[Pride and Prejudice] First impressions

When Mr. Bennet hurried to the door to welcome the guests in, Mrs. Bennet was already urging her daughters, especially Jane, to go back to the room and change clothes, so as to be ready to see the guests later—as if she was still in the porch at this moment. The pair of rainy night visitors didn't come to the nearest door for help because of an accident, but they came to visit specially.

Mr. Bingley was helped in by Darcy while the ladies of the Bennet family changed their clothes under the vigorous urging of their mother.Darcy quickly explained to the host that when they were invited back from Colonel Foster's house after dinner, they encountered heavy rain.In order to take a shortcut, he took a nearby road that was not usually walked by. He didn't want Bentley's horse to slip because of the slippery road and throw him off.Considering that there is still some distance to Netherfield, the rain is getting heavier, and Bentley's legs and feet have been injured, so he can only disturb the Benet family nearby, hoping for their understanding.Mr. Bennet immediately said that this was a very correct decision, and hurriedly welcomed them in.

It was raining heavily outside, and both of them were drenched.Mr. Bingley was in a particularly embarrassing situation. He lost his hat, and even one of his boots. The left trouser leg was cut by a sharp stone, and a half-foot-long wound was drawn on the outside of his calf—it was not broken like Mrs. Bennett said. His legs were broken, but it was enough. His face was pale, and his hair was wet against his face. When he was helped in, the blood on his legs mixed with the rainwater kept dripping down. It was very scary to watch.

In the farm, farmers whose legs and feet were accidentally cut by stones or knives often came to ask for help, so the Bennett family always had trauma medicine.Seeing this, Mr. Bennett immediately took out the wound medicine. After Darcy washed the wound with spirits, he wrapped a bandage on Mr. Bingley's wound. After the wound was treated, the servant brought a large towel for the guest to dry his head and body. Finally, they took off their wet coats and were invited to sit in the chairs in the living room and wait for the rain to stop. This was a relief.

Darcy looked the same as usual.Even with his hair still wet, he still sat upright.On the other hand, Mr. Bingley, after drinking a cup of hot strong tea, his originally sluggish spirit actually started to cheer up, and he looked around, obviously wanting to see someone.After talking a few words about the weather, he began to politely ask Mr. Bennet about the well-being of the family members, especially Miss Jane.The father didn't know whether he didn't understand or was pretending to be confused. After he said yes casually, he turned the topic to the militia regiment. The injured guest was obviously not interested, and the friend beside him was even more sorry The words were like gold, and the scene immediately became cold.

Mrs. Bennet's deadlock-breaking qualities came into play at such times.Just when the host and the guests didn't know what to talk about next, they fell into a silence for a while, and the injured guest began to slump again, "Oh my God, Mr. Bingley, I hope that such a terrible thing tonight will never happen." Didn't Befall You" broke the ice - she showed up with her five daughters.

After the guests and the ladies of the Pei family greeted each other and took their seats, the scene began to heat up.Mrs. Bennett cursed the damn bad weather, and asked about Mr. Bingley's injury with concern. After learning that it was not very serious, she expressed her gratitude and said that it was a very wise decision for him to come here for help, because There is nowhere else in the neighborhood with more hospitality.When she said this, she took a special look at Mr. Darcy who had been expressionless.

Ever since Jane showed up and was arranged to sit in a seat closest to him, Bentley's leg pain had long since disappeared, and he was extremely excited.His eyes were bright, and he looked at her almost constantly, and whatever Mrs. Bennet said beside him, he should be fine.

This scene made Elizabeth, who was sitting in the farthest corner, want to laugh.After observing silently for a while, she concluded that Mr. Bingley was probably still rejoicing about the accident he had encountered tonight.

"Oh my God! This careless Sarah! I must talk about her! Why don't I serve you that brand new Chinese white porcelain blue and white tea set?"

When Mrs. Bennet found that the teacup in front of Mr. Bingley was just an ordinary cup set, she cried out very dissatisfied, handed Sarah the key to the closet, and ordered her to get a new tea set immediately.After the poor little maid hastily delivered the new tea set according to the hostess's order, Mrs. Bennet led the guests to admire it.

"For a guest like Mr. Bingley, of course he deserves this ten-pound tea set!"

When she said this, she looked at the guest very proudly.Seeing Mr. Bingley's surprised expression and expressing his admiration for the house, his vanity was immediately satisfied. Then he looked at the other gentleman, but he just glanced at the tea set and remained silent. Fat, finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"I really don't understand why some people look down on the countryside so much! In my opinion, strolling in the chic country gardens in the afternoon, wandering in the lush tree-lined paths in the evening, even drinking coffee and looking out the window can enjoy other places What a beautiful life without beauty!"

"That's right! Especially here, the scenery is very pleasant! Although it hasn't been long since I moved here, I have already fallen in love with everything here. When I stabilize, I will even consider buying a house nearby!"

Mr. Bingley immediately agreed.

"Yes! But your friend doesn't seem to think so!"

said Mrs Bennett.

Darcy subconsciously cast a quick glance at Elizabeth in the corner, just as she was looking at him.The pair of bright eyes under the light seemed to reveal a mischievous look of wanting to make a fool of himself, so he pretended to look away casually, looked at Mrs. Bennet and replied: "Madam, I don't look down on the country."

"Pemberley is sort of the country, I grew up there and had a really good time."

He added solemnly.

This should be the longest sentence he has said since entering the room.Not noticing the surprised expression of his friend looking at him, he immediately glanced at Elizabeth again.Finding that the lively look on her face just now disappeared, she seemed to be a little disappointed in her serious response, so she couldn't help but secretly felt a little joy in defeating the other party invisibly.

This feeling is very fresh and wonderful to him, and the depression caused by the heavy rain and the accident with his friend tonight is also a lot better, even making the shallow show off and intense hostility of the noisy lady opposite appear. Not so unbearable anymore.Unfortunately, his answer obviously did not give Mrs. Bennet any psychological satisfaction.

"In that case, Mr. Darcy, why did you show yourself to be different from the beginning? At the ball, everyone thought you should dance more! I think so too!"

Darcy replied: "I am sorry to make you unhappy. But I am not the host of the ball, so there is no need to please everyone present."

"What kind of talk is this! It's the first time I've heard such a talk from a gentleman!" Mrs. Bennet exclaimed, her heart aggravated by his disrespect just now, "and just now, just now Even Mr. Bingley praised my house and furnishings, but you obviously looked down on me! Although I heard that you have a lot of money, your Pemberley is at most twice as big as mine! My family's house ranks high in the whole of Meryton, which is why there are outsiders who want to covet it! God damn it!"

Mr. Bennet, feeling that he could not keep silent, coughed.

"My dear good lady, may we not talk about the house in the presence of our guests?"

"Why don't you talk about it? I just want everyone to know how shameless that cousin of yours is! I hate him so much! I have never hated anyone as much as I hated him!"

Darcy should actually thank his cousin, right?Because of his cousin's strong presence, he was spared from becoming the person Mrs. Bennet hated the most in her life.

Elizabeth thought so silently, and leaned back.But Mr. Bingley tried his best to hold back the expression of wanting to laugh, lest he offend the master's family if he was careless. Looking at Jane again, he saw that she was looking at her mother, her expression was ashamed and ashamed, and her expression of hesitating to speak seemed particularly strange. It's so touching, I can't help but stare blankly again.

Darcy looked at Elizabeth again.She was leaning slightly on the side of the chair with her head lowered, with one arm resting on the handle of the chair and her forehead resting on her hand, covering most of her face. She seemed to be resting with her eyes closed due to sleepiness, and didn't seem to notice the conversation here.

He suddenly felt uninspired, and began to question why he had to say so much just now.

"You are mistaken, ma'am."

After he said this last sentence, he closed his mouth again, and his expression returned to his usual seriousness.

"Mom, let's ask about the militia!"

Jane saw that her mother seemed to be pursuing the victory, so frightened, she hurriedly interrupted her before she could speak, and then turned to Mr. Bingley, asking about Colonel Forstall of the militia.

Kitty and Lydia, who were drowsy after listening to it, immediately regained their spirits and rushed to ask questions.Mr. Bingley naturally knew everything he could say, and satisfied all the ladies' curiosity one by one. Soon, even Mrs. Bennet forgot to ask Mr. Darcy for justice, and joined in, finally speaking tonight The guest-host conversation brought a new climax.

----

When Mrs. Bennet challenged Mr. Darcy at the beginning, Elizabeth really had a bit of a spectator attitude, wanting to see how he, who was always used to being self-centered, would deal with Mrs. Bennet, who was good at messing around.I didn't want to hear his serious answer, and felt surprised immediately, and at the same time, I lost a little bit of fun.But even Elizabeth was a little ashamed to hear Mrs. Bennet pointing the finger at him for his disapproval of the house and its furnishings.

Although I haven't seen what the real Pemberley Manor looks like with my own eyes, if I think about it, I know that it is absolutely impossible to be only one or two times bigger than my own house as Mrs. Bennett said.Having seen Darcy's almost perverted harshness and pride, she couldn't bear to watch Mrs. Bennet complacently make a fool of herself, so she simply huddled herself in the corner of the chair and pretended to be asleep, so as not to see or hear.Fortunately, the embarrassment passed quickly, and the topic finally turned to the militia again.

Compared with the enthusiasm of her mother and several younger sisters on this topic, Elizabeth really began to feel dizzy after listening.

This can't be blamed on her, this body is used to sleeping on a soft bed at this hour, and now it is curled up in a chair full of soft stuffing, which plays a similar role, and she is not interested in the topic, listen, listen , It is inevitable that I dozed off at the beginning.

Elizabeth thought that she was sitting in a corner where the light was not very bright, and she was covering her forehead with her arms. Even if she fell asleep, she would not attract the attention of anyone present, so she was very relieved.He never expected that his actions would fall into the eyes of the guest who was sitting diagonally across from him. Compared with the topic he was talking about, obviously, the appearance of the host's second lady when she secretly dozed off attracted his attention more. .Several times, when he saw her head with closed eyes slipping from the palm of her hand and then quickly propped it back up, even he himself didn't realize that there was a faint smile on his lips.

"Great, then it's settled! Next Saturday night!"

The sudden burst of cheers woke Elizabeth up. She opened her eyes at once, and the gentleman across from her who was silently watching her doze off was startled.It turned out that Mr. Bingley, regardless of his leg injury, promised to hold another ball at Netherfield next Saturday, which aroused the excitement of the ladies.