MR. BENNET'S property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.
She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father, and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.
The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt, and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the head quarters.
Their visits to Mrs. Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.
After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed,
"From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced."
Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.
"I am astonished, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of any body's children, it should not be of my own, however."
"If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it."
"Yes -- but as it happens, they are all of them very clever."
"This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish."
"My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother. -- When they get to our age, I dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well -- and indeed, so I do still at my heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls, I shall not say nay to him; and I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in his regimentals."
"Mama," cried Lydia, "my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke's library."
Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,
"Well, Jane, who is it from? what is it about? what does he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love."
"It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud.
"My dear Friend,
IF you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's te^te-a`-te^te between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers. Yours ever,
CAROLINE BINGLEY."
"With the officers!" cried Lydia. "I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that."
"Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, "that is very unlucky."
"Can I have the carriage?" said Jane.
"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night."
"That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, "if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home."
"Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton; and the Hursts have no horses to theirs."
"I had much rather go in the coach."
"But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are not they?"
"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them."
"But if you have got them to-day," said Elizabeth, "my mother's purpose will be answered."
She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged. Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly could not come back.
"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Mrs. Bennet, more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:
"My dearest Lizzy,
I FIND myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones -- therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me -- and excepting a sore throat and head-ache, there is not much the matter with me.
Yours, &c."
"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders."
"Oh! I am not at all afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long is she stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see her, if I could have the carriage."
Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horse-woman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her resolution.
"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there."
"I shall be very fit to see Jane -- which is all I want."
"Is this a hint to me, Lizzy," said her father, "to send for the horses?"
"No, indeed. I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing, when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner."
"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, "but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required."
"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Catherine and Lydia. -- Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off together.
"If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes."
In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ancles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.
She was shewn into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. -- That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there was good humour and kindness. -- Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.
Her enquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish and not well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience, from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.
When breakfast was over, they were joined by the sisters, and Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they shewed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment, nor were the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had in fact nothing to do elsewhere.
When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go; and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern in parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay, and bring back a supply of clothes.
--正文
本内特老爷的全部财产几乎就是一块地产，这块地大约一年能产生收益两千磅。但不幸的是，因为财产必须由男性继承，他的女儿们无法得到，转而给一个远房亲戚继承了。至于本内特老娘的财产，对于她自己来说也算富余，但是还无法弥补本内特老爷的损失。本内特太太的父亲是梅屯的一名律师，之前留了四千磅财产给她。
她还有个姐妹嫁给了菲尔普斯先生。菲尔普斯先生是她们父亲的办事员，后来接了她们父亲的班。此外，他还有个兄弟定居在伦敦，做着收入相当可观的生意。
蘑菇屯和梅屯相距只有一英里。这个距离对于姑娘们来说再方便不过了，她们每周会到对面三四次，拜访她们的姨妈，也顺路去一家女帽店逛一逛。家里最年轻的卡瑟林和莉迪亚，对这事尤其热衷。相比姐姐们，她们总是想得很少，或者说更无聊一些，当没什么好事做的时候，她们就喜欢去梅屯走走逛逛，打发早上的时间，也为晚上增加些谈资。不管屯子里的新闻多么少见，她们总是能想方设法的从姨妈那打听一些过来。当时听说屯子里最近来了批民兵团，而且要在屯子里驻在整个冬天，梅屯正好是总部，姐妹俩都高兴坏了。
姐妹俩现在去梅屯拜访姐夫菲利普斯先生，可是充满了机灵劲。每天她们都打听到一些军官的名字和人脉。军官们的住所很快就被大家知道了，很快这两个妹妹就开始结识军官本人。姐夫一一拜访了这些军官，而这让本内特家的两个妹妹感受到前所未有的幸福。她们聊天什么都不说，只会聊军官。而宾利的大笔财产，只会让她们的老娘有些许激动，对于卡瑟林和莉迪亚这姐妹俩来说，这笔财产跟军官的制服相比，一文不值。
本内特老爷听她们俩滔滔不绝的聊了一个上午，全部都是在说军官，于是便冷冷地说：“根据你们俩说话的样子，你们肯定是这个国家最笨的两个姑娘。我以前还有点怀疑，现在我十分确定了。”
卡瑟林听完有些不安，但是没有回答。但是莉迪亚完全没有收到影响，仍然在涛涛不绝的表达着对卡特上尉的爱慕。又说着想在卡特上尉明天赶去伦敦之前，能在今天的操练中见到他。
“亲爱的老爷，我很惊讶你竟然会觉得自己的孩子很笨。我要是看不起谁的孩子，那肯定是别人家的。”
“我们家的孩子要是笨的话，我还是希望能有自知之明。”
“你说的没错，可实际上我们家的孩子都很聪明”
”这是我们俩唯一意见不同的一点。我以前还希望我们能在每件事上都能达成一致，但是在这点上我跟你意见完全相反：我们家最小的两个女儿可真是不同一般的蠢。“
”我亲爱的本内特老爷，你可不能指望那么小的两个姑娘能像他爸妈那样明事理。她们到我们这么大的时候，肯定不会再对军官们那么痴迷。我记得以前非常喜欢一件红大衣，现在我还特别喜欢。现在如果有个年轻的上校，一年能挣五六千磅，想要去我们家的姑娘，我肯定不会拒绝的。我觉得那晚威廉姆爵士家里，福斯特上校穿着那一身军装，还真是帅气得体。“
”妈妈，“莉迪亚突然大声喊，”我听姨妈说福斯特上校和卡特上尉刚来的时候，可不像现在去瓦特森小姐家那么勤。她现在经常在克拉克图书馆见他们。“
本内特太太正要回答，突然被一个男仆进门打断了，男仆带了个便信给简，并等着简的回复。本内特太太眼里透着开心的火花，在女儿还在读信的时候便着急的叫道：”简，是谁寄来的？是说什么事的？小伙子说了啥？快点啊简，快告诉我们。快告诉我们，亲爱的。“
”是宾利小姐寄来的。“简说完就开始大声读信。
”我亲爱的朋友，你今天要是不想跟我和路易莎吃饭的话，我们的余生可能就会在互相讨厌中度过了。两女人要是一天都待在一起，就没有不吵架的。收到信请赶快过来。我的兄弟和其他先生们也会和军官们一起吃饭。
你忠诚的
卡罗琳.宾利“
”和军官一起吃饭？“莉迪亚大叫着说：”为啥姨妈没跟我们说这事？“
”要出去吃饭，这可真不走运。“本内特太太说。
”我能坐四个轮的马车走吗？“简问道。
”恐怕不行，亲爱的，你最好骑马过去。天看起来要下雨了，你吃完饭得在那住一宿。”
“这可不好说啊妈妈，万一她们吃完饭要送姐姐回家呢？”伊丽莎白说。
”没事。宾利的两轮马车也要载朋友去梅屯，而且赫斯特家的马车也没马。“
”我还是想坐四个轮子的马车去。“简说
”可是亲爱的，你爸的马都被用着呢，匀不出来给你用。马都在地里干活呢，是吧，本内特老爷？“
”那可不，老在地里干活，我自己都用不到这些马。“
伊丽莎白说：”但是你今天要是能匀出这几匹马来，妈妈就能得偿所愿了。“
马得在地里干活，到最后伊丽莎白也没能借到马。简没办法只能骑了匹马过去。她老妈送她到了门口，说了好多今天天气肯定不好的话，不一会就都应验了。简没走多久，瓢泼大雨就下了下来。她妹妹们都替她担心，但是本内特太太却很开心。这雨下了整整一夜没停，简肯定会留在那儿过夜了。
本内特太太高兴得说了不止一次：”这可都是我的聪明点子啊！“，好像是她下的雨一样。到第二天早上，本内特太太不能确定计划是否应验了。大家提心吊胆得吃过了早饭，这时耐热屯得一个仆人给伊丽莎白带了一份便信来：”
我最亲爱的小伊：
我今早觉得十分难受，我估计是昨天被淋透透的锅。这边的好朋友在我有所好转之前，都不肯放我回去。他们也坚持请来了琼斯医生给我看病，所以你们听说琼斯先生看过我可千万别担心。除了喉咙有些酸痛和头疼外，我没什么大碍。
你的简“
”亲爱的太太，“伊丽莎白读完信后，本内特先生说，”如果你女儿得了什么重病，甚至死掉的话，你可得知道这是你坚持让她去追求宾利先生的结果。“
”我肯不怕她会因为这个死掉。没人会因为轻微的感冒而死掉的。她会被照顾好的。只要她待在宾利那儿，一切就都没问题。要是有辆马车的话，我就过去看看她。“
伊丽莎白十分担心简，尽管没有马车，也决心去看看她。而由于她又不会骑马，所以只有走路过去，她跟大伙说了下这个想法。
她老娘立刻大叫：”你怎么能那么笨呢？地里都是泥，还想走着过去。你走到那还不糟蹋成什么样了，都不能见人了。“
”我能过去看看简，仅此而已。“
她老爸接过嘴说：”小伊，你是不是暗示我把马借给你啊？“
”不是这样，我没想着逃避走路。对于有心人来说，这点距离不算什么，不过三英里而已么，我会在晚饭前回来。“
”我佩服你因为关心简而去看她，“玛丽说，”但是情绪必须被理性所主导。我觉得行为不能出格。“
”我们送你到梅屯边上，“卡瑟林和莉迪亚说。伊丽莎白接受了她们的陪同，三个姑娘就一起出发了。
正走着的时候，莉迪亚说：”如果我们走快点，我们也许能在卡特上尉出发前看到他一眼。“
在梅屯她们就分手了。两个年轻的姑娘一起到军官夫人的家去，伊丽莎白则自己一人走着，快速地走过一块又一块地，焦急得越过坑坑洼洼，总算能看到宾利得房子了。此时她的脚踝酸痛，袜子也脏了，一张脸因为走路的热量而泛着红。
她被人领进了早餐厅，除了简每个人都在那，伊丽莎白的出现让他们很惊讶。她自己竟然那么早，在这种糟糕的天气下，一个人走了三英里过来了，对于赫斯特和宾利小姐来说，这简直不可思议。伊丽莎白坚信达西他们瞧不起他的这种行为，但是出其意料的是，他们相当礼貌的接待了他。而且宾利的兄弟们的举止里有比礼貌更多的东西。他们对她充满善意和迎合。达西先生几乎没说话，而赫斯特先生什么都没说。达西先生一方面伊丽莎白因为走路而潮红的脸庞，另一方又在想为这么点事情是否要一个人走过来。而赫斯特先生则一心想着吃早饭了。
伊丽莎白打听姐姐的情况，但是得到的答案却不令她喜欢。简因为生病而睡着了，尽管醒着的时候也发烧严重，没法离开房间。伊丽莎白很快就被带去看了她。而简因为害怕让家里人担心，或者造成不方便，不敢再信里说其实她很想家里来人探望，其实看见了伊丽莎白过来探望，她特别开心。然而简还不能说太多话，宾利小姐离开了房间后，除了说感谢她被悉心的照料外，她没有说很多话。伊丽莎白无声的照顾着她。
早饭吃完后，其他的姐妹们也过来一起照顾简。伊丽莎白在看到她们是如何充满关心得照顾简只会，也开始喜欢上了她们。药剂师过来检查了只会说，简应该是得了重感冒，必须竭力让她好转。药剂师建议简躺床上休息，并且给她开了几剂药。这些建议立刻被照搬了，因为简的发烧加重了，她的头也在剧烈抖动着。伊丽莎白一刻也没离开房间，其他姑娘们也经常守在屋里面。男人们都出去了，他们在这里也帮不上什么忙。
到下午3点的时候，伊丽莎白尽觉得该走了，于是勉强的开了口。宾利小姐让她坐四轮马车回去，伊丽莎白本打算推辞下就接受，但是简突然要她留下陪伴，于是宾利小姐就转而邀请她现在耐热屯先住下来，伊丽莎白充满感激的住下了。宾利小姐又安排了一个仆人去蘑菇屯通知本内特一家，伊丽莎白在这住下了，然后带一些衣服回来。
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