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Гордость и предубеждение
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Pride and Prejudice
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It was an animating subject,
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and Mrs. Bennet seemed incapable of fatigue while enumerating the advantages of the match.
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His being such a charming young man,
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and so rich,
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and living but three miles from them,
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were the first points of self-gratulation;
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and then it was such a comfort to think how fond the two sisters were of Jane,
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and to be certain that they must desire the connection as much as she could do.
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It was,
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moreover,
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such a promising thing for her younger daughters,
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as Jane’s marrying so greatly must throw them in the way of other rich men;
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and lastly,
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it was so pleasant at her time of life to be able to consign her single daughters to the care of their sister,
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that she might not be obliged to go into company more than she liked.
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It was necessary to make this circumstance a matter of pleasure,
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because on such occasions it is the etiquette;
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but no one was less likely than Mrs. Bennet to find comfort in staying home at any period of her life.
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She concluded with many good wishes that Lady Lucas might soon be equally fortunate,
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though evidently and triumphantly believing there was no chance of it.
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In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother’s words,
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or persuade her to describe her felicity in a less audible whisper;
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for,
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to her inexpressible vexation,
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she could perceive that the chief of it was overheard by Mr. Darcy,
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who sat opposite to them.
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Her mother only scolded her for being nonsensical.
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“What is Mr. Darcy to me,
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pray,
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that I should be afraid of him?
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I am sure we owe him no such particular civility as to be obliged to say nothing he may not like to hear.”
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“For heaven’s sake,
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madam,
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speak lower.
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What advantage can it be for you to offend Mr. Darcy?
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You will never recommend yourself to his friend by so doing!”
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Nothing that she could say,
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however,
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had any influence.
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Her mother would talk of her views in the same intelligible tone.
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Elizabeth blushed and blushed again with shame and vexation.
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She could not help frequently glancing her eye at Mr. Darcy,
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though every glance convinced her of what she dreaded;
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for though he was not always looking at her mother,
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she was convinced that his attention was invariably fixed by her.
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The expression of his face changed gradually from indignant contempt to a composed and steady gravity.
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At length,
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however,
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Mrs. Bennet had no more to say;
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and Lady Lucas,
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who had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no likelihood of sharing,
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was left to the comforts of cold ham and chicken.
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Elizabeth now began to revive.
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But not long was the interval of tranquillity;
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for,
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when supper was over,
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singing was talked of,
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and she had the mortification of seeing Mary,
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after very little entreaty,
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preparing to oblige the company.
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By many significant looks and silent entreaties,
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did she endeavour to prevent such a proof of complaisance,
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but in vain;
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Mary would not understand them;
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such an opportunity of exhibiting was delightful to her,
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and she began her song.
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Elizabeth’s eyes were fixed on her with most painful sensations,
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and she watched her progress through the several stanzas with an impatience which was very ill rewarded at their close;
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for Mary,
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on receiving,
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amongst the thanks of the table,
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the hint of a hope that she might be prevailed on to favour them again,
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after the pause of half a minute began another.
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Mary’s powers were by no means fitted for such a display;
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her voice was weak,
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and her manner affected.
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Elizabeth was in agonies.
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She looked at Jane,
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to see how she bore it;
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but Jane was very composedly talking to Bingley.
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She looked at his two sisters,
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and saw them making signs of derision at each other,
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and at Darcy,
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who continued,
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however,
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imperturbably grave.
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She looked at her father to entreat his interference,
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lest Mary should be singing all night.
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He took the hint,
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and when Mary had finished her second song,
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said aloud,
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“That will do extremely well,
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child.
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You have delighted us long enough.
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Let the other young ladies have time to exhibit.”
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Mary,
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though pretending not to hear,
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was somewhat disconcerted;
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and Elizabeth,
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sorry for her,
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and sorry for her father’s speech,
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was afraid her anxiety had done no good.
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Others of the party were now applied to.
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“If I,”
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said Mr. Collins,
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“were so fortunate as to be able to sing,
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I should have great pleasure,
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I am sure,
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in obliging the company with an air;
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for I consider music as a very innocent diversion,
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and perfectly compatible with the profession of a clergyman.
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I do not mean,
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however,
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to assert that we can be justified in devoting too much of our time to music,
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for there are certainly other things to be attended to.
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The rector of a parish has much to do.
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In the first place,
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he must make such an agreement for tithes as may be beneficial to himself and not offensive to his patron.
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