c13-第2章
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Not a word； however； passed his lips in allusion to it； till their visitor took his leave for the night； but as soon as he was gone； he turned to his daughter； and said；
‘‘Jane； I congratulate you。 You will be a very happy woman。''
Jane went to him instantly； kissed him； and thanked him for his goodness。
‘‘You are a good girl；'' he replied； ‘‘and I have great pleasure in thinking you will be so happily settled。 I have not a doubt of your doing very well together。 Your tempers are by no means unlike。 You are each of you so complying； that nothing will ever be resolved on； so easy； that every servant will cheat you； and so generous； that you will always exceed your income。''
‘‘I hope not so。 Imprudence or thoughtlessness in money matters would be unpardonable in me。''
‘‘Exceed their income！ My dear Mr。 Bennet；'' cried his wife； ‘‘what are you talking of？ Why； he has four or five thousand a year； and very likely more。'' Then addressing her daughter； ‘‘Oh！ my dear； dear Jane； I am so happy！ I am sure I shan't get a wink of sleep all night。 I knew how it would be。 I always said it must be so； at last。 I was sure you could not be so beautiful for nothing！ I remember； as soon as ever I saw him； when he first came into Hertfordshire last year； I thought how likely it was that you should come together。 Oh！ he is the handsomest young man that ever was seen！''
Wickham； Lydia； were all forgotten。 Jane was beyond competition her favourite child。 At that moment； she cared for no other。 Her younger sisters soon began to make interest with her for objects of happiness which she might in future be able to dispense。
Mary petitioned for the use of the library at Netherfield； and Kitty begged very hard for a few balls there every winter。
Bingley； from this time； was of course a daily visitor at Longbourn； coming frequently before breakfast； and always remaining till after supper； unless when some barbarous neighbour； who could not be enough detested； had given him an invitation to dinner which he thought himself obliged to accept。
Elizabeth had now but little time for conversation with her sister； for while he was present； Jane had no attention to bestow on any one else； but she found herself considerably useful to both of them in those hours of separation that must sometimes occur。 In the absence of Jane； he always attached himself to Elizabeth； for the pleasure of talking of her； and when Bingley was gone； Jane constantly sought the same means of relief。
‘‘He has made me so happy；'' said she； one evening； ‘‘by telling me that he was totally ignorant of my being in town last spring！ I had not believed it possible。''
‘‘I suspected as much；'' replied Elizabeth。 ‘‘But how did he account for it？''
‘‘It must have been his sister's doing。 They were certainly no friends to his acquaintance with me； which I cannot wonder at； since he might have chosen so much more advantageously in many respects。 But when they see； as I trust they will； that their brother is happy with me； they will learn to be contented； and we shall be on good terms again； though we can never be what we once were to each other。''
‘‘That is the most unforgiving speech；'' said Elizabeth； ‘‘that I ever heard you utter。 Good girl！ It would vex me； indeed； to see you again the dupe of Miss Bingley's pretended regard。''
‘‘Would you believe it； Lizzy； that when he went to town last November； he really loved me； and nothing but a persuasion of my being indifferent would have prevented his coming down again！''
‘‘He made a little mistake to be sure； but it is to the credit of his modesty。''
This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on his diffidence； and the little value he put on his own good qualities。 Elizabeth was pleased to find that he had not betrayed the interference of his friend； for； though Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the world； she knew it was a circumstance which must prejudice her against him。
‘‘I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed！'' cried Jane。 ‘‘Oh！ Lizzy； why am I thus singled from my family； and blessed above them all！ If I could but see you as happy！ If there were but such another man for you！''
‘‘If you were to give me forty such men； I never could be so happy as you。 Till I have your disposition； your goodness； I never can have your happiness。 No； no； let me shift for myself； and； perhaps； if I have very good luck； I may meet with another Mr。 Collins in time。''
The situation of affairs in the Longbourn family could not be long a secret。 Mrs。 Bennet was privileged to whisper it to Mrs。 Philips； and she ventured； without any permission； to do the same by all her neighbours in Meryton。
The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world； though only a few weeks before； when Lydia had first run away； they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune。
这次拜访以后，没有过几天，彬格莱先生又来了，而且只有他一个人来。他的朋友已经 在当天早上动身上伦敦去，不过十天以内就要回来。他在班府上坐了一个多钟头，显然非常 高兴。班纳特太太留他吃饭，他一再道歉，说是别处已经先有了约会。
班纳特太太只得说：“希望你下次来的时候，能够赏赏我们的脸。”
他说他随时都乐意来，只要她不嫌麻烦，他一有机会就来看她们。
“明天能来吗？”
能来，他明天没有约会；于是他爽爽快快地接受了她的邀请。
第二天他果然来了，来得非常早，太太小姐们都还没有打扮好。班纳特太太身穿晨衣， 头发才梳好一半，连忙跑进女儿房间里去大声嚷道：
“亲爱的吉英，快些下楼去。他来了。彬格莱先生来了。他真来了。赶快，赶快。我 说，莎蕾，赶快上大小姐这儿来，帮她穿衣服。你别去管丽萃小姐的头发啦。”
吉英说：“我们马上就下去，也许吉蒂比我们两个都快，因为她上楼有半个钟头了。”
“哦，别去管吉蒂吧！关她什么事？快些，快些！好孩子，你的腰带在哪儿？”母亲走 了以后，吉英再三要一个妹妹陪着她下楼去。
到了下午，显见得班纳特太太又一心要成全他们两人在一起。喝过了茶，班纳特先生照 着他平常的习惯，到书房里去了，曼丽上楼弹琴去了。班太太看见五个障碍去了两个，便立 刻对伊丽莎白和咖苔琳挤眉弄眼，吉蒂终于很天真地说：“怎么啦，妈妈？你为什么老是对 我眨眼？你要我做什么呀？”
“没什么，孩子，没什么。我没有对你眨眼。”于是她又多坐了五分钟，实在不愿意再 错过这大好的机会，她便突然站起来，对吉蒂说：
“来，宝贝，我跟你说句话，”说过这话，她便把吉蒂拉了出去。吉英立刻对伊丽莎白 望了一眼，意思说，她受不住这样的摆布，请求伊丽莎白不要也这样做。一眨眼工夫，只见 班纳特太太打开了半边门，喊道：
“丽萃，亲爱的，我要跟你说句话。”
伊丽莎白只得走出去。
一走进穿堂，她母亲就对她说：“我们最好不要去打扰他们，吉蒂和我都上楼到我化妆 室里去了。”
伊丽莎白没有跟她争辩，静静地留在穿堂里，等母亲和吉蒂走得看不见了，才又回到会 客室来。
班纳特太太这一天的打算没有如愿。彬格莱样样都讨人喜爱，只可惜没有公然以她女儿 的情人自居。他安然自若，神情愉快，在她们晚间的家庭聚会上，人人都喜欢他。虽然班纳 特太太不知分寸，多管闲事，他却竭力忍受；尽管她讲出多少蠢话，他也一些不动声色，很 有耐性地听着，这特别叫那女儿满意。
他几乎用不到主人家邀请，便自己留下来吃饭；他还没有告辞，便又顺应着班纳特太太 的意思，将计就计，约定明天来跟她丈夫打鸟。
自从这一天以后，吉英再也不说对他无所谓了。姐妹两人事后一句也没有谈起彬格莱， 可是伊丽莎白上床的时候，心里很是快活，觉得只要达西先生不准时赶回来，这件事很快便 会有眉目。不过她又认为事到如今，达西先生一定早已表示同意。
第二天彬格莱准时赴约，依照事先约定，跟班纳特先生在一起消磨了整个上午。班纳特 先生和蔼可亲，实在远远出乎彬格莱先生的意料。这是因为，彬格莱没有什么傲慢或愚蠢的 地方惹他嘲笑，或是叫他讨厌得不肯理睬他。比起彬格莱上次跟他见面的情形来，他这次更 加健谈。也不象以前那样古怪。不用说，彬格莱跟他一同回来吃了中饭，晚上班纳特太太又 设法把别人都遣开，让他跟她女儿在一起。伊丽莎白今晚有一封信要写吃，过茶以后，便到 起坐间去写信，因为她看到别人都坐下打牌，不便再和她母亲作对。
等她写好了信回到客厅里来的时候，一看那种情景，不由得触目惊心，认为母亲果然比 她聪明得多。且说她一走进门，只见姐姐和彬格莱一起站在壁炉跟前，看来正在谈话谈得起 劲，如果这情形还没有什么可疑，那么，只消看看他们俩那般的脸色，那般慌慌张张转过身 去，立即分开，你心里便有数了。他们窘态毕露，可是她自己却更窘。他们坐了下来，一言 不发；伊丽莎白正待走开，只见彬格莱突然站起身来，跟她姐姐悄悄地说了几句话，便跑出 去了。
吉英心里有了快活的事情，向来不隐瞒伊丽莎白，于是她马上抱住妹妹，极其热情地承 认她自己是天下最幸福的人。
她又说：“太幸福了！实在太幸福了。我不配。哎哟，为什么不能人人都象我这样幸福 呢？”
伊丽莎白连忙�
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