Читать книгу Pride and Prejudice. Адаптированная книга для чтения на английском языке. Intermediate - Джейн Остин, Сет Грэм-Смит - Страница 16

The next day, Elizabeth told Jane about her conversation with Mr. Wickham. Jane was astonished and worried; it was difficult for her to believe that Mr. Darcy could be so unworthy of Mr. Bingley's respect; and yet, it was not in her nature to question the honesty of a young man of such pleasant appearance as Wickham.

«They have both», said she, «been deceived, perhaps, in some way or other, of which we can form no idea. Interested people have perhaps misrepresented each to the other. It is, in short, impossible for us to guess the causes or circumstances which had set them against each other, without factual blame on either side».

«Very true, indeed; and now, my dear Jane, what have you got to say about those interested people? Defend them too, or we shall be obliged to think badly of somebody».

«Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of my opinion. My dearest Lizzy, just think in what shameful light it places Mr. Darcy, to be treating his father's favourite in such a manner, one whom his father had promised to provide for. It is impossible. No respectable man, no man who cared for his good reputation, could be capable of it. Can his most intimate friends be so greatly deceived in him? Oh, no!»

«I can much more easily believe that this friendship has been imposed on Mr. Bingley, than that Mr. Wickham has invented such history of himself as he gave me last night; names, facts, everything. If it is not so, let Mr. Darcy contradict it. Besides, there was truth in his looks».

«It is difficult indeed, it is upsetting. One does not know what to think».

«I beg your pardon; one knows exactly what to think».

The sisters were called from the shrubbery, where this conversation passed, by the arrival of the very persons of whom they had been speaking; Mr. Bingley and his sisters came to give their personal invitation for the long-expected ball at Netherfield, which was fixed for the following Tuesday. Mr. Bingley's sisters were delighted to see their dear friend Jane again, called it an age since they had met, and repeatedly asked what she had been doing with herself since their separation. To the rest of the family they paid little attention, avoiding Mrs. Bennet as much as possible, saying not much to Elizabeth, and nothing at all to the others. They soon hurried to leave Longbourn as if eager to escape from Mrs. Bennet's polite exclamations.

The prospect of the Netherfield ball was extremely pleasant to every female of the family. Mrs. Bennet was flattered by receiving the invitation from Mr. Bingley himself, instead of a ceremonious card. Jane pictured to herself a happy evening in the society of her two friends, and the attentions of their brother; and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham, and of seeing a confirmation of everything in Mr. Darcy's behaviour. Though Catherine and Lydia, like Elizabeth, meant to dance half the evening with Mr. Wickham, he was by no means the only partner who could satisfy them. And even Mary could assure her family that she hadn't anything against a ball.

«While I can have my mornings to myself», said she, «I think it is no sacrifice to join occasionally in evening amusements».

Mr. Collins surprised Elizabeth when he said that he saw nothing improper in his joining in the evening's amusement.

«I am by no means of the opinion, I assure you», said he, «that a ball of this kind, given by a young man of good reputation, to respectable people, can have any evil tendency; I am so far from objecting to dancing myself, that I will hope to be honoured with the hands of all my fair cousins in the course of the evening, and I take this opportunity of asking yours, Miss Elizabeth, for the two first dances especially».

Though Elizabeth hoped to be engaged by Mr. Wickham for those very dances, she saw now that Mr. Wickham's happiness and her own were perforce delayed a little longer, and accepted Mr. Collins's proposal with as good a grace as she could. His gallantry pleased her even less because of the suspicion that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being mistress of Hunsford Parsonage. The suspicion soon became conviction, as she noticed his increasing politeness toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity. She understood by her mother's behavior that their marriage would please her extremely. Elizabeth, however, did not choose to take the hint. Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him.