THE ladies of Longbourn soon waited on those of Netherfield. The visit was returned in due form. Miss Bennet's pleasing manners grew on the good will of Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and though the mother was found to be intolerable and the younger sisters not worth speaking to, a wish of being better acquainted with them was expressed towards the two eldest. By Jane this attention was received with the greatest pleasure; but Elizabeth still saw superciliousness in their treatment of every body, hardly excepting even her sister, and could not like them; though their kindness to Jane, such as it was, had a value, as arising in all probability from the influence of their brother's admiration. It was generally evident whenever they met, that he did admire her; and to her it was equally evident that Jane was yielding to the preference which she had begun to entertain for him from the first, and was in a way to be very much in love; but she considered with pleasure that it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united with great strength of feeling a composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner, which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent. She mentioned this to her friend Miss Lucas.
"It may perhaps be pleasant," replied Charlotte, "to be able to impose on the public in such a case; but it is sometimes a disadvantage to be so very guarded. If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him; and it will then be but poor consolation to believe the world equally in the dark. There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all begin freely -- a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better shew more affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on."
"But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton indeed not to discover it too."
"Remember, Eliza, that he does not know Jane's disposition as you do."
"But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, he must find it out."
"Perhaps he must, if he sees enough of her. But though Bingley and Jane meet tolerably often, it is never for many hours together; and as they always see each other in large mixed parties, it is impossible that every moment should be employed in conversing together. Jane should therefore make the most of every half hour in which she can command his attention. When she is secure of him, there will be leisure for falling in love as much as she chuses."
"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married; and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard, nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has since dined in company with him four times. This is not quite enough to make her understand his character."
"Not as you represent it. Had she merely dined with him, she might only have discovered whether he had a good appetite; but you must remember that four evenings have been also spent together -- and four evenings may do a great deal."
"Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded."
"Well," said Charlotte, "I wish Jane success with all my heart; and if she were married to him to-morrow, I should think she had as good a chance of happiness as if she were to be studying his character for a twelvemonth. Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance. If the dispositions of the parties are ever so well known to each other, or ever so similar before-hand, it does not advance their felicity in the least. They always contrive to grow sufficiently unlike afterwards to have their share of vexation; and it is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life."
"You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself."
Occupied in observing Mr. Bingley's attentions to her sister, Elizabeth was far from suspecting that she was herself becoming an object of some interest in the eyes of his friend. Mr. Darcy had at first scarcely allowed her to be pretty; he had looked at her without admiration at the ball; and when they next met, he looked at her only to criticise. But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she had hardly a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness. Of this she was perfectly unaware; -- to her he was only the man who made himself agreeable no where, and who had not thought her handsome enough to dance with.
He began to wish to know more of her, and as a step towards conversing with her himself, attended to her conversation with others. His doing so drew her notice. It was at Sir William Lucas's, where a large party were assembled. "What does Mr. Darcy mean," said she to Charlotte, "by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?"
"That is a question which Mr. Darcy only can answer."
"But if he does it any more, I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him."
On his approaching them soon afterwards, though without seeming to have any intention of speaking, Miss Lucas defied her friend to mention such a subject to him, which immediately provoking Elizabeth to do it, she turned to him and said,
"Did not you think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teazing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?"
"With great energy; -- but it is a subject which always makes a lady energetic."
"You are severe on us."
"It will be her turn soon to be teazed," said Miss Lucas. "I am going to open the instrument, Eliza, and you know what follows."
"You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! -- always wanting me to play and sing before any body and every body! -- If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable, but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers." On Miss Lucas's persevering, however, she added, "Very well; if it must be so, it must." And gravely glancing at Mr. Darcy, "There is a fine old saying, which every body here is of course familiar with -- "Keep your breath to cool your porridge," -- and I shall keep mine to swell my song."
Her performance was pleasing, though by no means capital. After a song or two, and before she could reply to the entreaties of several that she would sing again, she was eagerly succeeded at the instrument by her sister Mary, who having, in consequence of being the only plain one in the family, worked hard for knowledge and accomplishments, was always impatient for display.
Mary had neither genius nor taste; and though vanity had given her application, it had given her likewise a pedantic air and conceited manner, which would have injured a higher degree of excellence than she had reached. Elizabeth, easy and unaffected, had been listened to with much more pleasure, though not playing half so well; and Mary, at the end of a long concerto, was glad to purchase praise and gratitude by Scotch and Irish airs, at the request of her younger sisters, who, with some of the Lucases and two or three officers, joined eagerly in dancing at one end of the room.
Mr. Darcy stood near them in silent indignation at such a mode of passing the evening, to the exclusion of all conversation, and was too much engrossed by his own thoughts to perceive that Sir William Lucas was his neighbour, till Sir William thus began.
"What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! -- There is nothing like dancing after all. -- I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished societies."
"Certainly, Sir; -- and it has the advantage also of being in vogue amongst the less polished societies of the world. -- Every savage can dance."
Sir William only smiled. "Your friend performs delightfully;" he continued after a pause, on seeing Bingley join the group; -- "and I doubt not that you are an adept in the science yourself, Mr. Darcy."
"You saw me dance at Meryton, I believe, Sir."
"Yes, indeed, and received no inconsiderable pleasure from the sight. Do you often dance at St. James's?"
"Never, sir."
"Do you not think it would be a proper compliment to the place?"
"It is a compliment which I never pay to any place, if I can avoid it."
"You have a house in town, I conclude?"
Mr. Darcy bowed.
"I had once some thoughts of fixing in town myself -- for I am fond of superior society; but I did not feel quite certain that the air of London would agree with Lady Lucas."
He paused in hopes of an answer; but his companion was not disposed to make any; and Elizabeth at that instant moving towards them, he was struck with the notion of doing a very gallant thing, and called out to her,
"My dear Miss Eliza, why are not you dancing? -- Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner. -- You cannot refuse to dance, I am sure, when so much beauty is before you." And taking her hand, he would have given it to Mr. Darcy, who, though extremely surprised, was not unwilling to receive it, when she instantly drew back, and said with some discomposure to Sir William,
"Indeed, Sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. -- I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner."
Mr. Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of her hand; but in vain. Elizabeth was determined; nor did Sir William at all shake her purpose by his attempt at persuasion.
"You excel so much in the dance, Miss Eliza, that it is cruel to deny me the happiness of seeing you; and though this gentleman dislikes the amusement in general, he can have no objection, I am sure, to oblige us for one half hour."
"Mr. Darcy is all politeness," said Elizabeth, smiling.
"He is indeed -- but considering the inducement, my dear Miss Eliza, we cannot wonder at his complaisance; for who would object to such a partner?"
Elizabeth looked archly, and turned away. Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency, when thus accosted by Miss Bingley.
"I can guess the subject of your reverie."
"I should imagine not."
"You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner -- in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity and yet the noise; the nothingness and yet the self-importance of all these people! -- What would I give to hear your strictures on them!"
"Your conjecture is totally wrong, I assure you. My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."
Miss Bingley immediately fixed her eyes on his face, and desired he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections. Mr. Darcy replied with great intrepidity,
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet."
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? -- and pray when am I to wish you joy?"
"That is exactly the question which I expected you to ask. A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment. I knew you would be wishing me joy."
"Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter as absolutely settled. You will have a charming mother-in-law, indeed, and of course she will be always at Pemberley with you."
He listened to her with perfect indifference while she chose to entertain herself in this manner, and as his composure convinced her that all was safe, her wit flowed long.
--正文
蘑菇屯的姑娘们不久就去回访耐热屯的姑娘了，耐热屯也照例回访。大姐简令人喜爱的举止，让宾利小姐和赫斯特太太对她越来越有好感。尽管本内特老太太有点讨人嫌，小妹妹们也不值得攀谈，赫斯特太太和宾利小姐还是表达了愿意和大姐二姐深交的意愿。大姐简愉快的接受这个好意。但是伊丽莎白看出她们对待别人还是很傲慢，对她的姐姐也是如此，所以不喜欢她们。尽管赫斯特们对简有些许善意，但那多半是因为她们弟弟喜欢简的缘故。简和宾利每次相见，每个人都能看出宾利很爱慕简小姐。而简这儿也是一样明显，她很显然从一开始就喜欢宾利，后来也不由自主的倾心于他，很快就要坠入爱河。但是伊丽莎白很开心地想，别人应该都看不出来。因为简很擅长控制自己的情绪，总是一副开心的样子，这样她就可以免受鲁莽人的怀疑了。伊丽莎白跟她的好朋友卢卡斯小姐说了这件事。
“这件事也许怪有意思的，”夏洛特回复说，“喜欢宾利而故意隐藏起来。但有时候防护心那么强可不是件好事。如果女人在喜欢的人面前，故意隐藏爱意，她可能就会失去心爱的人。到时候就算一位全世界都蒙在鼓里也于事无补了。每段感情里都充满着虚荣的比较和知恩图报的心理，对这些不管不顾可就不好了。开始的时候，有一些些喜欢是很正常的，但是缺少足够鼓励的话，我们很少有人会钟情别人。十回中有九回里，女人有1分爱意，最好表露出2分。宾利毫无疑问，很喜欢你姐姐。但是如果你姐姐不鼓励他的话，他也只会喜欢她而已。”
“但是她确实帮他了啊，她肯定自然的会去帮她的。如果我都能看出简喜欢宾利，宾利要是看不出可真是个傻冒了。”
“记住这句话，小伊，宾利不像你这样了解简的性格。”夏洛特接着说。
“但是如果一个女人喜欢一个男人，而且她也不试图掩饰的话，他肯定是能看出来的啊。”
“也许吧，如果他经常见她的话。但是尽管宾利和简见得十分频繁，但是每次从没有在一起待几个钟头。而且因为他们总是在这种大聚会上见面，他们可是没空一直说话的。简应该在每次相处的半小时内，尽量吸引他的注意。当她俘获宾利的时候，她想选择什么时候坠入爱河都可以。”
“如果你只想着嫁个好丈夫的话，这是个好计划。”伊丽莎白说，“如果我要决心嫁个阔男人，或者随便一个男人，我肯定会采用这个计划。但是简不会像我这样想，她的爱意可不是表演出来的。到现在来说，她自己都不能确定自己喜欢宾利到什么程度了，或者这种感情是否合理。她只认识了他两周，跟他在梅屯跳了4只舞，然后又在某天早上他家里见了他一次。这之后他们又一起吃过四次晚饭，这些不可够让简了解宾利的性格。”
“话可不是这么说。要是简只是跟宾利吃了顿晚饭，她可能只知道他是不是有个好胃口。但是你得知道他们可是一起待过四个晚上的，这可以做很多事情了。”
”那可不，四个晚上够他们知道是喜欢‘21点‘胜过'commerce'。但是至于其他的重要特点，我觉得了解的还很少。“
”嗯，“夏洛特说，”我完全希望简能成功。但我觉得她明天跟宾利结婚，跟研究一年宾利的性格后再结婚，幸福的概率都差不多。婚姻是否幸福完全是看运气的。如果双方事先就互相了解对方的性格，或者性格相近，这也一点不能保证他们婚姻幸福。他们总会越来越不喜欢对方，以至互相烦恼。而且对于要共度一生的伴侣而言，你对他的缺点了解的越少越好。”
“哦，夏洛特，你可真是逗乐我了。你说的这些可不是真理啊。你也知道这不是事实，而且你从自己肯定不会这么做。”
伊丽莎白忙着关注宾利对她姐姐的态度如何，她自己没有意识到，宾利的朋友，达西先生，对她逐渐感兴趣了。达西一开始并不觉得她好看，在舞会上看她的时候一点也不喜欢。而且第二次见面的时候，达西看伊丽莎白只是为了挑刺。但是刚跟朋友们说伊丽莎白长得不好看不久，达西就发现她的深色眼睛特别有神，显得她特别聪明。很快，达西又有了其他几个令他丢人的发现。尽管他用挑剔的眼光发现伊丽莎白的身体又几处不匀称的地方，但他也不得不的承认伊丽莎白的体态轻盈又让人舒心。尽管他之前又说这个女人可没有上流社会的风度，但是很快他又被她活泼爱逗人的性格给打动了。但对于这一切，伊丽莎白一点也没有意识到。对于她来说，达西只是个到处惹人厌的人，而且嫌弃自己长得不好看不愿意跟自己跳舞。
达西开始想更了解伊丽莎白，于是为了能跟她说上话，就先去听她跟别人聊天。达西的行为一下就被伊丽莎白注意到了。当时是在卢卡斯爵士家的大趴体上。伊丽莎白问夏洛特：“达西听我跟福斯特上校聊天干什么？”
“这可只有达西才知道了。”夏洛特小姐回复说。
“他要是敢再这么做，我肯定让他知道我是怎么看他的。他这个人眼神可是会讽刺人，我要是不先发制人，对他无礼一波，我可能很快就害怕他了。”
话音刚落，达西又凑过来了，但是没有任何说话的意思。卢卡斯小姐刚刚跟伊丽莎白说别跟达西说这话题，但是伊丽莎白偏偏反着来，她转过身对达西说：“达西先生，我刚才跟福斯特上校开玩笑说，让他给我们在梅屯办个舞会的，是不是说的特别得体？”
“说的十分带劲，但是舞会总是让姑娘很激动。”
“你对我们可太严苛了。”
“马上就是伊丽莎白被开玩笑了，”卢卡斯小姐说道，“我要去打开乐器了，小伊，你知道怎么做。”
“你可真是个古怪的朋友，总想着让我在大伙面前又弹又唱的。我要是喜欢在别人面前炫耀音乐能力，那你可真是个无价之宝了。但是尽管这样，我还是觉得别在这群听惯了顶级音乐家的人面前献丑了。”。但是在卢卡斯小姐的一再坚持下，伊丽莎白又改口说：“好吧，如果必须得唱，那就唱吧。”她又严肃地盯着达西说，“我们这儿有句人人熟知的老话——留口气去凉粥。别管别人的事，我也只管唱自己的歌。”
她的演出令人开心，但是算不上很好。唱了一两首歌之后，正当众人乞求她再唱几首的时候，她妹妹玛丽就急不可耐得把乐器给抢走了，玛丽是一大家子里唯一长得不好看的，因此她总是刻苦求知，学习才艺，着急想展示自己。玛丽既没有才华，也没有品味。尽管虚荣心让她刻苦用功，但是也给了她学究气和自负的态度，这就让了到不了更高的水平。伊丽莎白虽然弹得没有玛丽一半好，但是人随和自然，大家都乐意听。至于玛丽呢，在演奏了一串很长的协奏后，在她几个妹妹的要求下，又演奏了几首苏格兰和爱尔兰的小曲，她很乐意接受演出后的赞美。而她的妹妹，很快和卢卡斯的几个人和三两个军官，急切到屋两边跳舞了。
达西先生站在伊丽莎白她们旁边，看着她们就这么度过了一晚，静静地生着闷气，也不跟人说话。他十分沉浸在自己的思考中，以至于忘了威廉姆。卢卡斯爵士就站在他旁边，直到卢卡斯爵士开了口。
“达西先生！你看年轻人演奏的这些乐器，多么有魅力。这世上，没有什么能比得上跳舞的，这可是上流社会里最优雅的东西。“
”当然了，先生，但这也是没那么上流的社会的时髦事务。每个野蛮人都能跳舞。“
威廉姆爵士只好尴尬的笑笑。”你朋友的表演很精彩，“他看到宾利过来了，暂停了一下接着说，”达西先生，你肯定也是个跳舞的能手。“
”爵士，你应该在梅屯见过我跳舞。“达西说。
”确实看过，而且看的挺开心。你经常在圣詹米跳舞么？“
”从来不跳“
”在那个地方你都不赏脸跳舞么？“
”我要是能不跳的话，在哪我都不愿意跳舞“
”你应该在城里有房子吧，达西先生？“
达西先生欠了欠身子。
"我以前想着在城里定居下来，因为我喜欢上流社会。但是我觉得卢卡斯太太可能不太喜欢伦敦的风气。"
他停了下来希望达西能搭个话。但是达西没有一点回应。这时候伊丽莎白突然朝他们走了过来，他想借机献个殷勤，于是叫住了伊丽莎白：”我亲爱的小伊小姐，你为什么没跳舞啊？达西先生，请允许我将这个年轻的姑娘介绍给你做舞伴。面对这样的美人，你肯定没有办法拒绝跳舞。“卢卡斯爵士抓住伊丽莎白的手，想把它交给达西先生，达西尽管十分意外，但是仍然愿意握住伊丽莎白的手。
谁知道，伊丽莎白立即把手抽回去了，有些不安得对威廉姆爵士说：”爵士，我一点也不想跳舞。你可不会觉得我往这儿走，是为了求个男伴吧。“
达西先生礼貌得请求能牵伊丽莎白的手。但是没有用，伊丽莎白心意已决，威廉姆爵士努力劝说也没有用。
”小伊，你舞跳得这么好，拒绝我享受见你起舞的乐趣可真是太残忍了。尽管这位绅士通常不喜欢跳舞，但我可以确认，他毫无疑问可以迁就我们个把钟头。“
”达西先生真是太客气了。“伊丽莎白笑着说。
”他确实是，但是亲爱的小伊小姐，面对你这样的姑娘，也难怪他会如此殷勤。有谁会拒绝像你这样的舞伴呢？“
伊丽莎白顽皮地看了眼达西，转身走了。伊利的拒绝并没有损害她与达西的关系，达西正满足地想着她，恰巧宾利小姐走过来跟他打招呼：
”我知道你在想啥“
”我觉得不太可能“
”你在想这地儿晚上这么无聊，还有这么多天，该怎么度过啊？说实话我可是认同你的观点。我可从来没这么心烦。这儿又无聊又吵。这些人只能是无聊至极，又自我感觉良好，我可很想听你吐槽他们。“
”你完全猜错了，真的。我脑子想的东西可开心多了。我刚才在沉思一个美人的眼睛所带来的快乐。“
宾利小姐立刻盯着达西，让他立刻说到底是什么样的女人才让他有这样激动的反应。达西先生充满勇气的说：”伊丽莎白.本内特小姐“
”伊丽莎白.本内特小姐？“宾利小姐吃惊的说。”我可真是太惊讶了。你看中她多久了？我啥时候该跟你道喜啊？“
”我猜到你会问这个问题。女人的想象总是变化很快。一会儿，就从爱慕到爱情，又从爱情到婚姻。我就知道你要来跟我道喜了”
“没有，如果你对这件事是认真的话，我觉得这事已经成了。你的丈母娘可是魅力万分啊，她肯定会跟你一起回庄子上住的。”
达西先生无所谓地听着宾利小姐自说自话，他的镇静又让宾利小姐觉得无所顾忌，越发的滔滔不绝了。
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