© Загородняя И. Б., адаптация, сокращение, словарь, 2022

© ООО «ИД «Антология», 2022

Chapter 1

It is a truth universally acknowledged^[1], that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want^[2] of a wife.

As soon as such a man first enters a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”

Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.

“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”

Mr. Bennet made no answer.

“Do you not want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.

“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately. He is taking possession before Michaelmas^[3], and some of his servants are going to be in the house by the end of next week.”

“What is his name?”

“Bingley.”

“Is he married or single?”

“Oh! Single, my dear! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!”

“How so? How can it affect them?”

“My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.”

“Is that his design?”

“Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”

“I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.”

“My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had some beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to stop thinking of her own beauty.”

“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”

“But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.

Consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. It will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not.”

“You are over-scrupulous, surely. Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word^[4] for my little Lizzy.”

“I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.”

“They are all silly and ignorant like other girls,” replied he, “but Lizzy has something more of quickness^[5] than her sisters.”

“Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves.”

“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least.”

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick mind, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice^[6], that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to interpret. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

Chapter 2

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who visited Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last^[7] always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter busy decorating a hat, he suddenly addressed her with:

“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”

“We cannot know what Mr. Bingley likes,” said her mother resentfully, “since we are not to visit.”

“But you forget, mamma,” said Elizabeth, “that we will meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him.”

“I do not believe Mrs. Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I have no opinion^[8] of her.”

“No more have I,” said Mr. Bennet; “and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her help.”

Mrs. Bennet did not make any reply, but, unable to contain herself, began scolding one of her daughters.

“Don't keep coughing so, Kitty! Have a little compassion on my nerves. You tear them to pieces.”

“Kitty has no discretion in her coughs; she times them ill,”^[9] said her father.

“I do not cough for my own amusement,” replied Kitty irritably. “When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?”

“In two weeks.”

“Oh, so it is,” cried her mother, “and Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before; so it will be impossible for her to introduce him, for she will not know him herself.”

“Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.”

“Impossible, Mr. Bennet, impossible, when I am not acquainted with him myself; how can you be so teasing? I am sick of Mr. Bingley now,” cried his wife.

“I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.”

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished. But when the first tumult of joy was over, Mrs. Bennet began to declare that it was what she had expected all the while.

“My dear Mr. Bennet! I knew I should persuade you at last. I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am! And it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now.”

“Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose,” said Mr. Bennet; and, as he spoke, he left the room, fatigued with the delights of his wife.

“What an excellent father you have, girls!” said she, when the door was shut. “Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I dare say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.”

“Oh!” said Lydia resolutely, “I am not afraid; for though I am the youngest, I'm the tallest.”

The rest of the evening was spent in guessing how soon he would return Mr. Bennet's visit, and determining when they should ask him to dinner.

Chapter 3

Neither Mrs. Bennet nor her five daughters could draw from Mr. Bennet any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. At last they had to accept the second-hand information of their neighbour, Lady Lucas. Her report was highly favourable. Her husband – Sir William – had been delighted with him. He was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and, to crown the whole,^[10] he was going to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.

“If I can only see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I will have nothing to wish for.”

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet's visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library.

An invitation to dinner was soon afterwards sent to Mr. Bingley. But soon an answer arrived. Mr. Bingley was obliged to be in town the following day, and, consequently, unable to accept the honour of their invitation, etc. Mrs. Bennet was quite upset. She could not imagine what business he could have in town so soon after his arrival in Hertfordshire; and she began to fear that he might be always flying about from one place to another, and never settled at Netherfield as he ought to be. Lady Lucas quieted her fears a little saying that he had gone to London only to get a large party for the ball; and a report soon followed that Mr. Bingley was to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only six with him from London – his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five altogether – Mr. Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had easy manners. His sisters were fine women. His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble appearance, and five minutes after his entrance it was known that he had ten thousand a year. He was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening. Then he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company^[11]; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, and was angry that the ball closed so early. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, didn't want to be introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and everybody hoped that he would never come there again.

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the lack of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to hear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it.

“Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. Please dance.”

“I certainly will not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.”

“I would not be so fastidious as you are,” cried Mr. Bingley. “I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty.”

“You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

“Oh! She is the most beautiful creature I ever seen! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Let me ask my partner to introduce you.”

“Which do you mean?” and turning round he looked for a moment at Elizabeth. Then he coldly said: “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me.”

Mr. Bingley followed his advice. Mr. Darcy walked off; and Elizabeth remained with no very cordial feelings toward him. She told the story, however, with great spirit^[12] among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition.

The evening altogether passed off pleasantly to the whole family. Mrs. Bennet had seen her eldest daughter much admired by the Netherfield party. Mr. Bingley had danced with her twice, and she had been distinguished by his sisters. Jane was as much gratified by this as her mother could be, though in a quieter way. Elizabeth felt Jane's pleasure. Mary had heard herself mentioned to Miss Bingley as the most accomplished girl in the neighbourhood; and Catherine and Lydia had been fortunate enough never to be without partners, which was all that they had yet learnt to care for at a ball. They returned, therefore, in good spirits to Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants. They found Mr. Bennet still up. He wanted to know of the events of an evening which had raised such splendid expectations.

“Oh! my dear Mr. Bennet,” as she entered the room, “we have had a very delightful evening, a very excellent ball. I wish you had been there. Jane was so admired, nothing could be like it. Everybody said how well she looked; and Mr. Bingley thought her quite beautiful, and danced with her twice! She was the only creature in the room that he asked a second time. First of all, he asked Miss Lucas. I was so vexed to see him stand up with her! Then he danced with Miss King, and then with Maria Lucas, and then with Jane again, and then with Lizzy, and —”

“If he had had any compassion for me,” cried her husband impatiently, “he would not have danced so much! For God's sake,^[13] say no more of his partners.”

“Oh, my dear, I am quite delighted with him. He is so excessively handsome! And his sisters are charming women. I never in my life saw anything more elegant than their dresses. Mrs. Hurst's gown —”

Here she was interrupted again. Mr. Bennet protested against any description of finery. So she related, with some exaggeration, the shocking rudeness of Mr. Darcy.

“But I can assure you,” she added, “that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I quite detest the man.”