Chapter 10 chapter eight

At five o'clock the two sisters of the host family went out to change; at half past six Elizabeth was invited to dinner.Everyone was polite and thoughtful, and came to inquire about Jane's condition, especially Mr. Bingley's questioning, which made Elizabeth very happy, but it was a pity that Jane's condition did not improve, so she could not give them a satisfactory answer.When the sister heard this, she repeated several times how worried they were, how terrible a severe cold was, and how much they themselves hated being sick... After saying these things, they didn't take it seriously.Elizabeth saw their indifference to Jane when she was not in their presence, and her original dislike for them was now revived.Her brother, indeed, was the only one of their family who could have gratified her, and you could see at a glance that he was really worried about Jane, and besides, he was the most attentive and pleasant to Elizabeth.Elizabeth had expected that she would be regarded as an unexpected visitor, but this attention prevented her from thinking so.Nobody paid much attention to her except him.Miss Bingley's heart was in Mr. Darcy, and Mrs. Hurst was almost the same; and as for Mr. Hurst, who sat beside Elizabeth, he was born to be lazy, and he lived to eat, Drinking, playing cards, and hearing that Elizabeth would rather eat a common dish than ragout, he had nothing to do with her.

Elizabeth went back to Jane's as soon as she had supper.As soon as she came out of the dining-room, Miss Bingley began to speak badly of her, and made the worst of her manners, saying that she was haughty, rude, incapable of conversation, ill-looking, witless, and long-sighted. ugly.Mrs. Hurst thought in the same way, and added: "All in all, she's got nothing but her ability to run. I'll never forget the way she looked this morning. She looked like a madman." "She does look like a madman, Louisa. I can't help laughing. She's had such a boring trip; my sister has a bit of a cold, why should she make such a fuss all over the village? . . . So disheveled, so slovenly!"

"Yeah, and her petticoat . . . but you didn't see her petticoat. I'm not kidding, it's got a full six inches of mud on it, and she's lowered the outer skirt a little bit to keep the Covering, but not covering." Mr. Bingley said: "You don't go too far, Louisa, but I don't think so. I think Miss Elizabeth Bennet came into the room this morning. It was a nice look when I saw her. I didn't see her dirty petticoat." "You must have seen it, Mr. Darcy," said Miss Bingley; "I suppose you would not like to see your own sister in such a state of distress."

"Of course not." "Three miles, five miles for no reason, who knows how many miles, ankle-bones covered in mud, and all alone! What on earth does she mean by that? I reckon she's showing it all." The savage attitude of the tutor is completely the frivolity of the country people who are not polite." Mr. Bingley said: "That just speaks of her fraternity, which is wonderful." Miss Bingley said strangely: "I'm afraid, Mr. Darcy, that her rash behavior this time will affect your admiration for her beautiful eyes?" Darcy replied: "Not at all, her eyes are brighter after she has run this way." After saying this, there was a little silence in the room, and then Mrs. Hurst spoke again. :

"I am very concerned about Jane Bennet... She is indeed a lovely girl... I sincerely hope that she will make a good marriage. It is a pity to have such parents and so many dirty relatives." , I'm afraid she has nothing to look forward to." "Didn't I hear you say that she had an uncle who was a solicitor in Meryton?" "Yes; they have an uncle who lives near Cheapside." "That's wonderful," added her sister, and they both laughed heartily. At this, Bingley cried out: "Even if they had uncles beyond count, which would fill the whole of Cheapside, they would not detract from their loveliness."

"However, if they want to marry a man of position, their chances are greatly reduced," replied Darcy. Mr. Bingley paid no heed; his sisters listened with great satisfaction, and made fun of Miss Bennet's humble relation with increasing insolence. But as soon as they had left the dining-room, they resumed all their tenderness and consideration, and went to Jane's room, where they sat with her till coffee-time.Jane's illness was still not getting better, and Elizabeth watched her closely until evening, and when she saw her asleep, she was relieved to think that she should go downstairs (though she didn't like to go downstairs).Walking into the living room, she found that everyone was playing cards, and everyone immediately invited her to play, but she was afraid that they would win a lot, so she declined, and she just said that she was worried about her sister, and she had to go upstairs in a while, and she could take the book. Books for entertainment.Mr. Hurst looked at her in surprise.

"Would you rather read a book than play cards?" he said. "It's really rare." Miss Bingley said: "Miss Eliza Bennet despises card games; she is a great reader, and takes no pleasure in anything else." Elizabeth shouted: "I don't dare to take such a compliment, and I don't dare to take such a blame. I am not a great scholar, and I am interested in many things." Mr. Bingley said: "I am sure to take care of your own sister, and I hope she recovers soon, and you will be happier." Elizabeth thanked him from the bottom of her heart, and went to a table where some books lay.He was going to bring her some other books at once... all the books in his study. "I wish I had a larger library, both for your good and my own; but I am a lazy man, and have not many books, and have read even fewer," said Elizabeth to him, The few books in the room were enough for her to read.

Miss Bingley said: "I wonder how papa has left so few books. . . . What a wonderful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!" Darcy said, "That's no wonder. It's generations ago." "You bought a lot of books yourself, only to see that you are always buying books." "I have a life like this, so I'm naturally ashamed to neglect the library at home." "Negligence! I'm sure you've neglected nothing that can be stingy about your noble place. . . . Charles, when you build your own house, I can only hope it's half as beautiful as Pemberley. "

"I hope so." "But I would also strongly advise you to buy near there, and use Pemberley as an example. There is no better county in England than Derbyshire." "I'd be more than happy to do that. I'd love to just buy Pemberley, if only Darcy would sell." "I'm talking about what might be possible, Charles." "Caroline, I dare say that it is more likely to buy Pemberley than to build a house after Pemberley." Elizabeth was so fascinated by these words that she lost her mind and simply put the book aside. , went up to the card-table, and sat between Mr. Bingley and his sister, and watched their game.

At this time Miss Bingley asked Darcy again: "Has Darcy grown a lot since spring? Will she grow to my height in the future?" "I suppose so. She's about as tall as Miss Elizabeth Bennet now, and I'm afraid she's a little taller." "I've always wanted to see her again! I've never met anyone so fond of me. She's so good-looking, and so polite, and she's got a lot of talent at such a young age, and she plays the piano really well. " Mr. Bingley said: "It really amazes me how young girls have such great ability to exercise themselves and be versatile."

"Every young girl is so versatile! My dear Charles, what do you mean by that?" "Yes, I think all of them are like that. They can decorate tables, decorate screens, weave purses. I hardly ever see a single one who doesn't know everything, and whenever I hear about a young girl, , there is never a time when I don't hear that she is versatile."* Darcy said: "Your extremely ordinary so-called talents are absolutely true. How many women just know how to weave money bags and decorate screens, and enjoy the reputation of being versatile; but I can't agree with your opinion of ordinary women. Valuation. I dare not speak too much; I know a lot of women, and there are only half a dozen who are really versatile." "Nor do I dare to boast," said Miss Bingley. Elizabeth said: "Then, in your imagination, a versatile woman should include many conditions." "Yes, I think it should include a lot of conditions." "Oh, of course," exclaimed his faithful assistant, "a woman cannot be considered versatile if she cannot surpass the average man. A woman must be proficient in music, singing, drawing, dancing, and modern languages ​​to be worthy of the title." ; besides this, her appearance and gait, the tone of her voice, her speech and expression, must be quite amusing, or she is not qualified." Darcy went on to say: "In addition to these conditions, she should also read more books, gain knowledge, and have some real talents." "No wonder you only know half a dozen talented women. I suspect now that you don't know even one." "Why are you so demanding on your women, thinking that they can't meet these conditions?" "I have never seen such a woman. I have never seen a person with such ability, taste, study, and grace as you describe." Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley exclaimed that she ought not to have doubted, as it was unjust, and they all concurred in rebutting it, that they themselves knew that there were many women who were worthy of it. condition.They waited until Mr. Hurst told them to play well, and reproached them for being so inattentive to the affairs of the game, that they fell silent, and so ended the argument, and Elizabeth soon went away. After the door was shut, Miss Bingley said, "Elizabeth Bennet is one such woman who, in order to promote herself, makes up women before men. , but I think it's a base ruse, a base artifice." Darcy realized that she intended to speak these words to himself, so he quickly replied: "There is no doubt that girls sometimes use unscrupulous means and tricks in order to seduce men. It is really despicable. As long as your actions bring Anyone with a bit of cunning should be despised." Miss Bingley was not quite satisfied with his answer, and therefore fell short of the conversation. Elizabeth came to them again, just to tell them that her sister was getting worse, and she could not leave.Binger repeatedly advocated to invite Dr. Jones immediately, but his sisters thought that a country doctor would be useless, so they suggested that they should go to the city to invite the most famous doctor. Elizabeth did not agree, but she was too inconvenient to disappoint. The kindness of their brothers led them to negotiate a plan; if Miss Bennet was still in vain early in the morning, Dr. Jones should be sent at once.Mr. Bingley was very disturbed, and his sister and sister said they were very worried.After supper they managed to relieve some of their boredom by playing some songs together, and Mr. Bingley, being unable to think of any good way to relieve his anxiety, had nothing to do but attend to his housekeeper, who devoted herself to the sick and to her sister.