按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
‘But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that
neighbourhood； and take Pemberley for a kind of model。 There is
not a finer county in England than Derbyshire。’
‘With all my heart； I will buy Pemberley itself if Darcy will sell
it。’
‘I am talking of possibilities； Charles。’
‘Upon my word； Caroline； I should think it more possible to get
Pemberley by purchase than by imitation。’
Elizabeth was so much caught by what passed； as to leave her
very little attention for her book； and soon laying it wholly aside；
she drew near the card…table； and stationed herself between Mr。
Bingley and his eldest sister； to observe the game。
‘Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring？’ said Miss Bingley；
‘will she be as tall as I am？’
‘I think she will。 She is now about Miss Elizabeth Bennet’s
height； or rather taller。’
‘How I long to see her again！ I never met with anybody who
delighted me so much。 Such a countenance； such manners！ and so
extremely accomplished for her age！ Her performance on the
pianoforté is exquisite。’
‘It is amazing to me；’ said Bingley； ‘how young ladies can have
patience to be so very accomplished； as they all are。
‘All young ladies accomplished！ My dear Charles； what do you
mean？’
‘Yes； all of them； I think。 They all paint tables； cover skreens and
net purses。 I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this； and I
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 48…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 48
am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time；
without being informed that she was very accomplished。’
‘Your list of the common extent of accomplishments；’ said
Darcy； ‘has too much truth。 The word is applied to many a woman
who deserves it no otherwise than by netting a purse； or covering a
skreen。 But I am very far from agreeing with you in your
estimation of ladies in general。 I cannot boast of knowing more
than half a dozen； in the whole range of my acquaintance； that are
really accomplished。’
‘Nor I； I am sure；’ said Miss Bingley。
‘Then；’ observed Elizabeth； ‘you must comprehend a great deal
in your idea of an accomplished women。’
‘Yes； I do comprehend a great deal in it。’
‘Oh！ certainly；’ cried his faithful assistant； ‘no one can be really
esteemed accomplished； who does not greatly surpass what is
usually met with。 A woman must have a thorough knowledge of
music； singing； drawing； dancing； and the modern languages； to
deserve the word； and besides all this； she must possess a certain
something in her air and manner of walking； the tone of her voice；
her address and expressions； or the word will be but half
deserved。’
‘All this she must possess；’ added Darcy； ‘and to all this she must
yet add something more substantial； in the improvement of her
mind by extensive reading。’
‘I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished
women。 I rather wonder now at your knowing any。’
‘Are you so severe upon your own sex； as to doubt the possibility
of all this？’
‘I never saw such a woman。 I never saw such capacity； and taste；
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 49…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 49
and application； and elegance； as you describe； united。’
Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the injustice
of her implied doubt； and were both protesting that they knew
many women who answered this description； when Mr。 Hurst
called them to order； with bitter complaints of their inattention to
what was going forward。 As all conversation was thereby at an end；
Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room。
‘Eliza Bennet；’ said Miss Bingley； when the door was closed on
her； ‘is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend
themselves to the other sex； by undervaluing their own； and with
many men； I dare say； it succeeds。 But； in my opinion； it is a paltry
device； a very mean art。’
‘Undoubtedly；’ replied Darcy； to whom this remark was chiefly
addressed； ‘there is meanness in all the arts which ladies
sometimes condescend to employ for captivation。 Whatever bears
affinity to cunning is despicable。’
Miss Bingley was not so entirely satisfied with this reply as to
continue the subject。
Elizabeth joined them again only to say that her sister was
worse； and that she could not leave her。 Bingley urged Mr。 Jones’s
being sent for immediately； while his sisters； convinced that no
country advice could be of any service； recommended an express
to town for one of the most eminent physicians。 This； she would
not hear of； but she was not so unwilling to comply with their
brother’s proposal； and it was settled that Mr。 Jones should be sent
for early in the morning； if Miss Bennet were not decidedly better。
Bingley was quite uncomfortable； his sisters declared that they
were miserable。 They solaced their wretchedness； however； by
duets after supper； while he could find no better relief to his
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 50…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 50
feelings than by giving his housekeeper directions that every
possible attention might be paid to the sick lady and her sister。
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 51…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 51
CHAPTER IX
lizabeth passed the chief of the night in her sister’s room；
and in the morning had the pleasure of being able to send
E
a tolerable answer to the enquiries which she very early
received from Mr。 Bingley by a housemaid； and some time
afterwards from the two elegant ladies who waited on his sisters。
In spite of this amendment； however； she requested to have a note
sent to Longbourn； desiring her mother to visit Jane； and form her
own judgment of her situation。 The note was immediately
dispatched； and its contents as quickly complied with。 Mrs。
Bennet； accompanied by her two youngest girls； reached
Netherfield soon after the family breakfast。
Had she found Jane in any apparent danger； Mrs。 Bennet would
have been very miserable； but being satisfied on seeing her that
her illness was not alarming； she had no wish of her recovering
immediately； as her restoration to health would probably remove
her from Netherfield。 She would not listen therefore to her
daughter’s proposal of being carried home； neither did the
apothecary； who arrived about the same time； think it at all
advisable。 After sitting a little while with Jane； on Miss Bingley’s
appearance and invitation； the mother and three daughters all
attended her into the breakfast parlour。 Bingley met them with
hopes that Mrs。 Bennet had not found Miss Bennet worse than she
expected。
‘Indeed I have； Sir；’ was her answer。 ‘She is a great deal too ill to
be moved。 Mr。 Jones says we must not think of moving her。 We
Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
… Page 52…
Jane Austen： Pride and Prejudice 52
must trespass a little longer on your kindness。’
‘Removed！’ cried Bingley。 ‘It must not be thought of。 My sister； I
am sure； will not hear of her removal。’
‘You may depend upon it； Madam；’ said Miss Bingley； with cold
civility； ‘that Miss Bennet shall receive every possible attention
while she remains with us。’