Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 8
Orgullo y Prejuicio - Capítulo 8
While Mr. Collins was staying with the Bennets, the militia arrived in Meryton. A regiment of soldiers was to be quartered in the town, and the young women of the neighbourhood were excited by the prospect of meeting officers.
Durante la visita del señor Collins, un nuevo regimiento de soldados llegó a Meryton. Entre los oficiales había un joven llamado señor Wickham, que inmediatamente atrajo la atención de todas las damas.
Lydia and Kitty were particularly delighted. They talked constantly of the officers, planning how they might meet them and hoping to catch the attention of some handsome young man.
Wickham era extraordinariamente apuesto, con modales encantadores y una personalidad atractiva. Rápidamente se hizo amigo de Elizabeth, y ella lo encontró encantador.
Elizabeth found their silliness annoying, but she had to admit that the officers were pleasant enough, at least on acquaintance. One officer in particular, Mr. Wickham, was handsome and charming, with an easy manner that made him popular with everyone.
—Es el hombre más agradable que he conocido —le dijo a Jane—. Es tan abierto y amistoso, muy diferente al señor Darcy.
"He is delightful," Jane said after meeting him. "So kind and pleasant."
De hecho, Wickham parecía tener una historia con Darcy. Un día, mientras caminaba con Elizabeth, le contó sobre su pasado.
Elizabeth agreed. Mr. Wickham seemed to be everything that Darcy was not: friendly, approachable, and without pride. When Elizabeth talked to him, she learned that he had once been acquainted with Darcy.
—Conozco al señor Darcy desde mi infancia —dijo—. Mi padre era el administrador de su padre, y el viejo señor Darcy me trataba como a un hijo. Prometió proveer para mi futuro y darme una buena parroquia.
"I knew him from childhood," Wickham told her. "Our fathers were friends. But when Darcy's father died, he treated me very badly. He refused to give me the living that his father had promised me."
—¿Y cumplió su promesa? —preguntó Elizabeth.
Elizabeth was shocked. "That is terrible!" she exclaimed. "How could he be so unjust?"
Wickham sacudió la cabeza, y su rostro se oscureció. —No. Después de la muerte del viejo señor Darcy, su hijo ignoró mis reclamos. Le dio la parroquia a otro y me dejó sin un centavo.
Wickham sighed. "Pride, Miss Bennet. Pride and jealousy. Darcy could not bear that his father had been fond of me. He wanted everything for himself."
Elizabeth estaba conmocionada. —¡Eso es indignante! ¿Cómo pudo hacer tal cosa?
This information confirmed Elizabeth's poor opinion of Darcy. She had already thought him proud, but now she saw him as cruel and unjust as well.
—Fueron celos —dijo Wickham en voz baja—. Darcy no podía soportar que su padre me tuviera afecto. Lo quería todo para él.
"I am sorry that you were treated so badly, Mr. Wickham," she said warmly. "You did not deserve it."
Esta información confirmó la mala opinión de Elizabeth sobre Darcy. Ya lo había considerado orgulloso, pero ahora lo veía también como cruel e injusto.
Wickham smiled at her, and Elizabeth felt herself drawn to him. He was handsome, kind, and a victim of Darcy's pride. How could she not like him?
—Siento que haya sido tratado tan mal, señor Wickham —dijo cálidamente—. No se lo merecía.
But Elizabeth did not know that Wickham was not telling the whole truth. There was another side to the story, one that she would only learn much later.
Wickham le sonrió, y Elizabeth se sintió atraída hacia él. Era guapo, amable y una víctima del orgullo de Darcy. ¿Cómo podía no agradarle?
Pero Elizabeth no sabía que Wickham no estaba contando toda la verdad. Había otro lado de la historia, uno que ella solo conocería mucho después.