Читать книгу Pride and Prejudice. Адаптированная книга для чтения на английском языке. Intermediate - Джейн Остин, Сет Грэм-Смит - Страница 17

Elizabeth was sure Mr. Wickham would be among the officers at Netherfield ball. She had dressed with more than usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unconquered of his heart. But she looked in vain for him among the group of red coats assembled in the drawing room at Netherfield. In an instant arose the suspicion that Mr. Wickham hadn't been included in the Bingleys' invitation to the officers for Mr. Darcy's pleasure. Though this was not exactly the case, his friend Denny confirmed the absolute fact of his absence when Lydia asked him. He told them that Wickham had to go to town on business the day before, and hadn't yet returned, adding, with a meaningful smile, «I do not imagine his business would have called him away just now, if he had not wanted to avoid a certain gentleman here».

On hearing this, Elizabeth felt that Darcy was no less answerable for Wickham's absence than if her first guess had been just, and every feeling of displeasure against Mr. Darcy was so sharpened by her disappointment, that she could hardly reply with tolerable politeness to the well-mannered questions which he soon afterwards approached to make. Attention, patience with Darcy was offence to Wickham. She was determined against any sort of conversation with him, and turned away with a degree of bad temper which she could not wholly win even in speaking to Mr. Bingley, whose blind affection for Darcy irritated her.

But Elizabeth was not formed for bad temper, and though her own plans for the evening were destroyed, she could not be low-spirited long. Having told all her sorrows to Charlotte Lucas, whom she had not seen for a week, she was soon able to draw her friend's attention to her cousin Mr. Collins and make witty remarks as to the oddities of the young man. The first two dances, however, brought a return of disappointment; they were dances of shame and misery. Mr. Collins was awkward and apologized instead of making right movements. The moment of her release from him was ecstasy.

She danced next with an officer, and had the refreshment of talking of Wickham, and of hearing that he was universally liked. When those dances were over, she returned to Charlotte Lucas, and was in conversation with her, when she found herself suddenly addressed by Mr. Darcy who took her so much by surprise asking her for the next dance, that, without knowing what she did, she accepted him. He walked away again immediately, and she was left to worry over her own absence of mind; Charlotte tried to console her:

«You may find him a very pleasant partner».

«Heaven forbid! That would be the greatest misfortune of all! To find a man pleasant whom one is determined to hate! Do not wish me such evil».

When the dancing began, however, and Darcy came up to claim her hand, Charlotte advised her in a whisper, not to be a fool, and allow her fancy for Wickham to make her appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man ten times his social importance. Elizabeth made no answer, and took her place on the dance floor, amazed at the status to which she was raised by being allowed to stand opposite to Mr. Darcy, and reading in her neighbours' eyes their equal amazement. They danced for some time without speaking a word, and at first she was determined not to break silence; then suddenly she was struck by the idea that it would be a greater punishment to her partner to make him talk, and she made some remark on the dance. He replied, and was again silent. After a pause of some minutes, she addressed him a second time with: «It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some sort of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples».

He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be said.

«Very well. That reply will do for the present. Perhaps after a while, I may say that private balls are much pleasanter than public ones. But now we may be silent».

«Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?»

«Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know. It would look odd to be silent for half an hour together; and yet for the advantage of some, conversation ought to be so organized, that they may have the trouble of saying as little as possible».

«Are you consulting your own feelings now, or do you imagine that you are satisfying mine?»

«Both», replied Elizabeth playfully. «I have always seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial, reserved nature, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to future generations with all the popularity of a proverb».

«This isn't very much like your own character, I am sure», said he. «How near it may be to mine, I cannot pretend to say. You think it a true portrait undoubtedly».

«I must not decide on my own behaviour».

He made no answer, and they were again silent for a while. Then he asked her whether she and her sisters often walked to Meryton. She answered in the affirmative, and, unable to resist the temptation, added, «When you met us there the other day, we had just been forming a new acquaintance».

The effect was immediate. His features became even more conceited, but he didn't say a word. At length Darcy spoke, and in a reserved manner said, «Mr. Wickham's happy manners help him to make friends easily; whether he may be equally capable of keeping them, is less certain».

«He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship», replied Elizabeth, «and in such manner that he is going to suffer from it all his life».

Darcy didn't say anything; it seemed he wanted to change the subject. At that moment, Sir William Lucas, passing to the other side of the room, came near them. He stopped with a polite bow to compliment Darcy on his dancing and his partner.

«Such very excellent dancing is not often seen, and I hope to have this pleasure often repeated, especially when a certain desirable event, my dear Eliza (looking at her sister and Bingley), takes place. What congratulations will then follow! But let me not interrupt you, Mr. Darcy, you will not thank me for stopping the enchanting conversation of that young lady, whose bright eyes are also displeased with me».