[Comprehensive Classics] Detective Mary

However, it is much more difficult to match Elizabeth and Darcy.

Not to mention that Mr. Darcy is arrogant by nature, but it is very difficult to change Elizabeth's prejudice.Mary grew up under the same roof as the other Bennet sisters, so she naturally knew Elizabeth's temper-she was stubborn, and unless she found out her own mistakes, once formed, it was difficult to shake her opinion.

The difficulty facing Mary is that Elizabeth now thinks Mr. Darcy is a nuisance.

Sir William Lucas invited all the gentlemen and ladies around him to his house today.

Sir Lucas is kind and sincere, gentle and honest. He has a good reputation near Longbourn and Meryton. In addition, his eldest daughter Charlotte and Elizabeth are still good friends. The ladies of the Nut family and the guests of Netherfield Manor naturally had no reason to refuse.

Mary was sitting among several guests, and Captain Carter was speaking. Listening to them discussing Mr. Bingley who moved in and various past and future dances, she couldn't help secretly covering her mouth and yawning.

Elizabeth saw her little action, and the second sister glared at her, and secretly tugged at the corner of Mary's skirt. The meaning couldn't be more obvious: it's already rude enough to be absent-minded all the time, and she yawned because she was afraid that her reputation would not be good enough.

"It's so boring," Mary secretly whispered to Elizabeth. "It's all your fault, Lizzie, for not letting me bring the book."

"Don't be self-willed, Mary," Elizabeth reacted as if she had heard a joke, "who in the world would bring a large book to someone's house as a guest?"

Mary was very straightforward: "I don't know about others, but when the talented students of Cambridge and Oxford interact with each other, they will definitely share a lot of books."

Elizabeth was about to die of anger. While no one else was paying attention, she poked Mary's forehead with her hand: "What does it have to do with you when university talents share knowledge? Girls, do you still want to go to Cambridge and Oxford?"

She does!

However, even if Mary had crossed the cheat, she didn't think she could get into Cambridge and Oxford.What's more, Oxford University only recognized women's university membership in 1920, and although Cambridge is now enlightened to allow women to participate in the required teaching and examinations, it did not truly recognize the status of female students until 1947.

"It's so unfair," Mary murmured in a low voice, "Even though some men are nothing more than that, they get extra power because of their gender."

The Victorian era was much better than the William IV era in which Pride and Prejudice actually took place, but women were still in a tough place.If Mary is not willing to entrust the rest of her life to her husband, the path she can choose is difficult and narrow—that is to say, no matter how hard Mary works, she cannot become a scholar recognized by the academic circles, at most she can only become a "scholar's leader". Mrs".

Scholars will not accept her, the bourgeoisie will.But if she can, Mary doesn't want to be a capitalist who squeezes the blood and sweat of the working class and the proletariat.

or……

Just when Mary had started fantasizing, Elizabeth's expression suddenly became serious.

Who else could make Elizabeth change her face immediately?Naturally, it was Mr. Darcy whom she hated. As soon as Mary turned her head, she found Mr. Darcy stopped beside Captain Carter.

Evidently, Elizabeth did not like discussing the same subject with Mr. Darcy at all.Even though Darcy himself didn't talk much, Elizabeth still found a chance to get up and talk to Jane.

Mary stole a glance at Mr. Darcy's reaction, but did not expect Mr. Darcy to be looking at her too.

The collision of eyes startled Mary, but she responded promptly: "I hope the theft has not disturbed you, Mr. Darcy."

Darcy: "..."

It was true that which pot was not opened and which pot was lifted. Mr. Darcy immediately became angry when he thought of the two sisters Bennet hinting that he was too timid to go out that night.

Of course, haughty Mr. Darcy is angry, but he doesn't have the same sense as Mary.

"And I hope your sister hasn't been disturbed by the theft, Miss Mary," he said.

"What about me?" Mary asked with a smile.

"I think," Darcy said slowly, "that a young lady who acts without her master's permission and investigates will not be afraid of a mere thief."

Mary still maintained a smiling face: "Thank you, Mr. Darcy, my sister Elizabeth is also a brave lady, and she will not be afraid of a mere thief."

Darcy: "..." Anyone can tell that he is not praising her!

Mr. Darcy, who has always been proud, was almost annoyed by this Miss Bennet. He didn't like her very much, and ladies in the upper class would not be so presumptuous and rude.

Even so, Darcy had to admit that after several observations, he found that Mary Bennet was indeed very smart, let alone a country girl, even the aristocratic ladies who returned from girls' schools in London were not as quick-witted and flexible as her.

Mary did not care what Mr. Darcy thought of her.

She just continued: "It seems that the rumors are false."

Darcy: "What?"

Mary smiled and said, "Everyone is saying that you look down on Elizabeth, sir, you deliberately snubbed her at the ball, didn't talk about dancing with her, and said that she was mediocre, and she was just 'passing' in the Longbourne area." .Elizabeth has been angry about it for a long time.”

After finishing speaking, Mary did not forget to add: "But Mr. Darcy, you care about her so much, it should be all rumors."

"Really." Darcy remained calm.

Mary choked at his assertiveness.

"So," her eyes widened, "did you really say that, sir?"

"I did make such a reckless comment when we first met," he said frankly, "but now I have changed. If I get angry because of this, then Miss Bennet's belly is too small."

"..."

Mr. Darcy's behavior, in the 21st century, wouldn't he just be a straight steel man who criticizes strange girls at will, and blames her for nothing when he finds out about it!

Mary was completely speechless. Although Mr. Darcy in the original book did experience such a change of impression, and was confused and shocked by Elizabeth's direct rejection of his marriage proposal, it was too much for him to say it frankly.

Well, strictly speaking, Mr. Darcy does have this capital.

The fundamental reason is that in this era, most women really need to rely on men to live.Mr. Darcy's family is rich and handsome, let alone arrogant and contemptuous, even if he is a once-in-a-thousand-year scumbag, there will be countless girls flocking to him.

If it is an ordinary girl who finds that Mr. Darcy's attitude towards her has changed, she may not be happy in time. Of course, he cannot understand the reason for Elizabeth's anger.

Of course, Mary wouldn't point this out directly.

"Recently, I read a book, Mr. Darcy," Mary said tactfully. "Some questions have not been answered for a long time. I heard that you have a huge collection of books. Any familiar man, can you answer my doubts?"

"I'll do my best, please."

"The book says that medieval knights and nobles, when their personality and self-esteem were attacked and insulted by others, would often choose to challenge their self-provoking enemies. Is it true?"

"true."

"Even a verbal argument?"

"This used to happen all the time, but nowadays Queen Victoria has banned duels between soldiers, and the customs of our society don't encourage it any more," explained Mr. Darcy, "but I think it's important to defend self-respect and honour. What every man with an independent personality should do."

"What about the lady?" Mary blinked as if in a daze, "women in the Middle Ages, if their self-esteem was hurt by other people's judgments, would they also request a duel, or did they do something else?"

"Naturally..."

Mr. Darcy's words fell silent.

You don’t need to point it out when you talk to smart people. Speaking of this, looking at Mr. Darcy’s expression, you should also understand that the reason for Elizabeth’s anger is not being criticized, but that his attitude has damaged the independent personality of an unmarried lady. and self-esteem.

There is still hope, Mary thought with relief.Although Mr. Darcy doesn't understand the brain circuits of girls' families, he can recognize his mistakes, which is a rare quality in the 21st century.

Straight men are straight men, it is better than straight men with cancer.

Mary put a smile on her face again: "I wanted to hear what Jane and Elizabeth were whispering about, but they didn't even call me. Forgive me for leaving first, Mr. Darcy."

With that, she got up and left, as usual, to haunt Elizabeth.

Mr. Darcy, on the other hand, stood there thinking about what Mary had just said.

Seeing him lost in thought, Miss Bingley came over and said, "I can guess what you're thinking about.*"

"I can't see it," returned Mr. Darcy.

"If I ask you," returned Miss Bingley, "she has merit, but she is too pretentious. Your accusations of her are quite sensible and hit the point."

Miss Bingley was referring, of course, to the ridiculous thing Mr. Darcy taught Mary at the ball at Netherfield Manor after learning of her unauthorized actions.

However, just a few minutes before her arrival, Mary gently reminded Darcy how much his remarks about Elizabeth had hurt, which made Mr. Darcy habitually think that when she heard what Miss Bingley said, "She" refers to Elizabeth.

So Darcy retorted: "As you said, she does have her own advantages."

"Oh?"

Miss Bingley maintained a curious attitude: "Then what advantages do you think she has?"

Darcy was silent.

He looked at Elizabeth subconsciously, and said in a low voice, "She has beautiful eyes and an attractive personality."

Miss Bingley: "..."

Miss Bingley, who had admired Mr. Darcy for a long time, did not know that what she and Darcy were talking about was not the same "Miss Bennet". Miss Bingley couldn't believe her ears—Mr. Ordinary-looking Mary Bennet with hardly any good qualities? !