think we were speaking at all.
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Sir William could not have interrupted two people in the room who had less to say for themselves.
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We have tried two or three subjects already without success,
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and what we are to talk of next I cannot imagine.”
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“What think you of books?”
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said he,
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smiling.
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“Books—oh!
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no.
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I am sure we never read the same,
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or not with the same feelings.”
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“I am sorry you think so;
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but if that be the case,
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there can at least be no want of subject.
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We may compare our different opinions.”
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“No—I cannot talk of books in a ball-room;
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my head is always full of something else.”
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“The present always occupies you in such scenes—does it?”
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said he,
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with a look of doubt.
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“Yes,
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always,”
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she replied,
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without knowing what she said,
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for her thoughts had wandered far from the subject,
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as soon afterwards appeared by her suddenly exclaiming,
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“I remember hearing you once say,
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Mr. Darcy,
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that you hardly ever forgave,
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that your resentment once created was unappeasable.
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You are very cautious,
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I suppose,
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as to its being created?”
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“I am,”
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said he,
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with a firm voice.
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“And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice?”
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“I hope not.”
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“It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion,
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to be secure of judging properly at first.”
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“May I ask to what these questions tend?”
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“Merely to the illustration of your character,”
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said she,
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endeavouring to shake off her gravity.
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“I am trying to make it out.”
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“And what is your success?”
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She shook her head.
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“I do not get on at all.
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I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly.”
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“I can readily believe,”
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answered he gravely,
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“that reports may vary greatly with respect to me;
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and I could wish,
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Miss Bennet,
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that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment,
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as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no credit on either.”
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“But if I do not take your likeness now,
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I may never have another opportunity.”
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“I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours,”
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he coldly replied.
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