PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

Chapter 54	CAPITULO LIV
As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth walked out to recover her spirits; or in other words, to dwell without interruption on those subjects that must deaden them more. Mr. Darcy′s behaviour astonished and vexed her.	En cuanto se marcharon, Elizabeth salió a pasear para recobrar el ánimo o, mejor dicho, para meditar la causa que le había hecho perderlo. La conducta de Darcy la tenía asombrada y enojada.
"Why, if he came only to be silent, grave, and indifferent," said she, "did he come at all?"	¿Por qué vino –– se decía –– para estar en silencio, serio e indiferente?»
She could settle it in no way that gave her pleasure.	No podía explicárselo de modo satisfactorio.
"He could be still amiable, still pleasing, to my uncle and aunt, when he was in town; and why not to me? If he fears me, why come hither? If he no longer cares for me, why silent? Teasing, teasing, man! I will think no more about him."	«Si pudo estar amable y complaciente con mis tíos en Londres, ¿por qué no conmigo? Si me temía, ¿por qué vino? Y si ya no le importo nada, ¿por qué estuvo tan callado? ¡Qué hombre más irritante! No quiero pensar más en él.»
Her resolution was for a short time involuntarily kept by the approach of her sister, who joined her with a cheerful look, which showed her better satisfied with their visitors, than Elizabeth.	Involuntariamente mantuvo esta resolución durante un rato, porque se le acercó su hermana, cuyo alegre aspecto demostraba que estaba más satisfecha de la visita que ella.
"Now," said she, "that this first meeting is over, I feel perfectly easy. I know my own strength, and I shall never be embarrassed again by his coming. I am glad he dines here on Tuesday. It will then be publicly seen that, on both sides, we meet only as common and indifferent acquaintance."	–– Ahora –– le dijo –– , pasado este primer encuentro, me siento completamente tranquila. Sé que soy fuerte y que ya no me azoraré delante de él. Me alegro de que venga a comer el martes, porque así se verá que nos tratamos simplemente como amigos indiferentes.
"Yes, very indifferent indeed," said Elizabeth, laughingly. "Oh, Jane, take care."	–– Sí, muy indiferentes –– contestó Elizabeth riéndose –– . ¡Oh, Jane! ¡Ten cuidado!
"My dear Lizzy, you cannot think me so weak, as to be in danger now?"	–– Lizzy, querida, no vas a creer que soy tan débil como para correr ningún peligro.
"I think you are in very great danger of making him as much in love with you as ever."	–– Creo que estás en uno muy grande, porque él te ama como siempre.
* * * * *
They did not see the gentlemen again till Tuesday; and Mrs. Bennet, in the meanwhile, was giving way to all the happy schemes, which the good humour and common politeness of Bingley, in half an hour′s visit, had revived.	No volvieron a ver a Bingley hasta el martes, y, entretanto, la señora Bennet se entregó a todos los venturosos planes que la alegría y la constante dulzura del caballero habían hecho revivir en media hora de visita.
On Tuesday there was a large party assembled at Longbourn; and the two who were most anxiously expected, to the credit of their punctuality as sportsmen, were in very good time. When they repaired to the dining-room, Elizabeth eagerly watched to see whether Bingley would take the place, which, in all their former parties, had belonged to him, by her sister. Her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas, forbore to invite him to sit by herself. On entering the room, he seemed to hesitate; but Jane happened to look round, and happened to smile: it was decided. He placed himself by her.	El martes se congregó en Longbourn un numeroso grupo de gente y los señores que con más ansias eran esperados llegaron con toda puntualidad. Cuando entraron en el comedor, Elizabeth observó atentamente a Bingley para ver si ocupaba el lugar que siempre le había tocado en anteriores comidas al lado de su hermana; su prudente madre, pensando lo mismo, se guardó mucho de invitarle a que tomase asiento a su lado. Bingley pareció dudar, pero Jane acertó a mirar sonriente a su alrededor y la cosa quedó decidida: Bingley se sentó al lado de Jane.
Elizabeth, with a triumphant sensation, looked towards his friend. He bore it with noble indifference, and she would have imagined that Bingley had received his sanction to be happy, had she not seen his eyes likewise turned towards Mr. Darcy, with an expression of half-laughing alarm.	Elizabeth, con triunfal satisfacción, miró a Darcy. Éste sostuvo la mirada con noble indiferencia, Elizabeth habría imaginado que Bingley había obtenido ya permiso de su amigo para disfrutar de su felicidad si no hubiese sorprendido los ojos de éste vueltos también hacia Darcy, con una expresión risueña, pero de alarma.
His behaviour to her sister was such, during dinner time, as showed an admiration of her, which, though more guarded than formerly, persuaded Elizabeth, that if left wholly to himself, Jane′s happiness, and his own, would be speedily secured. Though she dared not depend upon the consequence, she yet received pleasure from observing his behaviour. It gave her all the animation that her spirits could boast; for she was in no cheerful humour. Mr. Darcy was almost as far from her as the table could divide them. He was on one side of her mother. She knew how little such a situation would give pleasure to either, or make either appear to advantage. She was not near enough to hear any of their discourse, but she could see how seldom they spoke to each other, and how formal and cold was their manner whenever they did. Her mother′s ungraciousness, made the sense of what they owed him more painful to Elizabeth′s mind; and she would, at times, have given anything to be privileged to tell him that his kindness was neither unknown nor unfelt by the whole of the family.	La conducta de Bingley con Jane durante la comida reveló la admiración que sentía por ella, y aunque era más circunspecta que antes, Elizabeth se quedó convencida de que si sólo dependiese de él, su dicha y la de Jane quedaría pronto asegurada. A pesar de que no se atrevía a confiar en el resultado, Elizabeth se quedó muy satisfecha y se sintió todo lo animada que su mal humor le permitía. Darcy estaba al otro lado de la mesa, sentado al lado de la señora Bennet, y Elizabeth comprendía lo poco grata que les era a los dos semejante colocación, y lo poco ventajosa que resultaba para nadie. No estaba lo bastante cerca para oír lo que decían, pero pudo observar que casi no se hablaban y lo fríos y ceremoniosos que eran sus modales cuando lo hacían. Esta antipatía de su madre por Darcy le hizo más penoso a Elizabeth el recuerdo de lo que todos le debían, y había momentos en que habría dado cualquier cosa por poder decir que su bondad no era desconocida ni inapreciada por toda la familia.
She was in hopes that the evening would afford some opportunity of bringing them together; that the whole of the visit would not pass away without enabling them to enter into something more of conversation than the mere ceremonious salutation attending his entrance. Anxious and uneasy, the period which passed in the drawing-room, before the gentlemen came, was wearisome and dull to a degree that almost made her uncivil. She looked forward to their entrance as the point on which all her chance of pleasure for the evening must depend.	Esperaba que la tarde le daría oportunidad de estar al lado de Darcy y que no acabaría la visita sin poder cambiar con él algo más que el sencillo saludo de la llegada. Estaba tan ansiosa y desasosegada que mientras esperaba en el salón la entrada de los caballeros, su desazón casi la puso de mal talante. De la presencia de Darcy dependía para ella toda esperanza de placer en aquella tarde.
"If he does not come to me, then ;" said she, "I shall give him up for ever."	«Si no se dirige hacia mí –– se decía –– me daré por vencida.»
The gentlemen came; and she thought he looked as if he would have answered her hopes; but, alas! the ladies had crowded round the table, where Miss Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee, in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her which would admit of a chair. And on the gentlemen′s approaching, one of the girls moved closer to her than ever, and said, in a whisper:	Entraron los caballeros y pareció que Darcy iba a hacer lo que ella anhelaba; pero desgraciadamente las señoras se habían agrupado alrededor de la mesa en donde la señora Bennet preparaba el té y Elizabeth servía el café, estaban todas tan apiñadas que no quedaba ningún sito libre a su lado ni lugar para otra silla. Al acercarse los caballeros, una de las muchachas se aproximó a Elizabeth y le dijo al oído:
"The men shan′t come and part us, I am determined. We want none of them; do we?"	–– Los hombres no vendrán a separarnos; ya lo tengo decidido; no nos hacen ninguna falta, ¿no es cierto?
Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes, envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for being so silly!	Darcy entonces se fue a otro lado de la estancia. Elizabeth le seguía con la vista y envidiaba a todos con quienes conversaba; apenas tenía paciencia para servir el café, y llegó a ponerse furiosa consigo misma por ser tan tonta.
"A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love? Is there one among the sex, who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!"	«¡Un hombre al que he rechazado! Loca debo estar si espero que renazca su amor. No hay un solo hombre que no se rebelase contra la debilidad que supondría una segunda declaración a la misma mujer. No hay indignidad mayor para ellos.»
She was a little revived, however, by his bringing back his coffee cup himself; and she seized the opportunity of saying:	Se reanimó un poco al ver que Darcy venía a devolverle la taza de café, y ella aprovechó la oportunidad para preguntarle:
"Is your sister at Pemberley still?"	–– ¿Sigue su hermana en Pemberley?
"Yes, she will remain there till Christmas."	–– Sí, estará allí hasta las Navidades.
"And quite alone? Have all her friends left her?"	–– ¿Y está sola? ¿Se han ido ya todos sus amigos?
"Mrs. Annesley is with her. The others have been gone on to Scarborough, these three weeks."	–– Sólo la acompaña la señora Annesley; los demás se han ido a Scarborough a pasar estas tres semanas.
She could think of nothing more to say; but if he wished to converse with her, he might have better success. He stood by her, however, for some minutes, in silence; and, at last, on the young lady′s whispering to Elizabeth again, he walked away.	A Elizabeth no se le ocurrió más que decir, pero si él hubiese querido hablar, ¡con qué placer le habría contestado! No obstante, se quedó a su lado unos minutos, en silencio, hasta que la muchacha de antes se puso a cuchichear con Elizabeth, y entonces él se retiró.
When the tea-things were removed, and the card-tables placed, the ladies all rose, and Elizabeth was then hoping to be soon joined by him, when all her views were overthrown by seeing him fall a victim to her mother′s rapacity for whist players, and in a few moments after seated with the rest of the party. She now lost every expectation of pleasure. They were confined for the evening at different tables, and she had nothing to hope, but that his eyes were so often turned towards her side of the room, as to make him play as unsuccessfully as herself.	Una vez quitado el servicio de té y puestas las mesas de juego, se levantaron todas las señoras. Elizabeth creyó entonces que podría estar con él, pero sus esperanzas rodaron por el suelo cuando vio que su madre se apoderaba de Darcy y le obligaba a sentarse a su mesa de whist. Elizabeth renunció ya a todas sus ilusiones. Toda la tarde estuvieron confinados en mesas diferentes, pero los ojos de Darcy se volvían tan a menudo donde ella estaba, que tanto el uno como el otro perdieron todas las partidas.
Mrs. Bennet had designed to keep the two Netherfield gentlemen to supper; but their carriage was unluckily ordered before any of the others, and she had no opportunity of detaining them.	La señora Bennet había proyectado que los dos caballeros de Netherfield se quedaran a cenar, pero fueron los primeros en pedir su coche y no hubo manera de retenerlos.
"Well girls," said she, as soon as they were left to themselves, "What say you to the day? I think every thing has passed off uncommonly well, I assure you. The dinner was as well dressed as any I ever saw. The venison was roasted to a turn--and everybody said they never saw so fat a haunch. The soup was fifty times better than what we had at the Lucases′ last week; and even Mr. Darcy acknowledged, that the partridges were remarkably well done; and I suppose he has two or three French cooks at least. And, my dear Jane, I never saw you look in greater beauty. Mrs. Long said so too, for I asked her whether you did not. And what do you think she said besides? ′Ah! Mrs. Bennet, we shall have her at Netherfield at last.′ She did indeed. I do think Mrs. Long is as good a creature as ever lived--and her nieces are very pretty behaved girls, and not at all handsome: I like them prodigiously."	–– Bueno, niñas –– dijo la madre en cuanto se hubieron ido todos –– , ¿qué me decís? A mi modo de ver todo ha ido hoy a pedir de boca. La comida ha estado tan bien presentada como las mejores que he visto; el venado asado, en su punto, y todo el mundo dijo que las ancas eran estupendas; la sopa, cincuenta veces mejor que la que nos sirvieron la semana pasada en casa de los Lucas; y hasta el señor Darcy reconoció que las perdices estaban muy bien hechas, y eso que él debe de tener dos o tres cocineros franceses. Y, por otra parte, Jane querida, nunca estuviste más guapa que esta tarde; la señora Long lo afirmó cuando yo le pregunté su parecer. Y ¿qué crees que me dijo, además? «¡Oh, señora Bennet, por fin la tendremos en Netherfield!» Así lo dijo. Opino que la señora Long es la mejor persona del mundo, y sus sobrinas son unas muchachas muy bien educadas y no son feas del todo; me gustan mucho.
Mrs. Bennet, in short, was in very great spirits; she had seen enough of Bingley′s behaviour to Jane, to be convinced that she would get him at last; and her expectations of advantage to her family, when in a happy humour, were so far beyond reason, that she was quite disappointed at not seeing him there again the next day, to make his proposals.	Total que la señora Bennet estaba de magnífico humor. Se había fijado lo bastante en la conducta de Bingley para con Jane para convencerse de que al fin lo iba a conseguir. Estaba tan excitada y sus fantasías sobre el gran porvenir que esperaba a su familia fueron tan lejos de lo razonable, que se disgustó muchísimo al ver que Bingley no se presentaba al día siguiente para declararse.
"It has been a very agreeable day," said Miss Bennet to Elizabeth. "The party seemed so well selected, so suitable one with the other. I hope we may often meet again."	–– Ha sido un día muy agradable –– dijo Jane a Elizabeth –– . ¡Qué selecta y qué cordial fue la fiesta! Espero que se repita.
Elizabeth smiled.	Elizabeth se sonrió.
"Lizzy, you must not do so. You must not suspect me. It mortifies me. I assure you that I have now learnt to enjoy his conversation as an agreeable and sensible young man, without having a wish beyond it. I am perfectly satisfied, from what his manners now are, that he never had any design of engaging my affection. It is only that he is blessed with greater sweetness of address, and a stronger desire of generally pleasing, than any other man."	–– No te rías. Me duele que seas así, Lizzy. Te aseguro que ahora he aprendido a disfrutar de su conversación y que no veo en él más que un muchacho inteligente y amable. Me encanta su proceder y no me importa que jamás haya pensado en mí. Sólo encuentro que su trato es dulce y más atento que el de ningún otro hombre.
"You are very cruel," said her sister, "you will not let me smile, and are provoking me to it every moment."	–– ¡Eres cruel! –– contestó su hermana –– . No me dejas sonreír y me estás provocando a hacerlo a cada momento.
"How hard it is in some cases to be believed!"	–– ¡Qué difícil es que te crean en algunos casos!
"And how impossible in others!"	–– ¡Y qué imposible en otros!
"But why should you wish to persuade me that I feel more than I acknowledge?"	–– ¿Por qué te empeñas en convencerme de que siento más de lo que confieso?
"That is a question which I hardly know how to answer. We all love to instruct, though we can teach only what is not worth knowing. Forgive me; and if you persist in indifference, do not make me your confidante."	–– No sabría qué contestarte. A todos nos gusta dar lecciones, pero sólo enseñamos lo que no merece la pena saber. Perdóname, pero si persistes en tu indiferencia, es mejor que yo no sea tu confidente.

CAPITULO LIV