英文名著精选阅读：《傲慢与偏见》第12章 第1节
IN consequence ofan 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 hadcalculated onher 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 notpropitious, at least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home.
班纳特姐妹俩商量妥当了以后，伊丽莎白第二天早上就写信给她母亲，请她当天就派车子来接她们。可是，班纳特太太早就打算让她两个女儿在尼日斐花园待到下星期二，以便让吉英正好住满一个星期，因此不大乐意提前接她们回家，回信也写得使她们不太满意，──至少使伊丽莎白不十分满意，因为她急于要回家。
Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage before Tuesday; and in herpostscriptit 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, andat lengthit was settled that their original design of leaving Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request made.
班纳特太太信上说，非到星期二，家里弄不出马车来。她写完信之后，又补写了几句，说是倘若彬格莱先生兄妹挽留她们多待几天，她非常愿意让她们待下去。怎奈伊丽莎白就是不肯待下去，她打定主意非回家不可──也不怎么指望主人家挽留她们，她反而怕人家以为她们赖在那儿不肯走。于是她催促吉英马上去向彬格莱借马车。她们最后决定向主人家说明，她们当天上午就要离开尼日斐花园，而且把借马车的事也提出来。
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 wasdeferred. 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.
主人家听到这话，表示百般关切，便再三挽留她们，希望她们至少待到下一天再走，吉英让她们说服了，于是姐妹俩只得再耽搁一天。这一下可叫彬格莱小姐后悔挽留她们，她对伊丽莎白又嫉妒又讨厌，因此也就顾不得对吉英的感情了。彬格莱听到她们马上要走非常发愁，便一遍又一遍劝导吉英，说她还没有完全复元，马上就走不大妥当，可是吉英既然觉得自己的主张是对的便再三坚持。
1.in consequence of 由于，因为 ... 的缘故
In consequence of having to use after-burners more fuel is consumed.
由于必须使用加力燃烧室，消耗了较多的燃料。
2.calculate on vt. 期待(指望，依靠)
We can't calculate on (having) good weather for the barbecue.
我们不能指望著(有)好天气才去烧烤。
3.propitious adj. 顺利的，适合的，吉祥的
People like to hear propitious sentences.
人们都喜欢听吉利的话。
4.postscript n. 附笔
As a postscript to his letter he added that he loved her.
他在信中加上附言，写上了他爱她。
5.at length adv. 终于(最后，详细地)
I arrived at that city at length.
我最终到达了那个城市。
6.defer vt. 延期，缓召，把 ... 委托给他人 vi. 耽搁，延误，遵从
I shall defer replying till I hear from home.
我将等接到家信以后再给你答复。
（编辑：薛琳）