《傲慢与偏见》第9集|Family Comforts

Jane appears strong about the loss ofBingley, but Elizabeth senses that her sister's pain runs deep. Fortunately,the Bennet sisters' wise aunt arrives just in time to hand out some much-neededadvice.

简对失去宾利表现得很坚强，但伊丽莎白感觉到姐姐痛苦深重。幸运的是，班纳特姐妹睿智的姨妈及时赶到，给了她们一些急需的建议。

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Their conversation – from chapter 24 – willbe the first reading of this episode

(READING)

A day or two passed before Jane had courageto speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; but at last, on Mrs. Bennet's leavingthem together, after a longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and itsmaster, she could not help saying:

"Oh, that my dear mother had morecommand over herself! She can have no idea of the pain she gives me by hercontinual reflections on him. But I will not repine. It cannot last long. Hewill be forgot, and we shall all be as we were before."

Elizabeth looked at her sister withincredulous solicitude, but said nothing.

"You doubt me," cried Jane,slightly colouring; "indeed, you have no reason. He may live in my memoryas the most amiable man of my acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothingeither to hope or fear, and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I havenot that pain. A little time, therefore—I shall certainly try to getthe better."

With a stronger voice she soon added,"I have this comfort immediately, that it has not been more than an errorof fancy on my side, and that it has done no harm to anyone but myself."

"My dear Jane!" exclaimedElizabeth, "you are too good. Your sweetness and disinterestedness arereally angelic; I do not know what to say to you. I feel as if I had never doneyou justice, or loved you as you deserve."

Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed allextraordinary merit, and threw back the praise on her sister's warm affection.

"Nay," said Elizabeth, "thisis not fair. You wish to think all the world respectable, and arehurt if I speak ill of anybody. I only want to think you perfect, andyou set yourself against it. Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, ofmy encroaching on your privilege of universal good-will. You need not. Thereare few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. Themore I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every dayconfirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of thelittle dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense. Ihave met with two instances lately, one I will not mention; the other isCharlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable! In every view it isunaccountable!"

"My dear Lizzy, do not give way tosuch feelings as these. They will ruin your happiness. You do not makeallowance enough for difference of situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins'srespectability, and Charlotte's steady, prudent character. Remember that she isone of a large family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be readyto believe, for everybody's sake, that she may feel something like regard andesteem for our cousin."

"To oblige you, I would try to believealmost anything, but no one else could be benefited by such a belief as this;for were I persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only thinkworse of her understanding than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr.Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, aswell as I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who marriedhim cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though itis Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change themeaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me, thatselfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger security forhappiness."

"I must think your language too strongin speaking of both," replied Jane; "and I hope you will be convincedof it by seeing them happy together. But enough of this. You alluded tosomething else. You mentioned two instances. I cannot misunderstandyou, but I entreat you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking thatperson to blame, and saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be soready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a livelyyoung man to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing butour own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than itdoes."

"And men take care that theyshould."

"If it is designedly done, they cannotbe justified; but I have no idea of there being so much design in the world assome persons imagine."

"I am far from attributing any part ofMr. Bingley's conduct to design," said Elizabeth; "but withoutscheming to do wrong, or to make others unhappy, there may be error, and theremay be misery. Thoughtlessness, want of attention to other people's feelings,and want of resolution, will do the business."

"And do you impute it to either ofthose?"

"Yes; to the last. But if I go on, Ishall displease you by saying what I think of persons you esteem. Stop mewhilst you can."

"You persist, then, in supposing hissisters influence him?"

"Yes, in conjunction with hisfriend."

"I cannot believe it. Why should theytry to influence him? They can only wish his happiness; and if he is attachedto me, no other woman can secure it."

"Your first position is false. Theymay wish many things besides his happiness; they may wish his increase ofwealth and consequence; they may wish him to marry a girl who has all theimportance of money, great connections, and pride."

"Beyond a doubt,they do wish him to choose Miss Darcy," replied Jane; "butthis may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They have known hermuch longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love her better. But,whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely they should have opposedtheir brother's. What sister would think herself at liberty to do it, unlessthere were something very objectionable? If they believed him attached to me,they would not try to part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. Bysupposing such an affection, you make everybody acting unnaturally and wrong,and me most unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of havingbeen mistaken—or, at least, it is light, it is nothing in comparison of what Ishould feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the bestlight, in the light in which it may be understood."

Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; andfrom this time Mr. Bingley's name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.

(END READING)

This part – from chapter 25 – will be oursecond reading today.

(READING)

When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, shespoke more on the subject. "It seems likely to have been a desirable matchfor Jane," said she. "I am sorry it went off. But these things happenso often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls inlove with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, soeasily forgets her, that these sort of inconsistencies are very frequent."

"An excellent consolation in itsway," said Elizabeth, "but it will not do for us. We do notsuffer by accident. It does not often happen that the interference offriends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of agirl whom he was violently in love with only a few days before."

"But that expression of 'violently inlove' is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very littleidea. It is as often applied to feelings which arise from a half-hour'sacquaintance, as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how violentwas Mr. Bingley's love?"

"I never saw a more promisinginclination; he was growing quite inattentive to other people, and whollyengrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. Athis own ball he offended two or three young ladies, by not asking them todance; and I spoke to him twice myself, without receiving an answer. Couldthere be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence oflove?"

"Oh, yes!—of that kind of love which Isuppose him to have felt. Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with herdisposition, she may not get over it immediately. It had better have happenedto you, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But doyou think she would be prevailed upon to go back with us? Change of scene mightbe of service—and perhaps a little relief from home may be as useful asanything."

Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with thisproposal, and felt persuaded of her sister's ready acquiescence.

"I hope," added Mrs. Gardiner,"that no consideration with regard to this young man will influence her.We live in so different a part of town, all our connections are so different,and, as you well know, we go out so little, that it is very improbable thatthey should meet at all, unless he really comes to see her."

"And that is quiteimpossible; for he is now in the custody of his friend, and Mr. Darcy would nomore suffer him to call on Jane in such a part of London! My dear aunt, howcould you think of it? Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such aplace as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month's ablutionenough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and dependupon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him."

"So much the better. I hope they willnot meet at all. But does not Jane correspond with hissister? She will not be able to help calling."

"She will drop the acquaintanceentirely."

But in spite of the certainty in whichElizabeth affected to place this point, as well as the still more interestingone of Bingley's being withheld from seeing Jane, she felt a solicitude on thesubject which convinced her, on examination, that she did not consider itentirely hopeless. It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, thathis affection might be reanimated, and the influence of his friendssuccessfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane's attractions.

(END READING)