Chapter 3
Mr. Darcy stood near them in silence, and was too busy with his own thoughts to notice Sir William Lucas, till Sir William began:
“What a charming (讨人喜欢的) amusement for young people, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements (优雅，有教养) of polite society.”
“Certainly, sir, and it is also in fashion among many other societies of the world. Even the most primitive tribes (原始部落)dance.”
Sir William only smiled. Elizabeth at that instant was moving toward them, and he had the idea of doing a very noble（贵族） thing, and called out to her:
“My dear Miss Eliza, why are you not dancing? Mr. Darcy, you must allow me to present this young lady to you as a very desirable partner.”
Taking her hand, he would have given it to a very surprised, but not unwilling, Mr. Darcy.
She instantly drew back,（抽回） however, and said with some embarrassment to Sir William:
“Indeed, sir, I have not the least（丝毫不） intention of dancing. Please do not suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.”
Mr. Darcy asked to be allowed the honor of dancing with Elizabeth, but she did not accept. She was determined, despite all Sir William could say to persuade her.
Her resistance did not affect the gentleman’s opinion of her, however, and he spent the remainder of the evening thinking of her with some satisfaction.
Mrs. Bennet had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had worked for their father and now ran his company,
and also a brother in London with a respectable business.
The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton, and the young ladies would often travel that way to visit their aunt.
The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were more easily bored than their sisters.
When nothing better was offered, a walk to Meryton could amuse them in the morning hours and provide something to talk about for the evening.
The younger girls were just discussing their plans for that morning, when they were interrupted by the arrival of the postman with a note for the eldest Miss Bennet.
It was an invitation from Miss Caroline Bingley, for a dinner party at Netherfield.
“May I have the carriage?” Jane said to Mrs. Bennet.
“No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain, and then you must stay all night.”
Jane was therefore forced to go on horseback, and her mother followed her to the door with many cheerful predictions of bad weather.
Mrs. Bennet’s hopes were answered, because Jane had not been gone long before it started to rain hard. Her sisters were worried for her, but her mother was delighted.
Till the next morning, however, Mrs. Bennet was not aware of how lucky her plan had been.
Breakfast was only just over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:
MY DEAREST LIZZY,
I find myself very unwell this morning, probably** due to my getting soaking (湿透的) wet yesterday. My kind friends will not even consider letting me return till I am better.
They also insist that I see a doctor. Do not be alarmed though—except for a sore (疼痛的) throat and headache, there is not much the matter with me.
YOURS, JANE.
Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not available. As she was no horsewoman, walking was her only alternative (选择) .
Elizabeth walked alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace. She found herself at last within sight of the house,
with tired ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing (泛红) with the warmth of exercise.
She was led by a servant into the breakfast-room, where she received another distressing (令人烦恼的) report of her sister’s condition.
Miss Bennet had slept poorly, and though awake, was very feverish, and not well enough to leave her room.
Elizabeth spent most of the day and night in her sister’s room, and the next morning found her sister’s condition had improved significantly.
The next day passed much better than the day before had done, and in the evening Elizabeth joined the others in the drawing-room.
Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him, was watching as he wrote his letter.
When he had finished his letter, Mr. Darcy asked Miss Bingley and Elizabeth to play some music.
Miss Bingley moved with some speed to the piano, and after politely requesting that Elizabeth would play first, she seated herself.
While Miss Bingley was playing, Elizabeth could not help observing how frequently Mr. Darcy’s eyes were fixed on herself.
She hardly imagined that she could be an object of admiration to so great a man.
She could only guess that he at last began to notice her because he found her more intolerable than any other person present.
This thought did not upset her, because she liked him too little to care.
After playing some slow songs, Miss Bingley played a livelier tune, and soon afterward Mr. Darcy came over to Elizabeth and said to her:
“Miss Bennet, will you take this opportunity to dance?”
She smiled, but made no answer. He repeated the question, with some surprise at her silence.
“Oh!” she said, “I heard you before, but I could not immediately decide what to say in reply.
You wanted me, I know, to say ‘Yes,’ that you might then take pleasure in despising (鄙视) my taste in music.
I have, therefore, made up my mind to tell you, that I do not want to dance at all—and now despise (鄙视) me if you dare.”
“Indeed I do not dare.”
Elizabeth, having rather expected to offend him, was amazed at his politeness. Darcy, for his part, had never been as charmed (着迷) by any woman as he was by her.
He really believed that were it not for the inferiority (卑微) of her social connections, he would be in some danger of falling deeply in love.
After dinner that evening, Elizabeth helped her sister down the stairs and into the drawing-room,
where Jane was welcomed by Caroline Bingley with many expressions of pleasure.
But when the gentlemen joined the ladies, Jane was no longer the center of attention.
Miss Bingley’s eyes were instantly turned toward Darcy, and she had something to say before he had approached many steps.
Made desperate by the strength of her feelings for Mr. Darcy, she turned to Elizabeth and said:
“Miss Eliza Bennet, please take a walk with me around the room. It is very refreshing after sitting for so long.”
Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded in achieving the real purpose of her politeness, because Mr. Darcy looked up.
He was directly invited to join them, but he declined.
He commented that he could imagine only two motives for their choosing to walk up and down the room together, and that he did not wish to interfere （干预）with either.
Miss Bingley was desperate to know what his two motives could be and kept asking.
“I have no objection to explaining them,” Mr. Darcy said.
“You choose this method of passing the evening either because you have secrets to discuss, or because you are aware that your figures appear most attractive when walking.
If it is the first motive, I would be completely in your way**. If the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”
- polite society：上流社会
- primitive tribes：原始部落
- not the least：丝毫不
- were it not for the inferiority of her social connections是一个省略了if的倒装句，还原后应为：If it were not for the inferiority of her social connections；inferiority指的是“处于劣势；次等”，与之相对的词是superiority。
- social connections：社会关系
- **interfere with ** ：干涉
- in your way：妨碍你；设身处地站在你的立场
