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, . 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 large number of ladies; but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing that, instead of twelve, he had 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 oldest, and another young man.

　　盡管班納特太太有了五個(gè)女兒幫腔，向她丈夫問(wèn)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(duì)付他赤裸裸的問(wèn)句，巧妙的設(shè)想，離題很遠(yuǎn)的猜測(cè)，什么辦法都用到了；可是他并沒有上她們的圈套。最后她們迫不得已，只得聽取鄰居盧卡斯太太的間接消息。她的報(bào)道全是好話。據(jù)說(shuō)威廉爵士很喜歡他。他非常年輕，長(zhǎng)得特別漂亮，為人又極其謙和，最重要的一點(diǎn)是，他打算請(qǐng)一大群客人來(lái)參加下次的舞會(huì)。這真是再好也沒有的事；喜歡跳舞是談情說(shuō)愛的一個(gè)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(gè)女兒在尼日斐花園幸福地安了家，”班納特太太對(duì)她的丈夫說(shuō)，“看到其他幾個(gè)也匹配得這樣門當(dāng)戶對(duì)，此生就沒有別的奢望了?！?/p>

　　不到幾天功夫，彬格萊先生上門回拜班納特先生，在他的書房里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(yùn)，他們利用樓上的窗口，看清了他穿的是藍(lán)外套，騎的是一匹黑馬。

　　班府上不久就發(fā)請(qǐng)貼請(qǐng)他吃飯；班納特太太已經(jīng)計(jì)劃了好幾道菜，每道菜都足以增加她的體面，說(shuō)明她是個(gè)會(huì)當(dāng)家的賢主婦，可是事不湊巧，彬格萊先生第二天非進(jìn)城不可，他們這一番盛意叫他無(wú)法領(lǐng)情，因此回信給他們，說(shuō)是要遲一遲再說(shuō)。班納特太太大為不安。她想，此人剛來(lái)到哈福德郡，怎么就要進(jìn)城有事，于是她開始擔(dān)心思了；照理他應(yīng)該在尼日斐花園安安定定住下來(lái)，看現(xiàn)在的情形，莫不是他經(jīng)常都得這樣?xùn)|漂西泊，行蹤不定？虧得盧卡斯太太對(duì)她說(shuō)，可能他是到倫敦去邀請(qǐng)那一大群客人來(lái)參加舞會(huì)，這才使她稍許減除了一些顧慮。外面馬上就紛紛傳說(shuō)彬格萊先生并沒有帶來(lái)十二個(gè)女賓，僅僅只帶來(lái)六個(gè)，其中五個(gè)是他自己的姐妹，一個(gè)是表姐妹，這個(gè)消息才使小姐們放了心。后來(lái)等到這群貴客走進(jìn)舞場(chǎng)的時(shí)候，卻一共只有五個(gè)人--彬格萊先生，他的兩個(gè)姐妹，姐夫，還有另外一個(gè)青年。

　　Mr. Bingley was good looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. 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 every body 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 overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes to press his friend to join it.

　　彬格萊先生儀表堂堂，大有紳士風(fēng)度，而且和顏悅色，沒有拘泥做作的氣習(xí)。他的姐妹也都是些優(yōu)美的女性，態(tài)度落落大方。他的姐夫赫斯脫只不過(guò)像個(gè)普通紳士，不大引人注目，但是他的朋友達(dá)西卻立刻引起全場(chǎng)的注意，因?yàn)樗聿目齻?，眉清目秀，舉止高貴，于是他進(jìn)場(chǎng)不到五分鐘，大家都紛紛傳說(shuō)他每年有一萬(wàn)磅的收入。男賓們都稱贊他的一表人才，女賓們都說(shuō)他比彬格萊先生漂亮得多。人們差不多有半個(gè)晚上都帶著愛慕的目光看著他。最后人們才發(fā)現(xiàn)他為人驕傲，看不起人，巴結(jié)不上他，因此對(duì)他起了厭惡的感覺，他那眾望所歸的極盛一時(shí)的場(chǎng)面才黯然失色。他既然擺起那么一副討人嫌惹人厭的面貌，那么，不管他在德比郡有多大的財(cái)產(chǎn)，也挽救不了他，況且和他的朋友比起來(lái)，他更沒有什么大不了。

　　彬格萊先生很快就熟悉了全場(chǎng)所有的主要人物。他生氣勃勃，為人又不拘泥，每一場(chǎng)舞都可以少不了要跳。使他氣惱的是，舞會(huì)怎么散場(chǎng)得這樣早。他又談起他自己要在尼日斐花園開一次舞會(huì)。他這些可愛的地方自然會(huì)引起人家對(duì)他發(fā)生好感。他跟他的朋友是多么顯著的對(duì)照啊!達(dá)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(nèi)踱來(lái)踱去，偶而找他自己人談?wù)?，人家要介紹他跟別的小姐跳舞，他怎么也不肯。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(lái)。其中對(duì)他反感最厲害的是班納特太太，她對(duì)他的整個(gè)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?yàn)樗米锪怂囊粋€(gè)女兒。

　　由于男賓少，伊麗莎白·班納特有兩場(chǎng)舞都不得不空坐。達(dá)西先生當(dāng)時(shí)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(gè)人談話給她聽到了。

　　"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 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; and 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."

　　“來(lái)吧，達(dá)西，”彬格萊說(shuō)，“我一定要你跳。我不愿看到你獨(dú)個(gè)兒這么傻里傻氣地站在這兒。還是去跳舞吧?！?/p>

　　“我絕對(duì)不跳。你知道我一向多么討厭跳舞，除非跟特別熟的人跳。在這樣的舞會(huì)上跳舞，簡(jiǎn)直叫人受不了。你的姐妹們都在跟別人跳，要是叫舞場(chǎng)里別的女人跟我跳，沒有一個(gè)不叫我活受罪的?！?/p>

　　“我可不愿意象你那樣挑肥揀瘦，”彬格萊嚷道，“隨便怎么我也不愿意；不瞞你說(shuō)，我生平?jīng)]有見過(guò)今天晚上這么許多可愛的姑娘；你瞧，其中幾位真是美貌絕倫?！?/p>

　　“你當(dāng)然羅，舞場(chǎng)上唯一的一位漂亮姑娘在跟你跳舞！”達(dá)西先生說(shuō)，一面望著班府上年紀(jì)最大的一位小姐。

　　“噢！我從來(lái)沒有見過(guò)這么美麗的一個(gè)尤物！可是她的一個(gè)妹妹就坐在你后面，她也很漂亮，而且我敢說(shuō)，她也很討人愛。讓我來(lái)請(qǐng)我的舞伴給你們介紹一下吧?！?/p>

　　“你說(shuō)的是哪一位？”他轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身來(lái)，朝著伊麗莎白望了一會(huì)兒，等她也看見了他，他才收回自己的目光，冷冷的說(shuō)：“她還可以，但還沒有漂亮到打動(dòng)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(shí)間浪費(fèi)在我的身上?！?/p>

　　Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings towards him. She told the story however with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in any thing 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 to be never 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 event of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations. He had rather hoped that all his wife's views on the stranger would be disappointed; but he soon found that he had a very 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. Every body 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 enquired 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. Oh! that he had sprained his ancle in the first dance!"

　　彬格萊先生依了達(dá)西先生的話走開以后，達(dá)西自己也走開了。伊麗莎白依舊坐在那里，對(duì)達(dá)西先生委實(shí)沒有甚好感。不過(guò)她卻滿有興致地把這段偷聽到的話去講給她的朋友聽，因?yàn)樗膫€(gè)性活潑調(diào)皮，遇到任何可笑的事情都會(huì)感到興趣。

　　班府上全家上這一個(gè)晚上大致都過(guò)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(duì)她另眼相看。班太太看到尼日斐花園的一家人都這么喜愛她的大女兒，覺得非常得意。吉英跟她母親一樣得意，只不過(guò)沒有象她母親那樣聲張。伊麗莎白也為吉英快活。曼麗曾聽到人們?cè)诒蚋袢R小姐面前提到她自己，說(shuō)她是鄰近一帶最有才干的姑娘；咖苔琳和麗迪雅運(yùn)氣最好，沒有那一場(chǎng)舞缺少舞伴，這是她們每逢開舞會(huì)時(shí)唯一關(guān)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(gè)村子里的旺族），看見班納特先生還沒有睡覺。且說(shuō)這位先生平常只要捧上一本書，就忘了時(shí)間，可是這次他沒有睡覺，卻是因?yàn)樗麡O想知道大家朝思暮想的這一盛會(huì)，經(jīng)過(guò)情形究竟如何。他滿以為他太太對(duì)那位貴客一定很失望，但是，他立刻就發(fā)覺事實(shí)并非如此。

　　“噢！我的好老爺，”她一走進(jìn)房間就這么說(shuō)，“我們這一個(gè)晚上過(guò)得太快活了，舞會(huì)太好了。你沒有去真可惜。吉英那么吃香，簡(jiǎn)直是無(wú)法形容。什么人都說(shuō)她長(zhǎng)得好；彬格萊先生認(rèn)為她很美，跟她跳了兩場(chǎng)舞！你光想想這一點(diǎn)看吧，親愛的；他確實(shí)跟她跳了兩場(chǎng)！全場(chǎng)那么多女賓，就只有她一個(gè)人蒙受了他兩次邀請(qǐng)。他頭一場(chǎng)舞是邀請(qǐng)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(guò)，他對(duì)她根本沒意思，其實(shí)，什么人也不會(huì)對(duì)她有意思；當(dāng)吉英走下舞池的時(shí)候，他可就顯得非常著迷了。他立刻打聽她的姓名，請(qǐng)人介紹，然后邀她跳下一場(chǎng)舞。他第三場(chǎng)舞是跟金小姐跳的，第四場(chǎng)跟瑪麗雅·盧卡斯跳，第五場(chǎng)又跟吉英跳，第六場(chǎng)是跟麗萃跳，還有‘布朗謝’?！?/p>

　　“要是他稍許體諒我一點(diǎn)，”她的丈夫不耐煩地叫起來(lái)了，“他就不會(huì)跳這么多，一半也不會(huì)！天哪，不要提他那些舞伴了吧。噢！但愿他頭一場(chǎng)舞就跳得腳踝扭了筋！”

　　"Oh! my dear," continued Mrs. Bennet, "I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! and his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw any thing 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."

　　“噢！親愛的，”班納特太太接下去說(shuō)，“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?jīng)]有看見過(guò)任何東西比她們的衣飾更講究。我敢說(shuō)，赫斯脫太太衣服上的花邊——”說(shuō)到這里又給岔斷了。

　　班納特先生不愿意聽人談到衣飾。她因此不得不另找話題，于是就談到達(dá)西先生那不可一世的傲慢無(wú)禮的態(tài)度，她的措辭辛辣刻薄，而又帶幾分夸張。

　　“不過(guò)我可以告訴你，”她補(bǔ)充道，“麗萃不中他的意，這對(duì)麗萃并沒有什么可惜，因?yàn)樗莻€(gè)最討厭、最可惡的人不值得去奉承他。那么高傲，那么自大，叫人不可容忍!他一會(huì)兒走到這里，一會(huì)兒走到那里，把自己看得那么了不起！還要嫌人家不夠漂亮，配不上跟他跳舞呢！要是你在場(chǎng)的話，你就可以好好地教訓(xùn)他一頓。我厭惡透了那個(gè)人?！?/p>

（來(lái)源：網(wǎng)絡(luò) 編輯：丹妮）