Chapter8 ATfiveo'clockthetwoladiesretiredtodress,andathalfpastsixElizabethwassummonedtodinner.Tothecivilenquirieswhichthenpouredin,andamongstwhichshehadthepleasureofdistinguishingthemuchsuperiorsolicitudeofMr.Bingley's,shecouldnotmakeaveryfavourableanswer.Janewasbynomeansbetter.Thesisters,onhearingthis,repeatedthreeorfourtimeshowmuchtheyweregrieved,howshockingitwastohaveabadcold,andhowexcessivelytheydislikedbeingillthemselves,andthenthoughtnomoreofthematter;andtheirindifferencetowardsJane,whennotimmediatelybeforethem,restoredElizabethtotheenjoymentofallheroriginaldislike. Theirbrother,indeed,wastheonlyoneofthepartywhomshecouldregardwithanycomplacency.HisanxietyforJanewasevident,andhisattentionstoherselfmostpleasing,andtheypreventedherfeelingherselfsomuchanintruderasshebelievedshewasconsideredbytheothers.Shehadverylittlenoticefromanybuthim.MissBingleywasengrossedbyMr.Darcy,hersisterscarcelylessso;andasforMr.Hurst,bywhomElizabethsat,hewasanindolentman,wholivedonlytoeat,drink,andplayatcards,who,whenhefoundherpreferaplaindishtoaragout,hadnothingtosaytoher. Whendinnerwasover,shereturneddirectlytoJane,andMissBingleybeganabusingherassoonasshewasoutoftheroom.Hermannerswerepronouncedtobeverybadindeed,amixtureofprideandimpertinence;shehadnoconversation,nostile,notaste,nobeauty.Mrs.Hurstthoughtthesame,andadded, "Shehasnothing,inshort,torecommendher,butbeinganexcellentwalker.Ishallneverforgetherappearancethismorning.Shereallylookedalmostwild." "Shedidindeed,Louisa.Icouldhardlykeepmycountenance.Verynonsensicaltocomeatall!Whymustshebescamperingaboutthecountry,becausehersisterhadacold?Herhairsountidy,soblowsy!" "Yes,andherpetticoat;Ihopeyousawherpetticoat,sixinchesdeepinmud,Iamabsolutelycertain;andthegownwhichhadbeenletdowntohideitnotdoingitsoffice." "Yourpicturemaybeveryexact,Louisa,"saidBingley; "butthiswasalllostuponme.IthoughtMissElizabethBennetlookedremarkablywell,whenshecameintotheroomthismorning.Herdirtypetticoatquiteescapedmynotice." "Youobservedit,Mr.Darcy,Iamsure,"saidMissBingley, "andIaminclinedtothinkthatyouwouldnotwishtoseeyoursistermakesuchanexhibition." "Certainlynot." "Towalkthreemiles,orfourmiles,orfivemiles,orwhateveritis,aboveheranclesindirt,andalone,quitealone!whatcouldshemeanbyit?Itseemstometoshewanabominablesortofconceitedindependence,amostcountrytownindifferencetodecorum." 第八章 五点钟的时候，主人家两姐妹出去更衣；六点半的时候伊丽莎白被请去吃晚饭。大家都礼貌周全，纷纷来探问吉英的病情，其中尤其是彬格莱先生问得特别关切，这叫伊丽莎白非常愉快，只可惜吉英的病情一些没有好转，因此她无法给人家满意的回答。那姐妹听到这话，便几次三番地说她们是多么担心，说重伤风是多么可怕，又说她们自己多么讨厌生病，──说过了这些话以后就不当它一回事了。伊丽莎白看到她们当吉英不在她们面前的时候就对吉英这般冷淡，于是她本来那种讨厌她们的心理现在又重新滋长起来。的确，她们这家人里面只有她们的兄弟能使她称心满意，你一眼便可以看出他是真的在为吉英担忧，再说他对于伊丽莎白也殷勤和悦到极点。伊丽莎白本以为人家会把她看作一个不速之客，可是有了这份殷勤，她就不这么想了。除他以外，别人都不大理睬她。彬格莱小姐的心在达西先生身上，赫斯脱太太差不多也没有什么两样；再说到赫斯脱先生，他就坐在伊丽莎白身旁，他天生一副懒骨头，活在世上就是为了吃、喝、玩牌，他听到伊丽莎白宁可吃一碟普通的菜而不喜欢吃烩肉，便和她谈不上劲了。 伊丽莎白一吃过晚饭就回到吉英那儿去。她一走出饭厅，彬格莱小姐就开始说她的坏话，把她的作风说得坏透了，说她既傲慢又无礼貌，不懂得跟人家攀谈，仪表不佳，风趣索然，人又长得难看。赫斯脱太太也是同样的看法，而且还补充了几句： “总而言之，她除了跑路的本领以外，没有要样别的长处。她今儿早上那副样子我才永远忘不了呢，简直象个疯子。” “她的确象个疯子，露薏莎。我简直忍不住要笑出来。她这一趟来得无聊透顶；姐姐伤了点风，干吗要她那么大惊小怪地跑遍了整个村庄？──头发给弄得那么蓬乱，那么邋遢！” “是呀，还有她的衬裙──可惜你没看到她的衬裙。我绝对不是瞎说，那上面糊上了有足足六英寸泥，她把外面的裙子放低了些，想把来遮盖，可是遮盖不住。”彬格莱先生说：“你形容得并没有过火的地方，露薏莎，可是我并不以为然。我倒觉得伊丽莎白·班纳特小姐今儿早上走进屋来的时候，那种神情风度很不错呢。我并没有看到她的肮脏的衬裙。” “你一定看到的，达西先生，”彬格莱小姐说，“我想，你总不愿意看到你自己的姐妹弄成那副狼狈样子吧。” “当然不愿意。” “无缘无故赶上那么三英里路、五英里路，谁晓得多少英里呢，泥土盖没了踝骨，而且是孤孤单单的一个人！她这究竟是什么意思？我看她十足表现了没有家教的野态，完全是乡下人不懂礼貌的轻狂。”