Читать книгу Pride and Prejudice / Гордость и предубеждение - Джейн Остин, Сет Грэм-Смит - Страница 27

On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend the Christmas at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. The two eldest had frequently been staying with her in town.

Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. Two of her girls had been upon the point of marriage, and after all there was nothing in it.

“I do not blame Jane,” she continued, “But Lizzy! Oh, sister! It is very hard to think that she might have been Mr. Collins’s wife by this time. Just think: Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, sister. It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else.”

Mrs. Gardiner, to whom this news had been given before, in the course of Jane and Elizabeth’s correspondence with her, made her sister a slight answer, and, in compassion to her nieces, turned the conversation.

When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on the subject. “These things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her. Say, how violent was Mr. Bingley’s love?”

“I never saw a more promising inclination. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies, by not asking them to dance; and I spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer.”

“Oh, yes! Poor Jane! I am sorry for her. But do you think she would join us to go back with us? Changes may help her – and perhaps a little relief from home may be useful.”

Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal.

“I hope,” added Mrs. Gardiner, “that she will not connect this journey with this young man. We live in a different part of town, all our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go out so little, that it is very improbable that they should meet at all, unless he really comes to see her.”

“And that is quite impossible, Mr. Darcy would not let him go alone! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Bingley never moves without him.”

“I hope they will not meet at all.”

Miss Bennet accepted her aunt’s invitation with pleasure.