Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 9
傲慢与偏见 - 第九章
The Netherfield ball was to be the social event of the season. Everyone in the neighbourhood was talking about it, and the Bennet sisters were busy preparing their dresses.
内瑟菲尔德舞会将是这一季的社交活动。附近每个人都在谈论它,贝内特姐妹忙着准备她们的礼服。
On the night of the ball, the assembly rooms at Meryton were filled with people. Music played, couples danced, and conversation filled the air.
舞会之夜,梅里顿的集会厅充满人。音乐播放,夫妻跳舞,谈话充满空气。
Jane looked beautiful in a simple white dress. Bingley was delighted to see her, and he spent most of the evening dancing with her.
简在简单白色礼服中看起来美丽。宾利很高兴见到她,他大部分时间和她跳舞。
Elizabeth, in a pale blue dress, danced with several partners, though she had hoped to dance with Wickham. But Wickham was absent from the ball, to her disappointment.
伊丽莎白,在淡蓝色礼服中,与几个伴侣跳舞,尽管她希望与威克姆跳舞。但威克姆缺席舞会,让她失望。
Instead, she found herself dancing with Darcy. It was an awkward dance, with neither of them saying much. Elizabeth remembered his refusal to dance with her at the first ball, and she determined to make him regret his words.
相反,她发现自己与达西跳舞。那是尴尬的舞蹈,两人都没有说太多。伊丽莎白记得他在第一个舞会拒绝与她跳舞,她决心让他后悔他的话。
"You once said I was not handsome enough to tempt you," she said to him.
"你曾经说我不够漂亮不吸引你,"她告诉他。
Darcy looked surprised. "Did I say that? I do not remember."
达西看起来惊讶。"我说过吗?我不记得。"
"You did," Elizabeth insisted. "And you were wrong."
"你说了,"伊丽莎白坚持,"你错了。"
Darcy was silent for a moment. Then he said quietly, "I was wrong about many things that night."
达西沉默一会儿。然后他安静地说,"那晚我错了很多事。"
Elizabeth was surprised by his admission. She had expected him to be proud and defensive, not to admit his mistake.
伊丽莎白对他的承认惊讶。她预期他骄傲和防御,不承认他的错误。
Later in the evening, she observed the Bingley sisters. They were talking to each other in low voices, obviously discussing Jane and Bingley. Elizabeth was sure that they were trying to separate the couple.
那天晚上晚些时候,她观察宾利姐妹。她们低声互相谈话,显然讨论简和宾利。伊丽莎白确定她们试图分开夫妻。
"They are jealous," she whispered to Jane. "They want Bingley for themselves."
"她们嫉妒,"她低声告诉简,"她们想要宾利给自己。"
Jane shook her head. "No, Lizzy. They are just concerned for their brother. They want to make sure he makes a good match."
简摇头。"不,利兹。她们只是担心她们的兄弟。她们想确保他做出好匹配。"
But Elizabeth was not convinced. She saw the coldness in their eyes when they looked at Jane, and she knew they did not consider the Bennets good enough for their brother.
但伊丽莎白不被说服。当她看简时她看到她们眼中的冷漠,她知道她们不认为贝内特家足够配她们的兄弟。
When the ball ended, the Bennets returned home, exhausted but happy. The evening had been a success—at least for Jane and Bingley. But Elizabeth could not shake the feeling that something was wrong, that there were forces working against her sister's happiness.
当舞会结束,贝内特家回家,疲惫但快乐。晚上成功了——至少对简和宾利。但伊丽莎白不能摆脱有什么错的感觉,有力量反对她姐妹的幸福。