DAY 7

 2 Jane's illness （2-4）

Elizabeth， although relieved to hear that her mother did not think Jane's illness serious，began to regret asking her to come， when she saw the Bingley sisters smiling at Mrs. Bennet's remarks．Elizabeth blushed for her mother， who could not help showing her lack of intelligence and common sense in everything she said．

Kitty and Lydia made an equally bad impression．They had been whispering together， when suddenly Lydia，who was an attractive， confident， well-grown girl of fifteen， pushed herself rudely forward. She begged Mr. Bingley to hold a ball at Netherfield． With his usual politeness， Mr. Bingley promised he would，but Elizabeth saw his sisters exchanging meaningful glances．She was quite glad when her mother and sisters left．She and Jane were to stay another night at Netherfield， to allow Jane to recover completely．

That evening Elizabeth appeared again in the sitting-room．She could not avoid noticing how frequently Mr. Darcy's eyes were fixed on her， but as she felt sure that so great a man could not possibly admire her，she assumed that when he looked at her， he was criticizing her in some way．This thought did not cause her any pain， as she liked him too little to care for his approval．

In the conversations she had with him， she spoke in her usual slightly mocking manner， rather expecting to offend him，but was surprised by the quiet politeness of his replies．Darcy had never before been so charmed by any woman．He really believed that if she did not have such vulgar relations， he might be in danger of falling in love with her． Miss Bingley saw or suspected enough to be jealous， and her great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane was increased by her wish to get rid of Elizabeth．

Fortunately perhaps， for almost everyone at Netherfield，Elizabeth and her sister， who was now quite recovered， were returning home the next day． Only Mr. Bingley showed real sorrow at this， and was concerned that Jane might not be fit enough to travel． Mr. Darcy was quite relieved， and determined that no sign of admiration for Elizabeth should escape him now． Miss Bingley's politeness to Elizabeth， as well as her affection for Jane， increased rapidly as the moment of departure approached，and she was able to say goodbye to them with many warm expressions of friendliness and a promise to visit them very soon．

Mr. Bennet was glad to welcome his eldest daughters home again，as he had felt their absence from the family circle，but Mrs. Bennet， who had hoped they would stay much longer， was quite disappointed to see them come back in such a short time．

 

 NOTES:

Be relieved to：解除；减轻；缓解

blushed for：羞愧

make a good impression：留下好印象.       make a bad impression：留下一个坏印象

whisper together：交头接耳

well-grown：生长良好

push forward：推进；抓紧进行;  push oneself forward：突出自己；出风头

beg to：央求      beg sb to do sth：请求（某人）做（某事）

meaningful：adj. 有意义的；意味深长的

meaningful glance：眨眼示意或好像眨眼向人示意的目光

fix on：确定；固定；使集中于

feel sure：确信

so great a man：一位如此重要的人

in some way：在某些方面；在某种程度上

approval:n. 批准；认可；赞成

speak in one's manner:说话的方式;     

speak in one's mock manner:以一种嘲弄的方式说话

speak in one's usual slightly mock manner：以一种平常的方式说话

offend sb.：冒犯某人

charmed by：被迷住

quite recovered：完全恢复

quite relieved：感到非常欣慰

no sign of：没有……的迹象

admiration for：钦佩；对…赞赏

the moment of：……的时刻

departure : n. 离开；出发；违背

departure approached:离开时

family circle：n. 家庭圈子；