名著精讀《傲慢與偏見》第12章 第1節

IN consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the next morning to her mother, to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactly finish Jane's week, could not bring herself to receive hem with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home.

班納特姐妹倆商量妥當了以後，伊麗莎白第二天早上就寫信給她母親，請她當天就派車子來接她們。可是，班納特太太早就打算讓她兩個女兒在尼日斐花園待到下星期二，以便讓吉英正好住滿一個星期，因此不大樂意提前接她們回家，回信也寫得使她們不太滿意，──至少使伊麗莎白不十分滿意，因爲她急於要回家。

Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday; and in her postscript it was added that, if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she could spare them very well. -- Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved -- nor did she much expect it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urged Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley's carriage immediately, and at length it was settled that their original design of leaving Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request made.

班納特太太信上說，非到星期二，家裏弄不出馬車來。她寫完信之後，又補寫了幾句，說是倘若彬格萊先生兄妹挽留她們多待幾天，她非常願意讓她們待下去。怎奈伊麗莎白就是不肯待下去，她打定主意非回家不可──也不怎麼指望主人家挽留她們，她反而怕人家以爲她們賴在那兒不肯走。於是她催促吉英馬上去向彬格萊借馬車。她們最後決定向主人家說明，她們當天上午就要離開尼日斐花園，而且把借馬車的事也提出來。

The communication excited many professions of concern; and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the following day, to work on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other.

主人家聽到這話，表示百般關切，便再三挽留她們，希望她們至少待到下一天再走，吉英讓她們說服了，於是姐妹倆只得再耽擱一天。這一下可叫彬格萊小姐後悔挽留她們，她對伊麗莎白又嫉妒又討厭，因此也就顧不得對吉英的感情了。彬格萊聽到她們馬上要走非常發愁，便一遍又一遍勸導吉英，說她還沒有完全復元，馬上就走不大妥當，可是吉英既然覺得自己的主張是對的便再三堅持。

consequence of 由於，因爲 ... 的緣故

In consequence of having to use after-burners more fuel is consumed.
由於必須使用加力燃燒室，消耗了較多的燃料。

ulate on vt. 期待(指望，依靠)

We can't calculate on (having) good weather for the barbecue.
我們不能指望著(有)好天氣纔去燒烤。

itious adj. 順利的，適合的，吉祥的

People like to hear propitious sentences.
人們都喜歡聽吉利的話。

script n. 附筆

As a postscript to his letter he added that he loved her.
他在信中加上附言，寫上了他愛她。

length adv. 終於(最後，詳細地)

I arrived at that city at length.
我最終到達了那個城市。

r vt. 延期，緩召，把 ... 委託給他人 vi. 耽擱，延誤，遵從

I shall defer replying till I hear from home.
我將等接到家信以後再給你答覆。