Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 4
Orgullo y Prejuicio - Capítulo 4
Jane and Elizabeth were particularly close. They were both intelligent and well-read, but their personalities were quite different.
Jane y Elizabeth eran particularmente unidas. Ambas eran inteligentes y cultas, pero sus personalidades eran bastante diferentes.
Jane was gentle and kind, always seeing the best in everyone. She rarely spoke ill of others, and she was quick to forgive. Elizabeth, on the other hand, was more critical. She saw flaws and faults where Jane saw only good, and she was not afraid to speak her mind.
Jane era gentil y amable, siempre viendo lo mejor en todos. Rara vez hablaba mal de los demás, y era rápida para perdonar. Elizabeth, por otro lado, era más crítica. Veía defectos y faltas donde Jane solo veía el bien, y no tenía miedo de decir lo que pensaba.
"You are too quick to judge, Lizzy," Jane would say gently when Elizabeth criticized someone.
—Juzgas demasiado rápido, Lizzy —decía Jane suavemente cuando Elizabeth criticaba a alguien.
"And you are too kind, Jane," Elizabeth would reply with a laugh. "Sometimes you cannot see the bad in people even when it is right in front of you."
—Y tú eres demasiado amable, Jane —respondía Elizabeth con una risa—. A veces no puedes ver lo malo en las personas incluso cuando está justo frente a ti.
Despite their differences, the sisters loved each other dearly and shared everything. When Elizabeth expressed her concerns about Darcy, Jane tried to defend him.
A pesar de sus diferencias, las hermanas se amaban profundamente y compartían todo. Cuando Elizabeth expresó sus preocupaciones sobre Darcy, Jane trató de defenderlo.
"Perhaps he was just shy," Jane suggested. "Some people are uncomfortable in social situations. It does not mean they are proud."
—Quizás solo era tímido —sugirió Jane—. Algunas personas se sienten incómodas en situaciones sociales. No significa que sean orgullosas.
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, it was more than shyness. He looked down on everyone, as if he thought he was better than all of us. That is not shyness, Jane. That is pride."
Elizabeth sacudió la cabeza. —No, era más que timidez. Miraba a todos por encima del hombro, como si pensara que era mejor que todos nosotros. Eso no es timidez, Jane. Eso es orgullo.
But Jane would not be convinced. She preferred to think the best of people, even when evidence suggested otherwise.
Pero Jane no se dejaba convencer. Prefería pensar lo mejor de las personas, incluso cuando la evidencia sugería lo contrario.
Their younger sisters were very different. Lydia and Kitty were silly and frivolous, interested only in officers and balls and pretty dresses. Mary, the middle sister, was serious and studious, always reading books and trying to improve herself.
Sus hermanas menores eran muy diferentes. Lydia y Kitty eran tontas y frívolas, interesadas solo en oficiales, bailes y vestidos bonitos. Mary, la hermana del medio, era seria y estudiosa, siempre leyendo libros y tratando de mejorarse a sí misma.
Mrs. Bennet worried about all her daughters, but she was most concerned about finding husbands for them. With five daughters and no son, the estate would go to a distant cousin when Mr. Bennet died, and the girls would be left with very little.
La señora Bennet se preocupaba por todas sus hijas, pero lo que más le preocupaba era encontrar maridos para ellas. Con cinco hijas y ningún hijo, la propiedad pasaría a un primo lejano cuando el señor Bennet muriera, y las chicas se quedarían con muy poco.
"We must get them all married well," she would say to her husband. "Or what will become of them?"
—Debemos casarlas bien a todas —decía a su marido—. ¿O qué será de ellas?
Mr. Bennet would usually respond with a sarcastic comment that made his wife angry, but he secretly shared her concern. He knew that the future of his daughters depended on finding good husbands.
El señor Bennet solía responder con un comentario sarcástico que enfadaba a su esposa, pero secretamente compartía su preocupación. Sabía que el futuro de sus hijas dependía de encontrar buenos maridos.