Гордость и предубеждение / Pride and Prejudice

“What an excellent father you have, girls!” said she, when the door was shut. Lydia, my love, though you are the youngest, I can say Mr. Bingley will dance with you at the next ball.”

“Oh!” said Lydia stoutly, “I am not afraid; I am the youngest, but I’m the tallest.”

Chapter 3

Mr. Bingley was quite young, wonderfully handsome, extremely agreeable, and he meant to be at the next assembly with a large party. Nothing could be more delightful! To be fond of dancing[7 - to be fond of dancing – любить танцы] was a certain step towards falling in love.

“If I can see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for.[8 - I shall have nothing to wish for – мне бы тогда было больше нечего желать]”

In a few days Mr. Bingley returned Mr. Bennet’s visit, and sat about ten minutes with him in his library.

He had hoped to see young ladies, of whose beauty he had heard much; but he saw only the father.

Mr. Bingley was going to bring twelve ladies and seven gentlemen with him to the assembly. The girls grieved over such a number of ladies, but were comforted the day before the ball by hearing, that instead of twelve he brought only six with him from London – his five sisters and a cousin. And when the party entered the assembly room it consisted of only five altogether – Mr.

Bingley, his two sisters, the husband of the eldest, and another young man.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant look, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women. His brother-in-law merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report of his having ten thousand a year.

[9 - ten thousand a year – десять тысяч годового дохода] The gentlemen declared him to be a real man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at[10 - he was looked at – на него смотрели] with great admiration for about half the evening. But his manners made his popularity go down. He was very proud and he was above his company.

Mr.