MR. BENNET'S property consisted almost entirely in an estate of two thousand a year, which, unfortunately for his daughters, was entailed, in default of heirs male, on a distant relation; and their mother's fortune, though ample for her situation in life, could but ill supply the deficiency of his. Her father had been an attorney in Meryton, and had left her four thousand pounds.?

She had a sister married to a Mr. Phillips, who had been a clerk to their father, and succeeded him in the business, and a brother settled in London in a respectable line of trade.

The village of Longbourn was only one mile from Meryton; a most convenient distance for the young ladies, who were usually tempted thither three or four times a week, to pay their duty to their aunt, and to a milliner's shop just over the way. The two youngest of the family, Catherine and Lydia, were particularly frequent in these attentions; their minds were more vacant than their sisters', and when nothing better offered, a walk to Meryton was necessary to amuse their morning hours and furnish conversation for the evening; and however bare of news the country in general might be, they always contrived to learn some from their aunt. At present, indeed, they were well supplied both with news and happiness by the recent arrival of a militia regiment in the neighbourhood; it was to remain the whole winter, and Meryton was the head quarters.

Their visits to Mrs. Philips were now productive of the most interesting intelligence. Every day added something to their knowledge of the officers' names and connections. Their lodgings were not long a secret, and at length they began to know the officers themselves. Mr. Philips visited them all, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity unknown before. They could talk of nothing but officers; and Mr. Bingley's large fortune, the mention of which gave animation to their mother, was worthless in their eyes when opposed to the regimentals of an ensign.

After listening one morning to their effusions on this subject, Mr. Bennet coolly observed,

"From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced."

Catherine was disconcerted, and made no answer; but Lydia, with perfect indifference, continued to express her admiration of Captain Carter, and her hope of seeing him in the course of the day, as he was going the next morning to London.

"I am astonished, my dear," said Mrs. Bennet, "that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. If I wished to think slightingly of any body's children, it should not be of my own, however."

"If my children are silly I must hope to be always sensible of it."

"Yes -- but as it happens, they are all of them very clever."

"This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish."

"My dear Mr. Bennet, you must not expect such girls to have the sense of their father and mother. -- When they get to our age, I dare say they will not think about officers any more than we do. I remember the time when I liked a red coat myself very well -- and indeed, so I do still at my heart; and if a smart young colonel, with five or six thousand a year, should want one of my girls, I shall not say nay to him; and I thought Colonel Forster looked very becoming the other night at Sir William's in his regimentals."

"Mama," cried Lydia, "my aunt says that Colonel Forster and Captain Carter do not go so often to Miss Watson's as they did when they first came; she sees them now very often standing in Clarke's library."

Mrs. Bennet was prevented replying by the entrance of the footman with a note for Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and the servant waited for an answer. Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly calling out, while her daughter read,

"Well, Jane, who is it from? what is it about? what does he say? Well, Jane, make haste and tell us; make haste, my love."

"It is from Miss Bingley," said Jane, and then read it aloud.

"My dear Friend,

IF you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's te^te-a`-te^te between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers. Yours ever,

CAROLINE BINGLEY."

"With the officers!" cried Lydia. "I wonder my aunt did not tell us of that."

"Dining out," said Mrs. Bennet, "that is very unlucky."

"Can I have the carriage?" said Jane.

"No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay all night."

"That would be a good scheme," said Elizabeth, "if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home."

"Oh! but the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's chaise to go to Meryton; and the Hursts have no horses to theirs."

"I had much rather go in the coach."

"But, my dear, your father cannot spare the horses, I am sure. They are wanted in the farm, Mr. Bennet, are not they?"

"They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them."

"But if you have got them to-day," said Elizabeth, "my mother's purpose will be answered."

She did at last extort from her father an acknowledgment that the horses were engaged. Jane was therefore obliged to go on horseback, and her mother attended her to the door with many cheerful prognostics of a bad day. Her hopes were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were uneasy for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening without intermission; Jane certainly could not come back.

"This was a lucky idea of mine, indeed!" said Mrs. Bennet, more than once, as if the credit of making it rain were all her own. Till the next morning, however, she was not aware of all the felicity of her contrivance. Breakfast was scarcely over when a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:

"My dearest Lizzy,

I FIND myself very unwell this morning, which, I suppose, is to be imputed to my getting wet through yesterday. My kind friends will not hear of my returning home till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Mr. Jones -- therefore do not be alarmed if you should hear of his having been to me -- and excepting a sore throat and head-ache, there is not much the matter with me.

Yours, &c."

"Well, my dear," said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, "if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders."

"Oh! I am not at all afraid of her dying. People do not die of little trifling colds. She will be taken good care of. As long is she stays there, it is all very well. I would go and see her, if I could have the carriage."

Elizabeth, feeling really anxious, was determined to go to her, though the carriage was not to be had; and as she was no horse-woman, walking was her only alternative. She declared her resolution.

"How can you be so silly," cried her mother, "as to think of such a thing, in all this dirt! You will not be fit to be seen when you get there."

"I shall be very fit to see Jane -- which is all I want."

"Is this a hint to me, Lizzy," said her father, "to send for the horses?"

"No, indeed. I do not wish to avoid the walk. The distance is nothing, when one has a motive; only three miles. I shall be back by dinner."

"I admire the activity of your benevolence," observed Mary, "but every impulse of feeling should be guided by reason; and, in my opinion, exertion should always be in proportion to what is required."

"We will go as far as Meryton with you," said Catherine and Lydia. -- Elizabeth accepted their company, and the three young ladies set off together.

"If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes."

In Meryton they parted; the two youngest repaired to the lodgings of one of the officers' wives, and Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ancles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

She was shewn into the breakfast-parlour, where all but Jane were assembled, and where her appearance created a great deal of surprise. -- That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley; and Elizabeth was convinced that they held her in contempt for it. She was received, however, very politely by them; and in their brother's manners there was something better than politeness; there was good humour and kindness. -- Mr. Darcy said very little, and Mr. Hurst nothing at all. The former was divided between admiration of the brilliancy which exercise had given to her complexion, and doubt as to the occasion's justifying her coming so far alone. The latter was thinking only of his breakfast.

Her enquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish and not well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience, from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conversation, and when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.

When breakfast was over, they were joined by the sisters, and Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they shewed for Jane. The apothecary came, and having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment, nor were the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had in fact nothing to do elsewhere.

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go; and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern in parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was dispatched to Longbourn to acquaint the family with her stay, and bring back a supply of clothes.

--正文

本內特老爺的全部財產幾乎就是一塊地產，這塊地大約一年能產生收益兩千磅。但不幸的是，因為財產必須由男性繼承，他的女兒們無法得到，轉而給一個遠房親戚繼承了。至于本內特老娘的財產，對于她自己來說也算富余，但是還無法彌補本內特老爺的損失。本內特太太的父親是梅屯的一名律師，之前留了四千磅財產給她。

她還有個姐妹嫁給了菲爾普斯先生。菲爾普斯先生是她們父親的辦事員，后來接了她們父親的班。此外，他還有個兄弟定居在倫敦，做著收入相當可觀的生意。

蘑菇屯和梅屯相距只有一英里。這個距離對于姑娘們來說再方便不過了，她們每周會到對面三四次，拜訪她們的姨媽，也順路去一家女帽店逛一逛。家里最年輕的卡瑟林和莉迪亞，對這事尤其熱衷。相比姐姐們，她們總是想得很少，或者說更無聊一些，當沒什么好事做的時候，她們就喜歡去梅屯走走逛逛，打發(fā)早上的時間，也為晚上增加些談資。不管屯子里的新聞多么少見，她們總是能想方設法的從姨媽那打聽一些過來。當時聽說屯子里最近來了批民兵團，而且要在屯子里駐在整個冬天，梅屯正好是總部，姐妹倆都高興壞了。

姐妹倆現(xiàn)在去梅屯拜訪姐夫菲利普斯先生，可是充滿了機靈勁。每天她們都打聽到一些軍官的名字和人脈。軍官們的住所很快就被大家知道了，很快這兩個妹妹就開始結識軍官本人。姐夫一一拜訪了這些軍官，而這讓本內特家的兩個妹妹感受到前所未有的幸福。她們聊天什么都不說，只會聊軍官。而賓利的大筆財產，只會讓她們的老娘有些許激動，對于卡瑟林和莉迪亞這姐妹倆來說，這筆財產跟軍官的制服相比，一文不值。

本內特老爺聽她們倆滔滔不絕的聊了一個上午，全部都是在說軍官，于是便冷冷地說：“根據你們倆說話的樣子，你們肯定是這個國家最笨的兩個姑娘。我以前還有點懷疑，現(xiàn)在我十分確定了?！?/p>

卡瑟林聽完有些不安，但是沒有回答。但是莉迪亞完全沒有收到影響，仍然在濤濤不絕的表達著對卡特上尉的愛慕。又說著想在卡特上尉明天趕去倫敦之前，能在今天的操練中見到他。

“親愛的老爺，我很驚訝你竟然會覺得自己的孩子很笨。我要是看不起誰的孩子，那肯定是別人家的。”

“我們家的孩子要是笨的話，我還是希望能有自知之明。”

“你說的沒錯，可實際上我們家的孩子都很聰明”

”這是我們倆唯一意見不同的一點。我以前還希望我們能在每件事上都能達成一致，但是在這點上我跟你意見完全相反：我們家最小的兩個女兒可真是不同一般的蠢?！?/p>

”我親愛的本內特老爺，你可不能指望那么小的兩個姑娘能像他爸媽那樣明事理。她們到我們這么大的時候，肯定不會再對軍官們那么癡迷。我記得以前非常喜歡一件紅大衣，現(xiàn)在我還特別喜歡?，F(xiàn)在如果有個年輕的上校，一年能掙五六千磅，想要去我們家的姑娘，我肯定不會拒絕的。我覺得那晚威廉姆爵士家里，福斯特上校穿著那一身軍裝，還真是帥氣得體?！?/p>

”媽媽，“莉迪亞突然大聲喊，”我聽姨媽說福斯特上校和卡特上尉剛來的時候，可不像現(xiàn)在去瓦特森小姐家那么勤。她現(xiàn)在經常在克拉克圖書館見他們?！?/p>

本內特太太正要回答，突然被一個男仆進門打斷了，男仆帶了個便信給簡，并等著簡的回復。本內特太太眼里透著開心的火花，在女兒還在讀信的時候便著急的叫道：”簡，是誰寄來的？是說什么事的？小伙子說了啥？快點啊簡，快告訴我們?？旄嬖V我們，親愛的。“

”是賓利小姐寄來的?！昂喺f完就開始大聲讀信。

”我親愛的朋友，你今天要是不想跟我和路易莎吃飯的話，我們的余生可能就會在互相討厭中度過了。兩女人要是一天都待在一起，就沒有不吵架的。收到信請趕快過來。我的兄弟和其他先生們也會和軍官們一起吃飯。

你忠誠的

卡羅琳.賓利“

”和軍官一起吃飯？“莉迪亞大叫著說：”為啥姨媽沒跟我們說這事？“

”要出去吃飯，這可真不走運。“本內特太太說。

”我能坐四個輪的馬車走嗎？“簡問道。

”恐怕不行，親愛的，你最好騎馬過去。天看起來要下雨了，你吃完飯得在那住一宿?！?/p>

“這可不好說啊媽媽，萬一她們吃完飯要送姐姐回家呢？”伊麗莎白說。

”沒事。賓利的兩輪馬車也要載朋友去梅屯，而且赫斯特家的馬車也沒馬?！?/p>

”我還是想坐四個輪子的馬車去?！昂喺f

”可是親愛的，你爸的馬都被用著呢，勻不出來給你用。馬都在地里干活呢，是吧，本內特老爺？“

”那可不，老在地里干活，我自己都用不到這些馬?！?/p>

伊麗莎白說：”但是你今天要是能勻出這幾匹馬來，媽媽就能得償所愿了?！?/p>

馬得在地里干活，到最后伊麗莎白也沒能借到馬。簡沒辦法只能騎了匹馬過去。她老媽送她到了門口，說了好多今天天氣肯定不好的話，不一會就都應驗了。簡沒走多久，瓢潑大雨就下了下來。她妹妹們都替她擔心，但是本內特太太卻很開心。這雨下了整整一夜沒停，簡肯定會留在那兒過夜了。

本內特太太高興得說了不止一次：”這可都是我的聰明點子?。　?，好像是她下的雨一樣。到第二天早上，本內特太太不能確定計劃是否應驗了。大家提心吊膽得吃過了早飯，這時耐熱屯得一個仆人給伊麗莎白帶了一份便信來：”

我最親愛的小伊：

我今早覺得十分難受，我估計是昨天被淋透透的鍋。這邊的好朋友在我有所好轉之前，都不肯放我回去。他們也堅持請來了瓊斯醫(yī)生給我看病，所以你們聽說瓊斯先生看過我可千萬別擔心。除了喉嚨有些酸痛和頭疼外，我沒什么大礙。

你的簡“

”親愛的太太，“伊麗莎白讀完信后，本內特先生說，”如果你女兒得了什么重病，甚至死掉的話，你可得知道這是你堅持讓她去追求賓利先生的結果?！?/p>

”我肯不怕她會因為這個死掉。沒人會因為輕微的感冒而死掉的。她會被照顧好的。只要她待在賓利那兒，一切就都沒問題。要是有輛馬車的話，我就過去看看她?！?/p>

伊麗莎白十分擔心簡，盡管沒有馬車，也決心去看看她。而由于她又不會騎馬，所以只有走路過去，她跟大伙說了下這個想法。

她老娘立刻大叫：”你怎么能那么笨呢？地里都是泥，還想走著過去。你走到那還不糟蹋成什么樣了，都不能見人了。“

”我能過去看看簡，僅此而已?！?/p>

她老爸接過嘴說：”小伊，你是不是暗示我把馬借給你??？“

”不是這樣，我沒想著逃避走路。對于有心人來說，這點距離不算什么，不過三英里而已么，我會在晚飯前回來?！?/p>

”我佩服你因為關心簡而去看她，“瑪麗說，”但是情緒必須被理性所主導。我覺得行為不能出格?！?/p>

”我們送你到梅屯邊上，“卡瑟林和莉迪亞說。伊麗莎白接受了她們的陪同，三個姑娘就一起出發(fā)了。

正走著的時候，莉迪亞說：”如果我們走快點，我們也許能在卡特上尉出發(fā)前看到他一眼。“

在梅屯她們就分手了。兩個年輕的姑娘一起到軍官夫人的家去，伊麗莎白則自己一人走著，快速地走過一塊又一塊地，焦急得越過坑坑洼洼，總算能看到賓利得房子了。此時她的腳踝酸痛，襪子也臟了，一張臉因為走路的熱量而泛著紅。

她被人領進了早餐廳，除了簡每個人都在那，伊麗莎白的出現(xiàn)讓他們很驚訝。她自己竟然那么早，在這種糟糕的天氣下，一個人走了三英里過來了，對于赫斯特和賓利小姐來說，這簡直不可思議。伊麗莎白堅信達西他們瞧不起他的這種行為，但是出其意料的是，他們相當禮貌的接待了他。而且賓利的兄弟們的舉止里有比禮貌更多的東西。他們對她充滿善意和迎合。達西先生幾乎沒說話，而赫斯特先生什么都沒說。達西先生一方面伊麗莎白因為走路而潮紅的臉龐，另一方又在想為這么點事情是否要一個人走過來。而赫斯特先生則一心想著吃早飯了。

伊麗莎白打聽姐姐的情況，但是得到的答案卻不令她喜歡。簡因為生病而睡著了，盡管醒著的時候也發(fā)燒嚴重，沒法離開房間。伊麗莎白很快就被帶去看了她。而簡因為害怕讓家里人擔心，或者造成不方便，不敢再信里說其實她很想家里來人探望，其實看見了伊麗莎白過來探望，她特別開心。然而簡還不能說太多話，賓利小姐離開了房間后，除了說感謝她被悉心的照料外，她沒有說很多話。伊麗莎白無聲的照顧著她。

早飯吃完后，其他的姐妹們也過來一起照顧簡。伊麗莎白在看到她們是如何充滿關心得照顧簡只會，也開始喜歡上了她們。藥劑師過來檢查了只會說，簡應該是得了重感冒，必須竭力讓她好轉。藥劑師建議簡躺床上休息，并且給她開了幾劑藥。這些建議立刻被照搬了，因為簡的發(fā)燒加重了，她的頭也在劇烈抖動著。伊麗莎白一刻也沒離開房間，其他姑娘們也經常守在屋里面。男人們都出去了，他們在這里也幫不上什么忙。

到下午3點的時候，伊麗莎白盡覺得該走了，于是勉強的開了口。賓利小姐讓她坐四輪馬車回去，伊麗莎白本打算推辭下就接受，但是簡突然要她留下陪伴，于是賓利小姐就轉而邀請她現(xiàn)在耐熱屯先住下來，伊麗莎白充滿感激的住下了。賓利小姐又安排了一個仆人去蘑菇屯通知本內特一家，伊麗莎白在這住下了，然后帶一些衣服回來。