Читать книгу Pride and Prejudice. Адаптированная книга для чтения на английском языке. Intermediate - Джейн Остин, Сет Грэм-Смит - Страница 2

Mr. Bennet paid a visit to Mr. Bingley in the morning, but he didn't say anything about it to his wife. He had always intended to visit him, but till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. In the evening Lizzy, his second daughter, was trimming a hat, and he suddenly said:

«I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy».

«We won't be able to know what Mr. Bingley likes», said her mother angrily, «since we are not to visit».

«But you forget, mamma», said Elizabeth, «that we'll meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him».

«Mrs. Long has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I do not believe her», her mother said.

Mr. Bennet agreed with her. But Mrs. Bennet was so annoyed that she began scolding one of her daughters.

«Stop coughing so, Kitty, for Heaven's sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves».

«I do not amuse myself by coughing», replied Kitty uneasily. «When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?»

«In a fortnight».

«But Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before the ball», cried her mother, «so she won't be able to introduce him: she will not know him herself».

«Then, my dear», her husband said, «you will introduce your friend to Mr. Bingley».

«It's impossible, Mr. Bennet. I am not acquainted with him myself».

«A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But Mrs. Long and her nieces must have their chance; and, therefore, if you don't do it, I will take it on myself».

The girls stared at their father. Mrs. Bennet said only «Nonsense, nonsense!»

«I cannot quite agree with you there», he said. «Do you consider the forms of introduction as nonsense? What will you say, Mary? You are a young lady of deep thought, I know, and read great books».

Mary wished to say something sensible, but knew not how.

«While Mary is thinking what to say», he continued, «let us return to Mr. Bingley».

«I am sick of Mr. Bingley», exclaimed his wife.

«I'm sorry. If I had known that this morning, I certainly would not have visited him», her husband said. «But I have paid the visit, so we cannot escape the acquaintance now».

The ladies were surprised as much as he wished; Mrs. Bennet most of all; though soon she said that she had expected it all the time.

«My dear Mr. Bennet, I knew you loved your girls so much! Well, how pleased I am!»

«Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you want», said Mr. Bennet. And he left the room, tired of his wife's joyful exclamations.

«You have a wonderful father, girls!» said she, when the door was closed. «I do not know how you will ever repay him for his kindness; or me, either. At our age it is not so pleasant to be making new acquaintances every day; but for your sakes, we would do anything. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I'm sure Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball».

«Oh!» said Lydia confidently, «I am not afraid. Though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest».

How soon Mr. Bingley would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and when they should ask him to dinner were the most important subjects of the ladies' evening conversation.