苗疆小说网

第100章（第1页）

InDarcyspresenceshedarednotmentionWickhamsname;butElizabethinstantlycomprehendedthathewasuppermostinherthoughts;andthevariousrecollectionsconnectedwithhimgaveheramomentsdistress;butexertingherselfvigorouslytorepeltheill-naturedattack，shepresentlyansweredthequestioninatolerablydetachedtone。Whileshespoke，aninvoluntaryglanceshowedherDarcy，withaheightenedcomplexion，earnestlylookingather，andhissisterovercomewithconfusion，andunabletoliftuphereyes。HadMissBingleyknownwhatpainshewasthengivingherbelovedfriend，sheundoubtedlywouldhaverefrainedfromthehint;butshehadmerelyintendedtodiscomposeElizabethbybringingforwardtheideaofamantowhomshebelievedherpartial，tomakeherbetrayasensibilitywhichmightinjureherinDarcysopinion，and，perhaps，toremindthelatterofallthefolliesandabsurditiesbywhichsomepartofherfamilywereconnectedwiththatcorps。NotasyllablehadeverreachedherofMissDarcysmeditatedelopement。Tonocreaturehaditbeenrevealed，wheresecrecywaspossible，excepttoElizabeth;andfromallBingleysconnectionsherbrotherwasparticularlyanxioustoconcealit，fromtheverywishwhichElizabethhadlongagoattributedtohim，oftheirbecominghereafterherown。Hehadcertainlyformedsuchaplan，andwithoutmeaningthatitshouldeffecthisendeavourtoseparatehimfromMissBennet，itisprobablethatitmightaddsomethingtohislivelyconcernforthewelfareofhisfriend。

Elizabethscollectedbehaviour，however，soonquietedhisemotion;andasMissBingley，vexedanddisappointed，darednotapproachnearertoWickham，Georgianaalsorecoveredintime，thoughnotenoughtobeabletospeakanymore。Herbrother，whoseeyeshefearedtomeet，scarcelyrecollectedherinterestintheaffair，andtheverycircumstancewhichhadbeendesignedtoturnhisthoughtsfromElizabethseemedtohavefixedthemonhermoreandmorecheerfully。

Theirvisitdidnotcontinuelongafterthequestionandanswerabovementioned;andwhileMr。DarcywasattendingthemtotheircarriageMissBingleywasventingherfeelingsincriticismsonElizabethsperson，behaviour，anddress。ButGeorgianawouldnotjoinher。Herbrothersrecommendationwasenoughtoensureherfavour;hisjudgementcouldnoterr，andhehadspokeninsuchtermsofElizabethastoleaveGeorgianawithoutthepoweroffindingherotherwisethanlovelyandamiable。WhenDarcyreturnedtothesaloon，MissBingleycouldnothelprepeatingtohimsomepartofwhatshehadbeensayingtohissister。

“HowveryillMissElizaBennetlooksthismorning，Mr。Darcy，”shecried;“Ineverinmylifesawanyonesomuchalteredassheissincethewinter。Sheisgrownsobrownandcoarse!LouisaandIwereagreeingthatweshouldnothaveknownheragain。”

HoweverlittleMr。Darcymighthavelikedsuchanaddress，hecontentedhimselfwithcoollyreplyingthatheperceivednootheralterationthanherbeingrathertanned，nomiraculousconsequenceoftravellinginthesummer。

“Formyownpart，”sherejoined，“ImustconfessthatInevercouldseeanybeautyinher。Herfaceistoothin;hercomplexionhasnobrilliancy;andherfeaturesarenotatallhandsome。Hernosewantscharacter—thereisnothingmarkedinitslines。Herteetharetolerable，butnotoutofthecommonway;andasforhereyes，whichhavesometimesbeencalledsofine，Icouldneverseeanythingextraordinaryinthem。Theyhaveasharp，shrewishlook，whichIdonotlikeatall;andinherairaltogether，thereisaself-sufficiencywithoutfashion，whichisintolerable。”

PersuadedasMissBingleywasthatDarcyadmiredElizabeth，thiswasnotthebestmethodofrecommendingherself;butangrypeoplearenotalwayswise;andinseeinghimatlastlooksomewhatnettled，shehadallthesuccesssheexpected。Hewasresolutelysilent，however，and，fromadeterminationofmakinghimspeak，shecontinued:

“Iremember，whenwefirstknewherinHertfordshire，howamazedweallweretofindthatshewasareputedbeauty;andIparticularlyrecollectyoursayingonenight，aftertheyhadbeendiningatNetherfield，sheabeauty!—Ishouldassooncallhermotherawit。Butafterwardssheseemedtoimproveonyou，andIbelieveyouthoughtherratherprettyatonetime。”

“Yes，”repliedDarcy，whocouldcontainhimselfnolonger，“butthatwasonlywhenIfirstsawher，foritismanymonthssinceIhaveconsideredherasoneofthehandsomestwomenofmyacquaintance。”

Hethenwentaway，andMissBingleywaslefttoallthesatisfactionofhavingforcedhimtosaywhatgavenooneanypainbutherself。

Mrs。GardinerandElizabethtalkedofallthathadoccurredduringtheirvisit，astheyreturned，exceptwhathadparticularlyinterestedthemboth。Thelookandbehaviourofeverybodytheyhadseenwerediscussed，exceptofthepersonwhohadmostlyengagedtheirattention。Theytalkedofhissister，hisfriends，hishouse，hisfruit—ofeverythingbuthimself;yetElizabethwaslongingtoknowwhatMrs。Gardinerthoughtofhim，andMrs。Gardinerwouldhavebeenhighlygratifiedbyherniecesbeginningthesubject。