Pride and Prejudice / Гордость и предубеждение. Джейн Остин

nd she told me all about it.”

      Mr. Bennet made no answer.

      “Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.

      “You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

      “Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately. He is taking possession before Michaelmas[3], and some of his servants are going to be in the house by the end of next week.”

      “What is his name?”

      “Bingley.”

      “Is he married or single?”

      “Oh! Single, my dear! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!”

      “How so? How can it affect them?”

      “My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.”

      “Is that his design?”

      “Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”

      “I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.”

      “My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had some beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to stop thinking of her own beauty.”

      “In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”

      “But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.

      Consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. It will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not.”

      “You are over-scrupulous, surely. Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word[4] for my little Lizzy.”

      “I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.”

      “They are all silly and ignorant like other girls,” replied he, “but Lizzy has something more of quickness[5] than her sisters.”

      “Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.”

      “You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.”

      Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick mind, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice[6], that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to interpret. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

      Chapter 2

      Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who visited Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last[7] always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter busy decorating a hat, he suddenly addressed her with:

      “I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”

      “We cannot know what Mr. Bingley likes,” said her mother resentfully, “since we are not to visit.”

      “But you forget, mamma,” said Elizabeth, “that we will meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him.”

      “I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion[8] of her.”

      “No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her help.”

      Mrs. Bennet did not make any reply, but, unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

      “Don't keep coughing so, Kitty! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.”

      “Kitty has no discretion in her coughs; she times them ill,”[9] said her father.

      “I do not cough for my own amusement,” replied Kitty irritably. “When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?”

      “In two weeks.”

      “Oh, so it is,” cried her mother, “and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.”

      “Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.”

      “Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing? I am sick of Mr. Bingley now,” cried his wife.

      “I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.”

      The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished. But when the first tumult of joy was over, Mrs. Bennet began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while.

      “My dear Mr. Bennet! I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! And it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now.”

      “Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose,” said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the delights of his wife.

      “What an excellent father you have, girls!” said she, when the door was shut. “Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.”

      “Oh!” said Lydia resolutely, “I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest.”

      The rest of the evening was spent in guessing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner.

      Chapter 3

      Neither Mrs. Bennet nor her five daughters could draw from Mr. Bennet any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. At last they had to accept the second-hand information of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Her husband – Sir William – had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and, to crown the whole,[10] he was going to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.

      “If I can only see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I will have nothing to wish for.”

      In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library.

      An

3

Михайлов день (29 сентября), начало очередного квартала, когда в Англии производят оплаты.

4

замолвить словечко

5

(зд.) острота ума

6

(зд.) чудачество

7

до последнего момента

8

я невысокого мнения о ней

9

Китти совершенно не учитывает, когда лучше кашлять – она выбирает для этого неподходящее время.

10

в довершение всего