第 3 章
儘管班納特太太有了五個女兒幫腔，向她丈夫問起彬格萊先生這樣那樣，可是丈夫的回答總不能叫她滿意。母女們想盡辦法對付他――赤裸裸的問句，巧妙的設想，離題很遠的猜測，什麼辦法都用到了；可是他並沒有上她們的圈套。最後她們迫不得已，只得聽取鄰居盧卡斯太太的間接消息。她的報導全是好話。據說威廉爵士很喜歡他。他非常年輕，長得特別漂亮，為人又極其謙和，最重要的一點是，他打算請一大群客人來參加下次的舞會。這真是再好也沒有的事；喜歡跳舞是談情說愛的一個步驟；大家都熱烈地希望去獲得彬格萊先生的那顆心。
”我只要能看到一個女兒在尼日斐花園幸福地安了家，”班納特太太對她的丈夫說，”看到其他幾個也匹配得這樣門當戶對，此生就沒有別的奢望了。”
不到幾天功夫，彬格萊先生上門回拜班納特先生，在他的書房裏跟他盤桓了十分鐘左右。他久仰班納特先生幾位小姐的年輕美貌，很希望能夠見見她們；但是他只見到了她們的父親。倒是小姐們比他幸運，他們利用樓上的視窗，看清了他穿的是藍外套，騎的是一匹黑馬。
班府上不久就發請貼請他吃飯；班納特太太已經計畫了好幾道菜，每道菜都足以增加她的體面，說明她是個會當家的賢主婦，可是事不湊巧，彬格萊先生第二天非進城不可，他們這一番盛意叫他無法領情，因此回信給他們，說是要遲一遲再說。班納特太太大為不安。她想，此人剛來到哈福德郡，怎麼就要進城有事，於是她開始擔心思了；照理他應該在尼日斐花園安安定定住下來，看現在的情形，莫不是他經常都得這樣東漂西泊，行蹤不定？虧得盧卡斯太太對她說，可能他是到倫敦去邀請那一大群客人來參加舞會，這才使她稍許減除了一些顧慮。外面馬上就紛紛傳說彬格萊先生並沒有帶來十二個女賓，僅僅只帶來六個，其中五個是他自己的姐妹，一個是表姐妹，這個消息才使小姐們放了心。後來等到這群貴客走進舞場的時候，卻一共只有五個人――彬格萊先生，他的兩個姐妹，姐夫，還有另外一個青年。
彬格萊先生儀錶堂堂，大有紳士風度，而且和顏悅色，沒有拘泥做作的氣習。他的姐妹也都是些優美的女性，態度落落大方。他的姐夫赫斯脫只不過像個普通紳士，不大引人注目，但是他的朋友達西卻立刻引起全場的注意，因為他身材魁偉，眉清目秀，舉止高貴，於是他進場不到五分鐘，大家都紛紛傳說他每年有一萬磅的收入。男賓們都稱讚他的一表人才，女賓們都說他比彬格萊先生漂亮得多。人們差不多有半個晚上都帶著愛慕的目光看著他。最後人們才發現他為人驕傲，看不起人，巴結不上他，因此對他起了厭惡的感覺，他那眾望所歸的極盛一時的場面才黯然失色。他既然擺起那麼一副討人嫌惹人厭的面貌，那麼，不管他在德比郡有多大的財產，也挽救不了他，況且和他的朋友比起來，他更沒有什麼大不了。
彬格萊先生很快就熟悉了全場所有的主要人物。他生氣勃勃，為人又不拘泥，每一場舞都可以少不了要跳。使他氣惱的是，舞會怎麼散場得這樣早。他又談起他自己要在尼日斐花園開一次舞會。他這些可愛的地方自然會引起人家對他發生好感。他跟他的朋友是多麼顯著的對照啊！達西先生只跟赫斯脫太太跳了一次舞，跟彬格萊小姐跳了一次舞，此外就在室內踱來踱去，偶而找他自己人談談，人家要介紹他跟別的小姐跳舞，他怎麼也不肯。大家都斷定他是世界上最驕傲，最討人厭的人，希望他不要再來。其中對他反感最厲害的是班納特太太，她對他的整個舉止都感到討厭，而且這種討厭竟變本加厲，形成了一種特殊的氣憤，因為他得罪了他的一個女兒。
由於男賓少，伊莉莎白班納特有兩場舞都不得不空坐。達西先生當時曾一度站在她的身旁，彬格萊先生特地歇了幾分鐘沒有跳舞，走到他這位朋友跟前，硬要他去跳，兩個人談話給她聽到了。
”來吧，達西，”彬格萊說，”我一定要你跳。我不願看到你獨個兒這麼傻裏傻氣地站在這兒。還是去跳舞吧。”
”我絕對不跳。你知道我一向多麼討厭跳舞，除非跟特別熟的人跳。在這樣的舞會上跳舞，簡直叫人受不了。你的姐妹們都在跟別人跳，要是叫舞場裏別的女人跟我跳，沒有一個不叫我活受罪的。”
”我可不願意象你那樣挑肥揀瘦，”彬格萊嚷道，”隨便怎麼我也不願意；不瞞你說，我生平沒有見過今天晚上這麼許多可愛的姑娘；你瞧，其中幾位真是美貌絕倫。”
”你當然羅，舞場上唯一的一位漂亮姑娘在跟你跳舞！”達西先生說，一面望著班府上年紀最大的一位小姐。
”噢！我從來沒有見過這麼美麗的一個尤物！可是她的一個妹妹就坐在你後面，她也很漂亮，而且我敢說，她也很討人愛。讓我來請我的舞伴給你們介紹一下吧。”
”你說的是哪一位？”他轉過身來，朝著伊莉莎白望了一會兒，等她也看見了他，他才收回自己的目光，冷冷的說：”她還可以，但還沒有漂亮到打動我的心，眼前我可沒有興趣去抬舉那些受到別人冷眼看待的小姐。你還是回到你的舞伴身邊去欣賞她的笑臉吧，犯不著把時間浪費在我的身上。”
彬格萊先生依了達西先生的話走開以後，達西自己也走開了。伊莉莎白依舊坐在那裏，對達西先生委實沒有甚好感。不過她卻滿有興致地把這段偷聽到的話去講給她的朋友聽，因為她的個性活潑調皮，遇到任何可笑的事情都會感到興趣。
班府上全家上這一個晚上大致都過得很高興。大小姐蒙彬格萊先生邀她跳了兩次舞，而且這位貴人的姐妹們都對她另眼相看。班太太看到尼日斐花園的一家人都這麼喜愛她的大女兒，覺得非常得意。吉英跟她母親一樣得意，只不過沒有象她母親那樣聲張。伊莉莎白也為吉英快活。曼麗曾聽到人們在彬格萊小姐面前提到她自己，說她是鄰近一帶最有才幹的姑娘；咖苔琳和麗迪雅運氣最好，沒有那一場舞缺少舞伴，這是她們每逢開舞會時唯一關心的一件事。母女們高高興興地回到她們所住的浪搏恩村（她們算是這個村子裏的旺族），看見班納特先生還沒有睡覺。且說這位先生平常只要捧上一本書，就忘了時間，可是這次他沒有睡覺，卻是因為他極想知道大家朝思暮想的這一盛會，經過情形究竟如何。他滿以為他太太對那位貴客一定很失望，但是，他立刻就發覺事實並非如此。”噢！我的好老爺，”她一走進房間就這麼說，”我們這一個晚上過得太快活了，舞會太好了。你沒有去真可惜。吉英那麼吃香，簡直是無法形容。什麼人都說她長得好；彬格萊先生認為她很美，跟她跳了兩場舞！你光想想這一點看吧，親愛的；他確實跟她跳了兩場！全場那麼多女賓，就只有她一個人蒙受了他兩次邀請。他頭一場舞是邀請盧卡斯小姐跳的。我看到他站到她身邊去，不禁有些氣惱！不過，他對她根本沒意思，其實，什麼人也不會對她有意思；當吉英走下舞池的時候，他可就顯得非常著迷了。他立刻打聽她的姓名，請人介紹，然後邀她跳下一場舞。他第三場舞是跟金小姐跳的，第四場跟瑪麗雅盧卡斯跳，第五場又跟吉英跳，第六場是跟麗萃跳，還有’布朗謝’。”
”要是他稍許體諒我一點，”她的丈夫不耐煩地叫起來了，”他就不會跳這麼多，一半也不會！天哪，不要提他那些舞伴了吧。噢！但願他頭一場舞就跳得腳踝扭了筋！”
”噢！親愛的，”班納特太太接下去說，”我非常喜歡他。他真太漂亮啦！他的姐妹們也都很討人喜歡。我生平沒有看見過任何東西比她們的衣飾更講究。我敢說，赫斯脫太太衣服上的花邊－－”說到這裏又給岔斷了。
班納特先生不願意聽人談到衣飾。她因此不得不另找話題，於是就談到達西先生那不可一世的傲慢無禮的態度，她的措辭辛辣刻薄，而又帶幾分誇張。
”不過我可以告訴你，”她補充道，”麗萃不中他的意，這對麗萃並沒有什麼可惜，因為他是個最討厭、最可惡的人不值得去奉承他。那麼高傲，那麼自大，叫人不可容忍！他一會兒走到這裏，一會兒走到那裏，把自己看得那麼了不起！還要嫌人家不夠漂亮，配不上跟他跳舞呢！要是你在場的話，你就可以好好地教訓他一頓。我厭惡透了那個人。”
Chapter 3
Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him in various ways–with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all, and they were at last obliged to accept the second-hand intelligence of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Sir William had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and, to crown the whole, he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love; and very lively hopes of Mr. Bingley’s heart were entertained.
“If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.”
In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet’s visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library. He had entertained hopes of being admitted to a sight of the young ladies, of whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father. The ladies were somewhat more fortunate, for they had the advantage of ascertaining from an upper window that he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse.
An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards dispatched; and already had Mrs. Bennet planned the courses that were to do credit to her housekeeping, when an answer arrived which deferred it all. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite disconcerted. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little by starting the idea of his being gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only six with him from London–his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five altogether–Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.
Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.
Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour was sharpened into particular resentment by his having slighted one of her daughters.
Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it.
“Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.”
“I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”
“I would not be so fastidious as you are,” cried Mr. Bingley, “for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty.”
“YOU are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.
“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.”
“Which do you mean?” and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said: “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt ME; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”
Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.
The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane’s pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough never to be without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. With a book he was regardless of time; and on the present occasion he had a good deal of curiosity as to the events of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that his wife’s views on the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found out that he had a different story to hear.
“Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a most delightful evening, a most excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice! Only think of THAT, my dear; he actually danced with her twice! and she was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her! But, however, he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody can, you know; and he seemed quite struck with Jane as she was going down the dance. So he inquired who she was, and got introduced, and asked her for the two next. Then the two third he danced with Miss King, and the two fourth with Maria Lucas, and the two fifth with Jane again, and the two sixth with Lizzy, and the BOULANGER–”
“If he had had any compassion for ME,” cried her husband impatiently, “he would not have danced half so much! For God’s sake, say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained his ankle in the first place!”
“Oh! my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. I dare say the lace upon Mrs. Hurst’s gown–”
Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any description of finery. She was therefore obliged to seek another branch of the subject, and related, with much bitterness of spirit and some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy.
“But I can assure you,” she added, “that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting HIS fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man.”
