| [00:02.43] |
Jane’s illness |
| [00:06.29] |
Mr Bennet had a comfortable income of two thousand a year, |
| [00:09.50] |
and a pleasant house in Longbourn. |
| [00:11.52] |
But, unfortunately for his daughters, |
| [00:14.25] |
after his death all his property would pass to a distant male relation. |
| [00:20.65] |
Mrs Bennet’s father had been a lawyer, |
| [00:23.07] |
and had only left his daughter a small amount of money. |
| [00:27.07] |
She had a brother who owned shops in London, |
| [00:30.29] |
and she also had a sister, married to a Mr Philips. |
| [00:33.71] |
He had been her father’s clerk, |
| [00:35.98] |
and now carried on his late employer’s business. |
| [00:39.56] |
Mr and Mrs Philips lived in Meryton, |
| [00:42.43] |
which was only a kilo- metre or so from the village of Longbourn. |
| [00:46.45] |
It was a most convenient distance for the Bennet girls, |
| [00:49.53] |
who were usually tempted there three or four times a week, |
| [00:52.56] |
to visit their aunt or a dress- maker who lived opposite. |
| [00:57.10] |
The youngest daughters, |
| [00:58.53] |
Kitty and Lydia,were particularly regular visitors. |
| [01:02.05] |
Their minds were more vacant than their sisters, |
| [01:05.44] |
and if no better entertainment was available, |
| [01:08.51] |
a walk to Meryton always provided some amusement, |
| [01:11.87] |
as well as interesting local news from their aunt. |
| [01:14.66] |
The latest news, which delighted Kitty and Lydia, |
| [01:19.18] |
was that the regiment which had recently arrived in Meryton was to stay there for the whole winter. |
| [01:26.24] |
The two girls now visited their aunt every day, |
| [01:29.89] |
and as Mr Philips knew all the officers, |
| [01:32.60] |
Kitty and Lydia were soon introduced to them. |
| [01:35.75] |
At home they could talk of nothing but officers and their handsome uniforms |
| [01:40.81] |
even Mr Bingley’s fortune now seemed hardly worth considering. |
| [01:45.49] |
After listening to their praise of the officers one morning, |
| [01:49.03] |
Mr Bennet said coolly, |
| [01:50.82] |
From what I can see, |
| [01:53.19] |
you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. |
| [01:57.05] |
I’ve suspected it for some time,but now I’m convinced. |
| [02:01.87] |
Kitty was embarrassed and did not reply, |
| [02:04.20] |
but Lydia,the youngest, |
| [02:06.08] |
continued to express her admiration for a certain Captain Carter, |
| [02:10.44] |
with perfect indifference. |
| [02:12.41] |
I am very surprised,my dear, |
| [02:14.68] |
said Mrs Bennet, |
| [02:15.86] |
that you should be so ready to think your own children silly. |
| [02:19.09] |
As it happens, they are all very clever. |
| [02:21.39] |
That is the only point,I think, |
| [02:24.93] |
on which we do not agree. |
| [02:27.32] |
I am afraid I must say that I consider our two youngest daughters unusually foolish. |
| [02:32.45] |
My dear Mr Bennet, |
| [02:34.84] |
you mustn’t expect such young girls to have the common sense of their father or mother. |
| [02:39.44] |
I remember when I used to like a red coat myself, |
| [02:43.50] |
and indeed I still do. |
| [02:45.58] |
If a good-looking officer with five or six thousand a year wanted to marry one of my girls, |
| [02:50.95] |
I wouldn’t turn him down. |
| [02:52.49] |
And I thought Colonel Forster looked very handsome last night at Sir William’s, |
| [02:57.99] |
in his regimental uniform. |
| [02:59.95] |
Just then a servant entered with a note for Jane, |
| [03:03.75] |
which had come from Netherfield. |
| [03:05.02] |
Mrs Bennet’s eyes shone with pleasure and she called out eagerly, |
| [03:09.61] |
while her daughter was reading it, |
| [03:11.18] |
Well,Jane, who is it from? |
| [03:12.89] |
What does he say?Tell us, tell us quickly,my love! |
| [03:15.65] |
It’s from Miss Bingley, |
| [03:18.74] |
said Jane.She invites me to dinner at Netherfield, |
| [03:22.31] |
as she and her sister are alone. |
| [03:24.34] |
It seems her brother and the gentlemen are having dinner with the officers,in Meryton. |
| [03:29.74] |
With the officers!cried Lydia. |
| [03:33.12] |
I wonder why aunt Philips didn’t tell us that! |
| [03:36.02] |
Having dinner in Meryton, |
| [03:38.66] |
repeated Mrs Bennet, shaking her head. |
| [03:41.29] |
That’s very unlucky. |
| [03:43.28] |
May I take the carriage? asked Jane. |
| [03:47.57] |
No, my dear, |
| [03:48.50] |
you’d better ride over there, |
| [03:50.40] |
because it looks likely to rain, |
| [03:51.76] |
and then you’ll have to stay the night. |
| [03:53.70] |
That would be a good plan, |
| [03:56.62] |
said Elizabeth to her mother, |
| [03:58.19] |
if you were sure they wouldn’t offer to send her home in their carriage. |
| [04:01.86] |
Oh, but they can’t! |
| [04:03.43] |
The gentlemen must have taken Mr Bingley’s carriage to go to Meryton. |
| [04:07.47] |
I’d much rather go in the carriage,Jane said. |
| [04:11.32] |
But,my dear,your father can’t spare the horses, |
| [04:13.86] |
I’m sure.They’re needed on the farm, |
| [04:16.04] |
aren’t they, Mr Bennet?’ |
| [04:17.86] |
Mr Bennet finally agreed that they were in fact being used that day in the fields. |
| [04:24.24] |
So Jane set out on her horse, |
| [04:26.73] |
while her mother called cheerfully after her, |
| [04:29.42] |
I do hope it’ll rain heavily,my love! |
| [04:32.09] |
And Jane had not been gone for long before it rained hard. |
| [04:37.83] |
Elizabeth was a little worried about her sister, |
| [04:40.69] |
but Mrs Bennet was delighted. |
| [04:42.94] |
What a good idea of mine that was! |
| [04:45.94] |
she said more than once, |
| [04:47.38] |
extremely pleased with herself. |
| [04:50.12] |
Not until the next morning,however, |
| [04:53.08] |
did she realize the full extent of her success. |
| [04:57.16] |
After breakfast a servant from Netherfield arrived with a note from Jane to Elizabeth, |
| [05:02.22] |
explaining that Jane had caught cold on her wet ride, |
| [05:05.86] |
and had been invited to stay at Netherfield until she recovered. |
| [05:10.17] |
Well,my dear,said Mr Bennet, |
| [05:13.44] |
if your daughter should become seriously ill and die, |
| [05:16.32] |
it would be a comfort to know that she died in a good cause, |
| [05:20.24] |
and in obedience to your orders. |
| [05:21.99] |
Oh, I’m not afraid of her dying. |
| [05:24.04] |
People don’t die of colds. |
| [05:26.10] |
She’ll be looked after well at Netherfield. |
| [05:28.86] |
As long as she stays there, everything will be all right. |
| [05:32.43] |
But Elizabeth felt really anxious, |
| [05:36.14] |
and was determined to go to her sister. |
| [05:38.17] |
As the carriage was not available, |
| [05:40.86] |
and she was not keen on riding, |
| [05:42.68] |
she decided to walk the five kilometres to Netherfield. |
| [05:46.88] |
Kitty and Lydia accompanied her as far as Meryton, |
| [05:50.76] |
where they went to visit one of the officers’wives. |
| [05:53.30] |
Elizabeth continued alone, |
| [05:56.69] |
crossing field after field and jumping impatiently over streams, |
| [06:00.24] |
in her anxiety to see her sister. |
| [06:02.54] |
When she arrived at Netherfield, |
| [06:05.22] |
with tired feet,muddy stockings and a face healthily pink with exercise, |
| [06:10.01] |
she was shown straight into the sitting-room. |
| [06:12.30] |
The two sisters, Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst, |
| [06:16.46] |
could hardly believe that she had come so far alone and on foot in such bad weather, |
| [06:21.17] |
but they received her politely. |
| [06:23.44] |
Their brother, however, |
| [06:25.70] |
was more than polite |
| [06:27.49] |
he was kind and considerate towards her. |
| [06:30.19] |
Mr Darcy said very little, |
| [06:32.02] |
hesitating between admiration of her healthy good looks and doubt |
| [06:36.57] |
whether she should have come such a distance alone. |
| [06:39.67] |
Mr Hurst said nothing at all, |
| [06:41.60] |
as he was thinking only of his breakfast. |
| [06:45.28] |
Elizabeth was glad to be taken almost immediately to her sister’s room, |
| [06:49.30] |
where she found Jane delighted to see her, |
| [06:51.78] |
but very feverish and unwell.The doctor came, |
| [06:55.83] |
and after examining his patient, |
| [06:57.77] |
advised that she should stay in bed and take some medicine. |
| [07:01.45] |
Elizabeth stayed with her all day, |
| [07:03.30] |
looking after her,and the Bingley sisters also spent some time in the patient’s room. |
| [07:08.29] |
However,in the afternoon, |
| [07:10.63] |
when it was time for Elizabeth to leave, |
| [07:12.68] |
Jane seemed so upset that Miss Bingley was obliged to invite Elizabeth to stay at Netherfield for the present, |
| [07:19.42] |
and a servant was sent to Longbourn to inform the Bennet family and bring back some clothes. |
| [07:26.39] |
That evening Elizabeth went down to dinner, |
| [07:28.86] |
leaving Jane in bed in her room. |
| [07:31.90] |
She noticed the Bingley sisters |
| [07:34.16] |
apparent concern for Jane change to indifference in a few moments, |
| [07:37.85] |
and knew she had been right to dislike them at first sight. |
| [07:41.93] |
Mr Bingley, indeed, |
| [07:44.41] |
was the only one of the group whose behaviour she was satisfied with. |
| [07:47.76] |
His anxiety for Jane was evident, |
| [07:50.35] |
and his politeness towards herself most pleasing. |
| [07:54.62] |
But the others, she felt, |
| [07:55.78] |
treated her as an unwelcome guest. |
| [07:58.46] |
Miss Bingley was concentrating all her attention on Mr Darcy, |
| [08:02.95] |
and Mrs Hurst also joined in their conversation, |
| [08:06.56] |
while Mr Hurst was only interested in eating, |
| [08:10.42] |
drinking and playing cards. |
| [08:13.60] |
When Elizabeth left the room |
| [08:15.26] |
after dinner to see if Jane needed anything, |
| [08:17.94] |
Miss Bingley at once began to criticize her. |
| [08:20.36] |
What bad manners she has! |
| [08:22.20] |
She’s both proud, and lacking in politeness to her superiors! |
| [08:25.53] |
She has no conversation, |
| [08:27.10] |
no elegance and no beauty! |
| [08:28.67] |
Mrs Hurst agreed, and added, |
| [08:31.76] |
She has no good qualities, |
| [08:33.37] |
except that she’s an excellent walker. |
| [08:35.67] |
I’ll never forget her appearance this morning. |
| [08:37.88] |
She really looked almost wild. |
| [08:39.17] |
She did indeed,Louisa. |
| [08:41.68] |
How silly of her to come at all! |
| [08:43.55] |
Why must she run around the countryside, |
| [08:46.29] |
just because her sister has a cold? |
| [08:48.43] |
Her hair looked so untidy! |
| [08:50.81] |
And her dress!Simply covereb in mud! |
| [08:53.50] |
I must say,said Bingley, |
| [08:56.60] |
I didn’t notice any of that. |
| [08:58.34] |
I thought she looked remarkably attractive |
| [09:01.49] |
when she arrived this morning. |
| [09:02.66] |
You observed her wild appearance, |
| [09:04.80] |
I’m sure,Mr Darcy, |
| [09:05.76] |
said Miss Bingley, |
| [09:06.91] |
and I imagine you wouldn’t wish your sister to make such a show of herself.’ |
| [09:13.27] |
Certainly not. |
| [09:14.90] |
Walking four or five kilometres, |
| [09:17.34] |
whatever it was,up to her ankles in mud, |
| [09:19.98] |
and alone, quite alone! |
| [09:21.92] |
It seems to me to show a dreadful sort of independence, |
| [09:26.29] |
a country girl’s indifference to what is acceptable. |
| [09:30.87] |
I think it shows a very pleasing affection for her sister,said Bingley. |
| [09:35.38] |
I’m afraid, Mr Darcy, |
| [09:37.49] |
whispered Miss Bingley, |
| [09:39.19] |
that this adventure has rather lessened your admiration of her fine eyes. |
| [09:44.17] |
Not at all,he replied. |
| [09:47.00] |
They were brightened by the exercise. |
| [09:49.34] |
After a short pause, |
| [09:52.38] |
Mrs Hurst began again. |
| [09:54.95] |
I have a great liking for Jane Bennet. |
| [09:57.57] |
She is really a very sweet girl, |
| [09:59.29] |
and I wish with all my heart she were well married. |
| [10:01.34] |
But with such a father and mother, |
| [10:03.72] |
and with such vulgar relations, |
| [10:05.36] |
I’m afraid there’s no chance of it. |
| [10:07.73] |
I think the Bennet girls have an uncle who’s a lawyer in Meryton. |
| [10:12.53] |
Yes,and they have another who owns shops in Cheapside! |
| [10:17.50] |
Such a nice part of London! |
| [10:21.14] |
Both the sisters laughed. |
| [10:22.80] |
If they had enough uncles to fill Cheapside, |
| [10:26.70] |
cried Bingley, |
| [10:27.76] |
it wouldn’t make them any less charming! |
| [10:29.69] |
But it must considerably lessen their chances of marrying men of any position in the world, |
| [10:35.48] |
replied Darcy. |
| [10:36.91] |
Bingley did not answer, |
| [10:38.83] |
but his sisters agreed enthusiastically, |
| [10:41.50] |
and continued mocking their dear friend’s vulgar relations for some time. |
| [10:46.81] |
Late in the evening, |
| [10:49.20] |
when Elizabeth was satisfied that Jane was asleep, |
| [10:52.29] |
she felt she ought to go downstairs again. |
| [10:54.40] |
She found the party in the sitting-room, |
| [10:57.04] |
playing cards, |
| [10:58.09] |
but although they invited her to join in their game, |
| [11:01.12] |
she refused politely, and picked up a book to read. |
| [11:05.14] |
I can fetch you more books to read, |
| [11:07.22] |
if you wish,offered Bingley, |
| [11:08.72] |
but I’m afraid I haven’t got a large library. |
| [11:11.34] |
Unlike you,I’m too lazy to spend much time reading. |
| [11:15.26] |
What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, |
| [11:18.53] |
Mr Darcy!said Miss Bingley. |
| [11:21.35] |
And what a beautiful house it is! |
| [11:23.25] |
Charles,when you buy your house, |
| [11:25.68] |
I hope it will be even half as lovely as Pemberley. |
| [11:29.16] |
I hope so too,agreed Bingley. |
| [11:32.36] |
And your dear sister, Mr Darcy? |
| [11:34.72] |
I expect she’s grown since the spring. |
| [11:37.18] |
I want so much to see her again! |
| [11:39.50] |
I’ve never met anyone who delighted me so much! |
| [11:43.63] |
Such an appearance,such manners! |
| [11:45.91] |
And so extremely accomplished for her age! |
| [11:50.29] |
I’m always surprised,said Bingley, |
| [11:52.47] |
to find how very accomplished all young ladies are. |
| [11:56.21] |
How do they have the time and patience to learn all these skills |
| [12:00.73] |
Certainly people use the word“accomplished”too loosely, |
| [12:04.90] |
said Darcy,but I am far from agreeing with you about ladies in general. |
| [12:09.87] |
I cannot boast of knowing more than six who are really accomplished. |
| [12:13.98] |
Then,said Elizabeth |
| [12:16.49] |
your idea of an accomplished woman must include a great many qualities. |
| [12:20.89] |
Yes, a great many. |
| [12:22.96] |
Oh!Certainly, |
| [12:26.33] |
cried his faithful assistant,Miss Bingley, |
| [12:29.08] |
an accomplished woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, |
| [12:33.04] |
singing, drawing, dancing and modern languages, |
| [12:37.55] |
and besides this, |
| [12:39.56] |
a certain something in her manner of walking, |
| [12:42.76] |
in her voice and in her behaviour. |
| [12:46.52] |
All this she must possess, |
| [12:48.36] |
added Darcy,and something more solid, |
| [12:51.59] |
the improvement of her mind by wide reading. |
| [12:54.58] |
I’m no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women, |
| [13:00.28] |
said Elizabeth.I rather wonder at your knowing any. |
| [13:03.54] |
I’ve never seen such elegance, |
| [13:06.00] |
and intelligence,and knowledge, |
| [13:08.36] |
as you describe, in one woman. |
| [13:11.70] |
Mrs Hurst and Miss Bingley were both protesting loudly that they knew many women like this, |
| [13:17.33] |
when Mr Hurst called their attention back to the card game. |
| [13:21.76] |
As this meant an end to the conversation, |
| [13:23.38] |
Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room. |
| [13:26.55] |
Miss Elizabeth Bennet, |
| [13:27.99] |
said Miss Bingley to Darcy, |
| [13:29.85] |
is one of those women who try to appear attractive to men by undervaluing other women. |
| [13:35.42] |
I think that’s a mean trick. |
| [13:39.02] |
It is true,said Darcy, |
| [13:40.73] |
that there is meanness in all the tricks used by ladies to attract men. |
| [13:46.04] |
Miss Bingley was not satisfied enough with this answer to continue the conversation. |
| [13:52.33] |
The next morning Elizabeth was glad to be able to inform Mr Bingley and his sisters that Jane |
| [13:59.54] |
In spite of this improvement, however, |
| [14:03.69] |
she asked for her mother to be sent for, |
| [14:05.82] |
as she wanted Mrs Bennet’s opinion of Jane’s state of health. |
| [14:09.85] |
Soon after breakfast, therefore, Mrs Bennet, |
| [14:12.43] |
accompanied by her two youngest daughters, |
| [14:14.74] |
reached Netherfield.Elizabeth, |
| [14:17.92] |
although relieved to hear that her mother did not think Jane’s illness serious, |
| [14:21.82] |
began to regret asking her to come, |
| [14:24.68] |
when she saw the Bingley sisters smiling at Mrs Bennet’s remarks. |
| [14:28.02] |
Elizabeth blushed for her mother, |
| [14:30.60] |
who could not help showing her lack of intelligence and common sense in everything she said. |
| [14:36.23] |
Kitty and Lydia made an equally had impression. |
| [14:39.56] |
They had been whispering together, |
| [14:41.83] |
when suddenly Lydia,who was an attractive, |
| [14:44.16] |
confident, well-grown girl of fifteen, |
| [14:46.68] |
pushed herself rudely forward. |
| [14:48.85] |
She begged Mr Bingley to hold a ball at Netherfield. |
| [14:52.17] |
With his usual politeness, |
| [14:54.53] |
Mr Bingley promised he would, |
| [14:56.27] |
but Elizabeth saw his sisters exchanging meaningful glances. |
| [15:00.33] |
She was quite glad when her mother and sisters left. |
| [15:03.90] |
She and Jane were to stay another night at Netherfield, |
| [15:07.44] |
to allow Jane to recover completely. |
| [15:10.23] |
That evening Elizabeth appeared again in the sitting-room. |
| [15:14.27] |
She could not avoid noticing how frequently Mr Darcy’s eyes were fixed on her, |
| [15:19.68] |
but as she felt sure that so great a man could not possibly admire her, |
| [15:24.32] |
she assumed that when he looked at her, |
| [15:26.51] |
he was criticizing her in some way. |
| [15:29.32] |
This thought did not cause her any pain, |
| [15:31.07] |
as she liked him too little to care for his approval. |
| [15:35.15] |
In the conversations she had with him, |
| [15:36.86] |
she spoke in her usual slightly mocking manner, |
| [15:39.98] |
rather expecting to offend him, |
| [15:42.43] |
but was surprised by the quiet politeness of his replies. |
| [15:46.56] |
Darcy had never before been so charmed by any woman. |
| [15:49.81] |
He really believed that if she did not have such vulgar relations, |
| [15:54.75] |
he might be in danger of falling in |
| [16:10.11] |
Fortunately perhaps, |
| [16:11.46] |
for almost everyone at Netherfield, |
| [16:13.36] |
Elizabeth and her sister, |
| [16:14.80] |
who was now quite recovered, |
| [16:16.82] |
were returning home the next day. |
| [16:19.70] |
Only Mr Bingley showed real sorrow at this, |
| [16:23.03] |
and was concerned that Jane might not be fit enough to travel. |
| [16:26.98] |
Mr Darcy was quite relieved, |
| [16:29.50] |
and determined that no sign of admiration for Elizabeth should escape him now. |
| [16:34.80] |
Miss Bingley’s politeness to Elizabeth, |
| [16:37.20] |
as well as her affection for Jane, |
| [16:38.96] |
increased rapidly as the moment of departure approached, |
| [16:41.95] |
and she was able to say goodbye to them |
| [16:44.72] |
with many warm expressions of friendliness and a promise to visit them very soon. |
| [16:49.40] |
Mr Bennet was glad to welcome his eldest daughters home again, |
| [16:53.88] |
as he had felt their absence from the family circle, |
| [16:57.27] |
but Mrs Bennet, who had hoped they would stay much longer, |
| [17:00.09] |
was quite disappointed to see them come back in such a short time. |