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Гордость и предубеждение
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Глава 43
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Слушаем и читаем
Pride and Prejudice
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Оригинал
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It settled the matter;
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and they pursued the accustomed circuit;
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which brought them again,
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after some time,
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in a descent among hanging woods,
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to the edge of the water,
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and one of its narrowest parts.
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They crossed it by a simple bridge,
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in character with the general air of the scene;
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it was a spot less adorned than any they had yet visited;
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and the valley,
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here contracted into a glen,
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allowed room only for the stream,
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and a narrow walk amidst the rough coppice-wood which bordered it.
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Elizabeth longed to explore its windings;
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but when they had crossed the bridge,
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and perceived their distance from the house,
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Mrs. Gardiner,
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who was not a great walker,
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could go no farther,
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and thought only of returning to the carriage as quickly as possible.
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Her niece was,
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therefore,
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obliged to submit,
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and they took their way towards the house on the opposite side of the river,
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in the nearest direction;
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but their progress was slow,
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for Mr. Gardiner,
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though seldom able to indulge the taste,
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was very fond of fishing,
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and was so much engaged in watching the occasional appearance of some trout in the water,
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and talking to the man about them,
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that he advanced but little.
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Whilst wandering on in this slow manner,
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they were again surprised,
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and Elizabeth’s astonishment was quite equal to what it had been at first,
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by the sight of Mr. Darcy approaching them,
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and at no great distance.
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The walk here being here less sheltered than on the other side,
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allowed them to see him before they met.
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Elizabeth,
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however astonished,
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was at least more prepared for an interview than before,
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and resolved to appear and to speak with calmness,
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if he really intended to meet them.
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For a few moments,
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indeed,
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she felt that he would probably strike into some other path.
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The idea lasted while a turning in the walk concealed him from their view;
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the turning past,
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he was immediately before them.
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With a glance,
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she saw that he had lost none of his recent civility;
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and,
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to imitate his politeness,
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she began,
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as they met,
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to admire the beauty of the place;
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but she had not got beyond the words “delightful,”
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and “charming,”
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when some unlucky recollections obtruded,
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and she fancied that praise of Pemberley from her might be mischievously construed.
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Her colour changed,
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and she said no more.
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Mrs. Gardiner was standing a little behind;
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and on her pausing,
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he asked her if she would do him the honour of introducing him to her friends.
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This was a stroke of civility for which she was quite unprepared;
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and she could hardly suppress a smile at his being now seeking the acquaintance of some of those very people against whom his pride had revolted in his offer to herself.
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“What will be his surprise,”
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thought she,
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“when he knows who they are?
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He takes them now for people of fashion.”
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The introduction,
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however,
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was immediately made;
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and as she named their relationship to herself,
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she stole a sly look at him,
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to see how he bore it,
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and was not without the expectation of his decamping as fast as he could from such disgraceful companions.
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That he was surprised by the connection was evident;
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he sustained it,
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however,
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with fortitude,
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and so far from going away,
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turned back with them,
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and entered into conversation with Mr. Gardiner.
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Elizabeth could not but be pleased,
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could not but triumph.
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It was consoling that he should know she had some relations for whom there was no need to blush.
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She listened most attentively to all that passed between them,
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and gloried in every expression,
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every sentence of her uncle,
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which marked his intelligence,
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his taste,
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or his good manners.
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The conversation soon turned upon fishing;
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and she heard Mr. Darcy invite him,
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with the greatest civility,
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to fish there as often as he chose while he continued in the neighbourhood,
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offering at the same time to supply him with fishing tackle,
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and pointing out those parts of the stream where there was usually most sport.
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Mrs. Gardiner,
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who was walking arm-in-arm with Elizabeth,
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gave her a look expressive of wonder.
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Elizabeth said nothing,
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but it gratified her exceedingly;
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the compliment must be all for herself.
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Her astonishment,
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however,
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was extreme,
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and continually was she repeating,
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“Why is he so altered?
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From what can it proceed?
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It cannot be for me—it cannot be for my sake that his manners are thus softened.
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My reproofs at Hunsford could not work such a change as this.
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It is impossible that he should still love me.”
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After walking some time in this way,
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the two ladies in front,
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the two gentlemen behind,
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on resuming their places,
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after descending to the brink of the river for the better inspection of some curious water-plant,
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there chanced to be a little alteration.
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It originated in Mrs. Gardiner,
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who,
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fatigued by the exercise of the morning,
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found Elizabeth’s arm inadequate to her support,
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and consequently preferred her husband’s.
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Mr. Darcy took her place by her niece,
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and they walked on together.
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After a short silence,
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the lady first spoke.
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She wished him to know that she had been assured of his absence before she came to the place,
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and accordingly began by observing,
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that his arrival had been very unexpected—“for your housekeeper,”
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she added,
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“informed us that you would certainly not be here till to-morrow;
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and indeed,
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before we left Bakewell,
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we understood that you were not immediately expected in the country.”
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He acknowledged the truth of it all,
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and said that business with his steward had occasioned his coming forward a few hours before the rest of the party with whom he had been travelling.
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“They will join me early to-morrow,”
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he continued,
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“and among them are some who will claim an acquaintance with you—Mr. Bingley and his sisters.”
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