傲慢与偏见

精读《傲慢与偏见》38：一份"挂念"，让伊丽莎白改了看法

简发着高烧，伊丽莎白寸步不离；只因看见宾利姐妹对姐姐的关切，她开始喜欢她们，而简的不舍又把"借马车送客"逼成了"请你留下来住"。

这一段来自《傲慢与偏见》第七章，也是第七章的结尾。奥斯汀写的不是"照顾姐姐"的情节，而是态度还在流动——好感与判断都没定型，一份 solicitude（挂念）就能让伊丽莎白暂时改观，一点不舍就能让宾利小姐改口。

English Text: Solicitude, and a Reason to Stay

Her inquiries after her sister were not very favourably answered. Miss Bennet had slept ill, and though up, was very feverish, and not well enough to leave her room. Elizabeth was glad to be taken to her immediately; and Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience, from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance. She was not equal, however, to much conversation; and when Miss Bingley left them together, could attempt little beside expressions of gratitude for the extraordinary kindness she was treated with. Elizabeth silently attended her.

When breakfast was over, they were joined by the sisters; and Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane. The apothecary came; and having examined his patient, said, as might be supposed, that she had caught a violent cold, and that they must endeavour to get the better of it; advised her to return to bed, and promised her some draughts. The advice was followed readily, for the feverish symptoms increased, and her head ached acutely. Elizabeth did not quit her room for a moment, nor were the other ladies often absent; the gentlemen being out, they had in fact nothing to do elsewhere.

When the clock struck three, Elizabeth felt that she must go, and very unwillingly said so. Miss Bingley offered her the carriage, and she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern at parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield for the present. Elizabeth most thankfully consented, and a servant was despatched to Longbourn, to acquaint the family with her stay, and bring back a supply of clothes.

中文翻译：一份挂念，和留下来的理由

关于姐姐病情的询问，得到的答复并不乐观。贝内特小姐睡得很不好，虽然起身了，却发着高烧，虚弱得没法走出房间。伊丽莎白很高兴能立刻被带去见她；简见到妹妹进来，更是喜出望外——她此前只是怕惊动家里、给人添麻烦，才没在信里写出自己有多盼着妹妹来。然而她身子不适，说不了多少话；宾利小姐让她俩独处时，简除了对自己受到的格外优待再三道谢，几乎说不出别的。伊丽莎白只是默默守在她身边。

早饭过后，宾利家两姐妹也来了；看到她们对简流露出那么多的关爱与挂念，伊丽莎白自己也开始喜欢起她们来。药剂师来了，看过病人之后，果然不出所料，说是染了重感冒，得设法把它压下去；嘱咐她卧床休息，答应开几副药水。这番话很快照办了，因为发烧的症状在加重，头也痛得厉害。伊丽莎白一刻也没离开姐姐的房间，其他几位女士也难得走开；先生们都出门去了，她们待在别处其实也无事可做。

时钟敲响三点时，伊丽莎白觉得自己该走了，很不情愿地把这话说了出来。宾利小姐主动提出用马车送她，她只等对方再稍稍相劝就要答应——偏偏这时，简一想到要与妹妹分别就流露出极大的不安，弄得宾利小姐只好把"借马车"的提议，改成了请她暂且留在内瑟菲尔德。伊丽莎白千恩万谢地答应了，随即打发一名仆人回浪博恩，把她要留下的事告知家人，顺便捎些换洗衣物回来。

阅读提示：一段"情节收尾"，写的其实是态度在流动

这一段读起来像是把第七章收个尾：姐姐病了，妹妹留下照顾——事情办妥，章节结束。可奥斯汀真正写的，是人物态度还没定型、正在悄悄挪动。

先看伊丽莎白。前几章里，她对宾利两姐妹是有保留的。可这里只用一句 "Elizabeth began to like them herself, when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane"，就让她的看法松动了——注意是先有"看见"（when she saw），才有"开始喜欢"（began to like）。好感不是凭空来的，是被眼前的关切一点点换来的；奥斯汀也没写死，只说"began to"（开始），留着日后再变的余地。

再看那个"送客"变"留客"的转折。宾利小姐先是客气地提出借马车，伊丽莎白也只等着再劝一劝（a little pressing）就顺势答应。真正改变结局的，不是谁的盛情，而是简"testified such concern at parting"（一分别就露出那么大的不安）——一个病中姐姐说不出口的舍不得，就逼得宾利小姐"was obliged to"（不得不）把送客的话改成了留客。

重点词汇

solicitude /səˈlɪsɪtjuːd/ noun — 挂念，关切（带着担忧的那种）
原文例句：...when she saw how much affection and solicitude they showed for Jane.
这是全篇的钥匙词。它比 care 更重，是"因为在乎而放不下心"的那种关切。正是这份 solicitude，让一向对宾利姐妹有所保留的伊丽莎白当场改观。

apothecary /əˈpɒθəkəri/ noun — 药剂师（旧时兼行医、开药）
原文例句：The apothecary came; and having examined his patient, said... that she had caught a violent cold.
不是我们今天理解的"药店店员"。在奥斯汀的年代，看小病多半找 apothecary——他既配药也看诊。一个词就交代了病情的分量：不算凶险，却需要有人守着。

despatch /dɪˈspætʃ/ verb — 派遣，急派（dispatch 的旧拼法）
原文例句：...a servant was despatched to Longbourn, to acquaint the family with her stay.
用的是被动式，配上这个略显正式、带点利落感的词，把"留下"这个决定迅速落到了行动上：话音刚落，仆人已经上路。

acquaint /əˈkweɪnt/ verb — 告知，使知道（acquaint sb with sth）
原文例句：...to acquaint the family with her stay, and bring back a supply of clothes.
不是随口"说一声"，而是正式"告知"。搭配固定是 acquaint someone with something，让收尾显得妥帖有礼。

长难句解析

1. Jane, who had only been withheld by the fear of giving alarm or inconvenience, from expressing in her note how much she longed for such a visit, was delighted at her entrance.

说明：主干其实很短——"Jane was delighted at her entrance"（简见她进来很高兴）。中间夹了一长段非限制性定语从句 who... 来补充简之前的心理：她一直被克制着（had been withheld），没在信里写出自己多盼妹妹来，原因是怕惊动家人或添麻烦。把主干先拎出来，长句就散开了。

结构：主语 (Jane) + [非限制性定语从句: who had been withheld by fear... from expressing how much she longed...] + 谓语 (was delighted) + 状语 (at her entrance)

2. ...she only wanted a little pressing to accept it, when Jane testified such concern at parting with her that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert the offer of the chaise into an invitation to remain at Netherfield.

说明：这句是本段的转折枢纽。前半句说伊丽莎白只差一点相劝就答应（only wanted a little pressing to accept）；when 在这里不是"当……时"，而是"正在此时，却……"，带出意外。核心是 such... that... 的因果结构：简的不安大到那种程度（such concern），以致宾利小姐"不得不"（was obliged to）把借车（chaise）改成了留宿邀请。

结构：主句 (she only wanted a little pressing to accept) + when 从句 (Jane testified such concern... that Miss Bingley was obliged to convert A into B)

今日测验

Q1. Why did Elizabeth's opinion of the Bingley sisters improve in the second paragraph?

A. Because they offered her a carriage.
B. Because they showed genuine care for Jane.
C. Because they left the room to let her sleep.
D. Because they prepared a good breakfast.

Q2. What caused Miss Bingley to invite Elizabeth to stay at Netherfield?

A. The weather was too bad for the carriage.
B. The apothecary suggested Elizabeth should stay.
C. Jane was very distressed at the thought of Elizabeth leaving.
D. Elizabeth refused to take the carriage.