Pride and Prejudice. Адаптированная книга для чтения на английском языке. Intermediate

Bennet's eyes sparkled with pleasure, and she was eagerly asking, while her daughter read,

В«Well, Jane, who is it from? What is it about? What does he say? Well, Jane, tell us, my loveВ».

В«It is from Miss BingleyВ», said Jane, and then read it aloud.

В«MY DEAR FRIEND,

Please, come to dine to-day with Louisa and me. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers, so we'll be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's tete-a-tete between two women can never end without a quarrel.

Come as soon as you can. Yours ever, CAROLINE BINGLEYВ»

В«The gentlemen are dining outВ», said Mrs. Bennet, В«that is very unluckyВ».

В«Can I have the carriage?В» said Jane.

В«No, my dear, you had better go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you'll have to stay all nightВ».

В«That would be a good schemeВ», said Elizabeth, В«if you were sure that they would not offer to send her homeВ».

В«Oh! But the gentlemen will have Mr. Bingley's carriage to go to MerytonВ».

В«I would prefer to go in the carriageВ».

В«But, my dear, the horses are wanted in the farm, I am sure. Mr. Bennet, are they not?В»

The horses were, indeed, engaged. Jane had therefore to go on horseback. Her mother's hopes for a bad day were answered; Jane had not been gone long before it rained hard. Her sisters were sorry for her, but her mother was delighted. The rain continued the whole evening; Jane certainly could not come back.

The next morning, a servant from Netherfield brought the following note for Elizabeth:

В«MY DEAREST LIZZY

I find myself very unwell this morning, due, I suppose, to my getting wet through yesterday.

My kind friends will not hear of my returning till I am better. They insist also on my seeing Dr. Jones. Therefore, do not be alarmed if you hear of his visit. And, except a sore throat and headache, there is not much the matter with me. Yours, etcВ».

В«Well, my dearВ», said Mr. Bennet, when Elizabeth had read the note aloud, В«if your daughter dies, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr.

Bingley and under your ordersВ».

В«Oh! I am not afraid of her dying. People do not die of little colds. She will be taken good care ofВ».

Elizabeth was really worried and decided to go to Netherfield to see Jane. She was no horsewoman, so walking was her only alternative. Her mother said she would get dirty walking through wet dirty fields and not fit to be seen.