Pride and Prejudice - 10

THE day passed much as the day before had done. Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley had spent some hours of the morning with the invalid（病人） , who continued,传奇私服, though slowly, to mend; and in the evening Elizabeth joined their party in the drawing room. The loo table, however, did not appear. Mr. Darcy was writing, and Miss Bingley, seated near him,传奇私服, was watching the progress of his letter, and repeatedly calling off his attention by messages to his sister. Mr. Hurst and Mr. Bingley were at piquet, and Mrs. Hurst was observing their game.

Elizabeth took up some needlework（刺绣，缝纫） , and was sufficiently amused in attending to what passed between Darcy and his companion. The perpetual commendations of the lady either on his hand-writing,女人的眼泪, or on the evenness of his lines, or on the length of his letter, with the perfect unconcern with which her praises were received,传奇私服, formed a curious dialogue, and was exactly in unison with her opinion of each.

"How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter,传奇私服!''

He made no answer.

"You write uncommonly fast.''

"You are mistaken. I write rather slowly.''

"How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of the year,传奇私服! Letters of business too! How odious（可憎的,传奇私服，讨厌的） I should think them!''

"It is fortunate,传奇私服, then, that they fall to my lot instead of to yours.''

"Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.''

"I have already told her so once,传奇私服, by your desire.''

"I am afraid you do not like your pen. Let me mend it for you. I mend pens remarkably well.''

"Thank you -- but I always mend my own.''

"How can you contrive to write so even?''

He was silent.

"Tell your sister I am delighted to hear of her improvement on the harp, and pray let her know that I am quite in raptures（兴高采烈） with her beautiful little design for a table,传奇私服, and I think it infinitely superior to Miss Grantley's.''

"Will you give me leave to defer your raptures till I write again? -- At present I have not room to do them justice.''

"Oh! it is of no consequence. I shall see her in January. But do you always write such charming long letters to her, Mr. Darcy?''

"They are generally long; but whether always charming, it is not for me to determine.''

"It is a rule with me, that a person who can write a long letter, with ease,传奇私服,Never sell your soul 不要出卖自己的灵魂, cannot write ill.''

"That will not do for a compliment（恭维，称赞） to Darcy,Girls of summer 夏日女孩, Caroline,'' cried her brother -- "because he does not write with ease. He studies too much for words of four syllables（音节） . -- Do not you, Darcy?''

"My stile of writing is very different from yours.''