但凡财运具佳的单身汉，必然想要娶妻成家，这是举世公认的真理。<br> 尽管这种单身汉初到一个地方时。其感受或心思都鲜为人知，但在左邻右舍的人们心中，这一直理早已是根深蒂固．所以总是有人把他视为自家某个女儿应得的一份财产。<br> “亲爱的贝内特先生，”有一天，妻子对他说，“你听说了吗。尼瑟菲尔德庄园终于快要有人来租住了?”<br> 贝内特先生答道，还没有听说过。“但是，没错，”妻子又说，“因为郎夫人刚来过这里，是她告诉我的。”<br> 贝内特先生没有答话。<br> “你难道就不想知道是谁来租住那个庄园吗?”妻子急切地说。<br> “你想要告诉我。我倒乐意听听。”<br> 这话让她来了劲。<br> “唷，亲爱的，你得知道，租住尼瑟菲尔德庄园的是位来自英格兰北部的青年男子。他可是个大富。但星期一乘坐豪华马车来看了这片宅地，非常满意，已经谈妥两周后这所庄园就归他所用了。而且打算在下周末之前，就先让几位仆人住进去。”<br> “怎么称呼他?”<br> “彬礼。”<br> “是已有家室还是单身?”<br> “哦，单身，没错，亲爱的。一位非常富有的单身汉。年收入四、五千英镑。这对我们女儿们来说，真是件好事。”<br> “怎见得?这跟女儿们有何关系?”丈夫问道，显出不耐烦的样子。<br> “亲爱的贝内特先生”妻子答道，“你真烦人！你必须明白，我正在想着把咱们的一个女儿嫁给他。”<br> “这就是他在这里安顿下来的如意算盘吗？”<br> “如意算盘！胡说。这话你怎么能说得出口。但是他很可能会看上咱们的一个女儿。所以等他一来你就必须尽快去拜访他。”<br> “我可没时间干这个；要去你跟女儿们一块去，不然你就打发她们自己去谈，这样反倒更好一些。因为你和她们一样美。没准儿彬礼先生最喜欢你呢。”贝内特先生煞有介事地说。而他妻子却信以为真。<br> “亲爱的，你过奖了。我年轻时确实曾拥有过美貌，可现在我没法装扮成容貌出众的样子了。作为五个女儿的妈妈，就别再回想自己的美貌了。”<br> “这么说来。女人就不能常想想自己的美貌啦。”<br> “说真格儿的，亲爱的，彬礼先生搬来后你一定得去他家拜访。”<br> “我确实地告诉你吧，我真的做不到。”<br> It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man inpossession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.<br> However little can be known of the feelings or views of such aman upon his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so wellfixed in the minds of the surrounding families that he is consideredas the rightful property of someone or other of their daughters.<br> "My dear, Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "haveyou heard that Netherfield Park will soon be occupied at last?"<br> Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.<br> "But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here,and she told me all about it."<br> Mr. Bennet made no answer.<br> "Do not you want to know who has taken it?" cried his<br> wifeimpatiently.<br> "You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."<br> This was invitation enough.<br> "Why, my dear, you must know that Netherfield is taken by ayoung man of large fortune from the north of England. He camedown on Monday in a fine carriage to see the place, and was somuch delighted with it that he agreed to take possession in twoweeks, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the endof next week."<br> "What is his name?"<br> "Bingley."<br> "Is he married or single?" "Oh!Single,my dear, to be sure! A single man of large for-tune; four or five thousand pounds a year. What a fine thing for ourgirls!"<br> "How so? How can it affect them?" asked her husband, look-ing annoyed.<br> "My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be sotiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one ofthem."<br> "Is that his design in settling here?"<br> "Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very<br> likelythat he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore, you mustvisit him as soon as he comes."<br> "I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or youmay send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better;,for, as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might likeyou the best of the party," he said sarcastically, though his wifesupposed he spoke genuinely.<br> "My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share ofbeauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now.When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give overthinking of her own beauty."<br> "In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to thinkof."<br> "But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley whenhe comes into the neighbourhood."<br> "It is more than I engage for, I assure you." P14-17
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