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

Chapter 5

At a walking distance from Longbourn there was Lucas Lodge. The Bennets were on very friendly terms with the Lucases. Sir William Lucas had made a tolerable fortune in trade in Meryton, and had risen to knighthood when he had been the mayor of that town. After that he thought it beneath him to be in trade and to live in a small market town. He bought a house about a mile from Meryton, known from that period as Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his own importance. But, being by nature friendly, he was all attention to everybody.

Lady Lucas was a very good woman, not too clever to be a useful neighbor to Mrs. Bennet. They had several children. The eldest of them, a sensible, intelligent young woman, about twenty-seven, was Elizabeth's close friend.

In the morning after the assembly the Miss Lucases arrived at Longbourn to talk about the ball.

В«You began the evening well, CharlotteВ», said Mrs. Bennet to Miss Lucas. В«You were Mr. Bingley's first choiceВ».

В«Yes; but he seemed to like his second betterВ».

В«Oh! you mean Jane, I suppose, because he danced with her twice. To be sure that did seem as if he admired her, I rather believe he didВ».

В«Didn't I tell you? I heard when Mr. Robinson asked him how he liked our Meryton assemblies, and whether he thought there were a great many pretty women in the room, and which he thought the prettiest, he immediately answered the last question: Oh! the eldest Miss Bennet, beyond a doubt; there cannot be two opinions on that pointВ», Charlotte said.

«Upon my word! Well, that seems as if… but, however, it may all come to nothing, you know».

В«Mr. Darcy is not so well worth listening to as his friend, is he? Poor Eliza!.. to be only just tolerableВ», said Charlotte.

В«I would ask you not to put it into Lizzy's head to be annoyed by his ill-treatment; he is so unpleasant that it would be quite a misfortune to be liked by him. Mrs. Long told me last night that he sat close to her for half an hour without once opening his lipsВ».

В«Are you quite sure, ma'am? Is not there a little mistake?В» said Jane. В«I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to herВ».

В«It was only because she asked him at last how he liked Netherfield, and he had to answer her; but she said he seemed quite angry at being spoken toВ».

В«I do not mind his not talking to Mrs. LongВ», said Miss Lucas, В«but I wish he had danced with ElizaВ».