Jane Austen

《傲慢与偏见》（Pride and Prejudice）是英国女小说家简-奥斯汀的长篇小说。

小说描写了乡绅班纳特五个待字闺中的千金的生活，主角是二女儿伊丽莎白。她在一次舞会上认识了一位年轻的绅士达西，但是耳闻他为人傲慢，就一直对他心生排斥。经历了一番周折，伊丽莎白终于消除了对达西的偏见，达西也不再傲慢，有情人终成眷属。

这部作品以日常生活为素材，一反当时社会上流行的感伤小说矫揉造作的写作手法，生动地反映了18世纪末到19世纪初处于保守和闭塞状态下的英国乡镇生活和人情世态。它多次被改编成电影和电视剧。

本文节选自《傲慢与偏见》第五十一章。

MR. BENNET had very often wished. before this period ofhis life . that. instead of spending his whole income. he had laidby an annual sum for the better provision of his children. and ofhis wife. if she survived him. He now wished it more than ever.Had he done his duty in that respect， Lydia need not have beenindebted to her uncle for whatever of honour or credit could nowbe purchased for her. The satisfaction ofprevailing on one of themost worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husbandmight then have rested in its proper place.

He was seriously concemed that a cause of so little advantageto any one should be forwarded at the sole expence of his brother-in-law. and he was determined， if possible. to find out theextent of his assistance. and to discharge the obligation as soonas he could.

When first Mr. Bennet had married. economy was held tobe perfectly useless; for. of course， they were to have a son.This son was to join in cutting off the entail. as soon as heshould be of age， and the widow and younger children would by

班纳特先生远在好久以前，就希望每年的收入不要全部花光，能够积蓄一部分，让儿女往后不至于衣食匮乏;如果太太比他命长，衣食便也有了着落。拿目前来说，他这个希望比以往来得更迫切。要是他在这方面早就安排好了，那么这次丽迪雅挽回面子名誉的事，自然就不必要她舅舅為她花钱;也不必让舅舅去说服全英国最下流的一个青年给她确定夫妇的名份。

这事情对任何人都没有好处，如今却得由他舅爷独自拿出钱来成其好事，这实在叫他太过意不去;他决定要竭力打听出舅爷究竟帮了多大的忙，以便尽快报答这笔人情。

班纳特先生刚结婚的时候，完全不必省吃俭用，因为他们夫妇自然会生儿子，等到儿子成了年，外人继承产权的这桩事就可以取消，寡妇孤女也就衣食无忧了。……