این روزها ترجمه آنلاین به یکی از علایق وبگردهای فارسی زبان تبدیل شده ولی با تمام تلاش هایی که برای فراهم سازی یک مترجم فارسی و قدرتمند آنلاین صورت گرفته هنوز شاهد چنین اتفاقی نیستیم. تحقق این امر به یقین می تواند روند تولید و محتوا را در سایت های فارسی متحول کرده و به عبارت دیگر دامنه محتویات این سایت ها را توسعه دهد. همانقدر که در اینترنت از مترجم فارسی خبری نیست ، کاربران بسیاری از زبانهای دیگر این امکان را دارند که از ترجمه آنلاین بهره بگیرند. در این یادداشت به مهمترین مترجم های آنلاین کنونی در اینترنت اشاره شده است.

 ● مترجم آلتا ویستا: Bable Fish.Altavista.com مترجم آلتا ویستا قدیمی ترین و معروف ترین مترجم روی وب به حساب می آید. این مترجم قادر است صفحات اینترنتی یا بخشی از یک متن اینترنتی را به چند زبان رایج ترجمه کند. موتور ترجمه Bable Fish آلتا ویستا از مترجم قدرتمند سیستران بهره می گیرد. زبان هایی که مورد پشتیبانی مترجم آلتا ویستا هستند، عبارتند از: انگلیسی، آلمانی، هلندی، فرانسوی، اسپانیایی، ایتالیایی، پرتغالی، روسی، ژاپنی، یونانی و دو مورد از زبان های ساده شده چینی.

 ● مترجم گوگل: Translate. Google مترجم گوگل یکی دیگر از مترجم های معروف اینترنت است. البته این اعتبار بیشتر به ارایه آن از سوی کمپانی غول آسای گوگل باز می گردد و نمی توان آن را از نظر کارآیی با مترجم آلتا ویستا مقایسه کرد. مترجم گوگل همانند مترجم آلتا ویستا از دسته مترجم های معمولی (غیر تحصصی) به شمار می رود. این مترجم فعلاً زبان های انگلیسی، آلمانی، فرانسوی، اسپانیایی، پرتغالی و ایتالیایی را پشتیبانی می کند و زبان های چینی، ژاپنی، کره ای و عربی نیز به صورت Beta قابل استفاده اند. گفتنی است زبان عربی که به تازگی به فهرست گوگل اضافه شده هنوز در فهرست آلتا ویستا گنجانده نشده، حال آن که مترجم سیستران از یک سال قبل مترجم عربی خود را معرفی کرده است.

 ● مترجم یاهو: Bable Fish. Yahoo.com سرویس ترجمه یاهو نه محبوبیت گوگل را دارد و نه مقبولیت آلتا ویستا را. به نظر می رسد هدف اصلی یاهو برای ارایه یک مترجم آنلاین، رقابت با مترجم گوگل باشد. مترجم یاهو از تکنولوژی همسان با مترجم Bable Fish آلتا ویستا بهره می برد و تنها در طراحی آن کمی اختلاف دیده می شود. با این حال یاهو با افزودن مترجم خود به نوار ابزار یاهو (yahoo Toolbar) سعی کرده تا استفاده از مترجمش را گسترش دهد. یاهو همچنین امکان اضافه کردن مترجم خود به صفحات وب را به کاربر داده است.

 ● مترجم ورلد لینگو: Worldlingo Translator این مترجم قادر است علاوه بر ترجمه متون و صفحات وب، ایمیل ها را ترجمه کند. همچنین قابلیت ترجمه متون تخصصی را نیز دارد. علاوه براین می توان از کاراکترها در بین متون استفاده کرد و متن ترجمه شده نهایی را در یک نسخه قابل پرینت، تحویل گرفت. مترجم ورلد لینگو این امکان را به کاربر می دهد تا فایل های متنی مثل World، Excel، PDF، HTML را آپلود کرده و متن ترجمه شده آنها را دریافت کند.

 ● مترجم اینتر ترن: Intertran Translator مترجم اینتر ترن بیشتر به واسطه تنوع زبان هایش مورد توجه قرار گرفته است. این مترجم علاوه به زبانهای موجود در فهرست آلتا ویستا، قادر است متونی از زبانهای نروژی، سوئدی، فنلاندی، ایسلندی، ترکی، ولزی، لاتین، اسلونیایی، صربستانی، رومانیایی، مجارستانی، لهستانی، فیلیپینی، بلغاری، برزیلی، پرتغالی، دانمارکی، کرواسی و چک را به یکدیگر ترجمه کند. این مترجم البته قابلیت ترجمه صفحات وب را ندارد. بلکه کاربر می بایست متن خود را به صورت دستی وارد کرده و ترجمه را دریافت کند. آنها که از سرویس رایگان این مترجم استفاده می کنند محدودیت کاربری دارند (چند بار در دقیقه) و در صورت استفاده به دفعات زیاد در فاصله زمانی اندک، از سیستم پیغام خطا دریافت می کنند. سرویس غیر رایگان این مترجم چنین مشکلی ندارد.

 ● مترجم آیم: Im Translator مترجم آیم در مقایسه با نمونه های یاد شده از زبانهای کمتری پشتیبانی می کند، ولی به دلیل داشتن یک سری ویژگیهای جانبی مورد توجه قرار گرفته است. مهمترین ویژگی این مترجم امکان برگردانی متن اصلی به صورت همزمان است که می توان به وسیله آن صحت ترجمه را بررسی و با متن اصلی مقایسه کرد.

منبع: ماهنامه نفت پارس

روش اعجاب انگیز آموزش زبان انگلیسی!

"واقعیت این است که روشهایی برای یادگیری بهتر وجود دارند، روانشناسان با پژوهش های چندین ساله به این واقعیت رسیده اند که چگونگی فرآیند یادگیری از خود فرآیند یادگیری مهم تر است و از این رو باید به روش آموزشی که انتخاب می کنیم توجه ویژه ای داشته باشیم."

احتمالا شما هم این روزها با تبلیغات مختلفی در مجلات و اینترنت برخورد کرده اید که ادعا می کنند زبان انگلیسی را به طور معجزه آسا و در مدتی کوتاه به شما آموزش می دهند. انگلیسی در خواب، آموزش با امواج آلفا، روش X، روش MGM-PLN و ده‌ها اسم نا آشنا و جدید دیگر. ما در مورد این شیوه‌ها ابراز نظر نمی کنیم چون هرگز آنها را تجربه نکرده ایم اما اگر نگاهی به این نوع تبلیغات بیندازید می بینید که اساس همه آنها استفاده تبلیغاتی از تمایل افراد برای یادگیری سریع و بی دردسر زبان است. مسلما همه مشغله‌های درسی و کاری زیادی دارند و یا خود را برای آزمونی آماده می کنند که وقت چندانی تا آن باقی نمانده است. در این هنگام همه می خواهند به بهترین و سریعترین روش به یادگیری زبان بپردازند، اما برخی متاسفانه به این واقعیت توجه نمی کنند که اگر این روش‌های معجزه آسا واقعیت داشت، الان می بایست در بسیاری از کالج‌ها و مدارس دنیا که هر روز به دنبال شیوه‌های مدرن تر هستند به طور گسترده از این روشها استفاده می شد و حال آنکه شیوه‌های سنتی آموزش همچنان به قوت خود باقی هستند و شما هیچ خبری از موفقیت این شیوه‌ها در اخبار و تحقیقات پژوهشی نمی بینید.
اما واقعیت چیست؟ آیا همه این شیوه‌ها کذب محض است؟
واقعیت این است که روشهایی برای یادگیری بهتر وجود دارند، روانشناسان با پژوهش های چندین ساله به این واقعیت رسیده اند که چگونگی فرآیند یادگیری از خود فرآیند یادگیری مهم تر است و از این رو باید به روش آموزشی که انتخاب می کنیم توجه ویژه ای داشته باشیم. آنها همچنین به این اصل رسیده اند که مغز انسان تنها با تصاویر کار می کند، به عبارت دیگر هر چیزی که شما می شنوید، می بیند و یا می خوانید یا احساس می کنید برای پردازش در مغز ابتدا به صورت تصاویر ذهنی در می آیند و بعد مغز آن را درک می کند. برای درک بهتر این موضوع به واژه "درخت" توجه کنید. مغز شما بلافاصله بعد از برخورد با این واژه تصویر یک درخت را در ذهن شما بازسازی می کند، حالا سعی کنید در حالی که به واژه درخت توجه می کنید این تصویر را از ذهن خود خارج کنید، غیر ممکن است که بتوانید چنین کاری کنید و بفهمید درخت چیست و تصویر آن را در ذهن تجسم نکنید. حال به واژه "فلخکولوبیس" توجه کنید، این واژه حتما برای شما بی معنی است، تنها به این دلیل که مغز شما نمی تواند تصویر آن را تجسم کند و حال چنانچه پیوندی در مغز شما بین این واژه و یک تصویر وجود داشته باشد، به راحتی آنرا درک می کنید.
یادگیری یک زبان خارجی هم دقیقا فرآیندی مشابه است. بگذارید یک مثال واقعی بزنیم. شما مشغول مطالعه زبان انگلیسی هستید که ناگهان با لغت جدید “peacock” مواجه می شوید. در ابتدا این لغت کاملا برای شما نامفهوم و بی معنی است تا اینکه با مراجعه به فرهنگ لغت متوجه شوید معنی این لغت "طاووس" است. در این لحظه اتصال ذهنی بین لغت peacock و تصویر طاووس در ذهن شما شکل می گیرد، و البته با تکرار می توانید این پیوند را قوی تر و ماندگارتر کنید. حال اگر بخواهید در همان لحظه یک پیوند قوی بین این دو ایجاد کنید چه می کنید؟ در اینجاست که باید علاوه بر تکرار از تکنیک های کمکی استفاده کنید که به ایجاد هر چه بهتر این تصویر ذهنی کمک می کنند. گفتیم که مغز انسان با تصاویر کار می کند، پس هر چه تصویر ورودی به مغز واضح تر و شفاف تر باشد، به شکل بهتری در مغز ذخیره می شود. حال اگر لغت peacock را بشکافیم می بینیم که این لغت خود از دو لغت pea به معنی نخود سبز و cock به معنی خروش تشکیل شده است. حال می توانیم تصویری در ذهن خود مجسم کنیم که یک طاووس بسیار بزرگ مشغول خوردن نخود سبز است، البته این طاووس به جای دم زیبای خود یک دم خروس دارد. فقط کافی است تا یک لحظه این تصویر را به طور واضح در ذهن خود مجسم کنید تا دیگر به سختی بتوانید آن را فراموش کنید. حال هر وقت کسی از شما بپرسد که طاووس به انگلیسی چه می شود بلافاصله آن تصویر عجیب طاووس با دم خروس در حال خوردن نخودسبز در ذهن شما مجسم می شود و بعد از چند لحظه واژه peacock را به خاطر می آورید.
روشهایی وجود دارند که به وسیله آنها می توانید همه لغات، اعداد و حتی مفاهیم غیر شهودی(مانند دیدن، گرفتن، دوست داشتن و ...) را به صورت تصویر واضح در ذهن خود در بیاورید، به این روشها در اصطلاح "نمونیک" گفته می شود. طبق تعاریف "نمونیک (Mnemonics) عبارتست از تکنیک هایی برای به خاطر سپاری که تنها به تکرار مطالب اکتفا نمی کند. بلکه با ایجاد رابطه بین مفاهیم تازه و اطلاعات قبلی موجود در مغز که به راحتی یادآوری می شوند(تصاویر، ریتم، آهنگ و ...)، در به خاطرسپاری و یادآوری مطالب کمک می کند."
یکی از بهترین جاهایی که می توان از نمونیک استفاده کرد در فرآیند یادگیری یک زبان خارجی است. با این روش به سرعت و با حداقل تکرار می توان دایره لغات خود را تا حد چشمگیری افزایش داد، فراموش نکنید که همه کسانی که دارای حافظه خارق العاده هستند و یا توانایی صحبت کردن به چندین زبان مختلف را دارند به نوعی(شاید هم ندانسته) از این تکنیک ها بهره می برند و بدون استفاده از این تکنیک ها شاید حافظه آنها از افراد عادی هم ضعیف تر باشد. در مورد این تکنیکها در آینده به طور مفصل توضیح خواهیم داد. اما در پایان این نوشته خاطر نشان می کنیم که مبحث نمونیک بسیار گسترده بوده و همچنین اصلی ترین ابزار کمکی حافظه است. پس بهتر است از این به بعد روش اعجاب انگیز یادگیری زبان انگلیسی را به نام نمونیک بشناسیم.


منبع: http://learnenglish.webgah.net/articles.php?rq=283894

داستانهای کوتاه

وقتی سکوت نشانه قدرت است:

در تاریخ مشرق زمین شیوانا را استاد عشق و معرفت و دانایی می دانند، اما در عین حال کشاورز ماهری هم بود و باغ سیب بزرگی را اداره می کرد. درآمد حاصل از این باغ صرف مخارج مدرسه و هزینه زندگی شاگردان و مردم فقیر و درمانده می شد. درختان سیب باغ شیوانا هر سال نسبت به سال قبل بارور تر و شاداب تر می شدند و مردم برای خرید سراغ او می آمدند. یک سال تعداد سیب های برداشت شده بسیار زیادتر از از قبل بود و همه شاگردان نگران خراب شدن میوه‌های بودند. در دهکده ای دور کاهن یک معبد بود که به دلیل محبوبیت بیش از حد شیوانا، دائم پشت سر او بد می گفت و مردم را از خرید سیب های او بر حذر می داشت. چندین بار شاگردان از شیوانا خواستند تا کاهن معبد را گوش‌مالی دهند و او را جلوی معبد رسوا کنند، اما شیوانا دائما" آنها را به صبر و تحمل دعوت می کرد و از شاگردان می‌خواست تا صبور باشند و از دشمنی کاهن به نفع خود استفاده کنند. وقتی به شیوانا گفتند که تعداد سیب‌های برداشت شده امسال بیشتر از قبل است و بیم خراب شدن میوه‌های می‌رود٬ شیوانا به چند نفر از شاگردانش گفت که بخشی از سیب ها را با خود ببرند و به مردم ده به قیمت بالا بفروشند، در عین حال به شاگردان خود گفت که هر جا رسیدند درسهای رایگان شیوانا را برای مردم ده بازگو کنند و در مورد مسیر تفکر و روش معرفتی شیوانا نیز صحبت کنند. هفته بعد وقتی شاگردان برگشتند با تعجب گفتند که مردم ده نه تنها سیب های برده شده را خریدند بلکه سیب های اضافی را نیز پیش خرید کردند. یکی از شاگردان با حیرت پرسید: "اما استاد سوالی که برای ما پیش آمده این است که چرا مردم آن ده با وجود اینکه سال ها از زبان امین معبدشان بدگویی شیوانا را شنیده بودند ولی تا این حد برای خرید سیب های شیوانا سر و دست می‌شکستند؟" شیوانا پاسخ داد: جناب کاهن ناخواسته نام شیوانا را در اذهان مردم زنده نگه داشته بود، شما وقتی درباره مطالب معرفتی و درسهای شیوانا برای مردم ده صحبت کردید، آنها چیزی خلاف آنچه از زبان کاهن شنیده بودند را مشاهده کردند، به همین خاطر این تفاوت را به سیب ها هم عمومیت دادند و روی کیفت سیب های شما هم دقیق شدند و عالی بودن آنها را هم تشخیص دادند. ما سود امسال را مدیون بدگویی های آن کاهن بد زبان هستیم. او باعث شد مردم ده با ذوق و شوق و علاقه و کنجکاوی بیشتری به درس های معرفت روی آودند و در عین حال کاهن خود را بهتر بشناسند! پیشنهاد می کنم به او میدان دهید و بگذارید باز هم بدگویی و بد زبانی اش را بیشتر کند. به همین ترتیب همیشه می توان روی مردم این ده به عنوان خریدار های تضمینی میوه های خود حساب کنید. هر وقت فردی مقابل شما قد علم کرد و روی دشمنی با شما اصرار ورزید. اصلاً مقابلش نایستید، به او اجازه دهید تا یکطرفه در میدان دشمنی یکه تازی کند. زمان که بگذرد سکوت باعث محبوب تر شدن شما و دشمنی او باعث شکست خودش می شود. در این حالت همیشه به خود بگویید، قدرت من بیشتر است چرا که او هیچ تاثیری روی من ندارد و من هرگز به او فکر نمی کنم و بر عکس من باعث می شوم تا به طور دائم در ذهن او جولان دهم و او را وادار به واکنش نمایم، این جور مواقع سکوت نشانه قدرت است.

صفت (دستور زبان)

صِفَت، واژه‌ای است که حالت و چگونگی چیزی یا واژه ای را برساند و اقسام آن از این قرار است : صفت فاعلی، صفت مفعولی، صفت تفضیلی و صفت نسبی.

برای واژه صفت که عربی است برابرهای فارسی «فروزه» و «چگون‌واژه» پیشنهاد شده است.

صفت فاعلی

آن است که بر کنندهٔ کار یا دارندهٔ معنی دلالت کند و علامت آن عبارت است از : 1- " نده" که در پایان فعل امر می آید : پرسنده، خواهنده، شناسنده، بافنده 2- " ان " مثل : خواهان، پرسان، دمان، روان، دوان 3- " الف " که آن نیز در پایان فعل امر می آید، مثل : شکیبا، زیبا، خوانا، گویا، بینا، پویا 4- " ار " غالبا در آخر فعل ماضی می آید، مثل : خریدار، خواستار، برخوردار، نامردار، گرفتار 5- " گار " که بیشتر در آخر فعل امر و ماضی می آید، مثل : آموزگار، پرهیزگار، آمرزگار، آفریدگار 6- " کار " که غالبا به آخر اسم معنی ملحق می‌شود، مثل : ستمکار، فراموشکار 7- " گر " در آخر اسم معنی می آید، مثل : پیروزگر، دادگر، بیدادگر

صفت فاعلی که به " نده " ختم شود، غالبا در عمل و صفت غیر ثابت استعمال می‌شود، مثل : رونده، یعنی کسی که عمل رفتن را انجام می‌دهد

صفاتی که به " ان " ختم می‌شود، بیشتر معنی حال را می‌دهد : سوزان، نالان، روان، دوان صفاتی که به " الف " ختم می‌شود، حالت ثابت را می رساند، مثل : دانا لغاتی که به " گار، کار، گر " ختم می‌شود مبالغه را می رساند مثل : آموزگار، ستمکار، ستمگر

"گار" همیشه بعد از کلماتی که از فعل مشتق می‌شود می آید ولی " کار " پس از اسم معنی و غیر مشتق به کار می‌رود .

" گر " در غیر اسم معنی، شغل را می رساند، مانند : آهنگر و این جز صفات فاعلی نیست .

ترکیب صفت فاعلی

صفت فاعلی چهار قسم دارد :

1- حالت اضافی که صفت، به مابعد ِ خود اضافه می‌شود : فزایندهٔ باد آوردگاه فشانندهٔ خون ز ابر سیاه

2- با تقدّم صفت و حذف کسرهٔ اضافه : جهاندار محمود ِ گیرنده شهر ز شادی به هرکس رساننده بهر

3- با تاخیر صفت بدون آن که در آن تغییری رخ دهد : منم گفت یزدان پرستنده شاه مرا ایزد پاک داد این کلاه

4- با تاخیر صفت و حذف علامت صفت " نده " مانند سرافراز، گردن فراز که سرفرازنده و گردن فرازنده بوده و این کار قیاسی است .

هرگاه صفت فاعلی با مفعول یا یکی از قیود مثل : بیش، کم، بسیار، پیش، پس و نظایر آن ترکیب شود علامت صفت حذف می‌شود مثل : کامجوی، پیش گوی، کم گوی، بسیار دان، پیشرو، پس رو

صفای که به " ان " ختم می‌شود، هرگاه مکرر شود، ممکن است علامت صفت را از اول حذف کنند، مثل : لرزلرزان، جنب جنبان، پرس پرسان، کش کشان

صفت مفعولی

صفت مفعولی بر آنچه فعل بر او واقع شده باشد، دلالت می‌کند، مانند : پوشیده، برده. یعنی آنچه، پوشیدن و بردن بر او واقع شده باشد و علامت آن " ه " ماقبل مفتوح است که در آخر فعل ماضی در می آید .

ترکیبات صفع مفعولی از این قرار است : 1- آن که صفت را مقدم داشته، اضافه کنند، مانند : پرودهٔ نعمت، آلودهٔ منت . 2- با تقدیم صفت و حذف حرکت اضافه، مانند : آلوده نظر 3- آن که صفت را در آخر آورند و هیچ تغییری ندهند، مثل : خوا آلوده، شراب آلوده 4- مانند نوع سوم ولی با حذف علامت صفت، مثل : خاک آلود، نعمت پرورد، دستپحت 5- با تاخیر صفت و حذف " ده " از پایان آن، چنانکه به ترکیب صفت فاعلی شبیه باشد : پناه پرور، دست پرور

هر گاه بخواهند صفت مفعولی را که تخفیف یافته، جمع ببندند آن را به حال اول بر می گردانند، مثلاً : دست پروردگان ولی در تخفیف صفت فاعلی برگردانیدن به حال اصلی لازم نیست، مثل : گردنکشان، سرافرازان، نامداران

صفت تفضیلی

صفت تفضیلی، آن است که در آخر آن لفط " تر " افزوده شود و مفاد آن، ترجیح موصوف است بر شخص دیگر که در وجود صفت با او شریک و همتاست و آن تنها به آخر صفت و کلماتی که در معنی صفت باشد، پیوسته شود، مانند : گوینده تر، شتابنده تر، فزاینده تر، گریانده تر، مردتر، برتر

صفت تفضیلی به یکی از سه طریق زیر استعمال می‌شود :

1- با " از " : خرد از مال سودمندتر است . 2- با " که" : دانش، بهتر که مال. سیرت، پسندیده تر که صورت . 3- با اضافه، چنانکه گوییم : تواناتر ِ مردم کسی است که دانایی او فزونتر باشد .

هر گاه بخواهند صفت تفضیلی را اضفه کنند : " ین " در آخر آن می آورند : بزرگ‌ترین ِ شعرای ایران، فردوسی است .

الفاضی از قبیل : مه، به، که و بیش به معنی صفت تفضیلی استعمال می شوند و در آخر آن نیز " ین " در می آورند، مانند : مهین، بهین، کهین .

هر گاه " ین " در آخر صفات تفضیلی در آید، افادهٔ معنی تخصیص کند، مثل : کمترین، فاضلترین .

در این حالت اگر صفت تفضیلی را اضافه کنند، ما بعد آن را جمع آورند، مثل : بزرگ‌ترین ِ مردان و فاضلترین ِ رجال امروز اوست. و بدون اضافه باید لفظ مفرد استعمال شود : تواناترین مرد، بیناترین شاگرد .

صفت نسبی

صفت نسبی، آن اتست که نسبت به چیزی یا محلی را برساند و علامت های آن عبارت است از : 1- " ی " در آخر کلمه مانند : آسمانی، زیمینی، آتشی، هوایی، خاکی، پارسی، اصفهانی، نیشابوری

"ی " نسبت همواره به مفرد، پیوسته می‌شود و کلماتی از قبیل : کاویانی، خسروانی، کیانی، پهلوانی، نادر است و بر آن قیاس نمی‌توان کرد .

2- " ه" مخفی و غیر ملفوظ : دو روزه، یکشبه، یکساله، صده، دهه، هزاره

و این " ه " غالبا در ترکیبات عددی  استعمال می‌شود.  و گاهی  تنهایی  در غیر این مورد استعمال شده است : مثل : نبرده

3- " ین " و این در آخر اسمها در می آید : سفالین، جوین، گندمین، بلورین، گلین و گاهی این ادات را با "ه " جمع می‌کنند و در آخر کلمه می آورند : بلورینه، زرینه، سیمینه، پشمینه

4- " گان " مانند : گروگان، پدرگان

صفات ترکیبی

صفاتی را که از ترکیب دو اسم یا اسم و اداتی حاصل شود، مرکب یا صفت ترکیبی می گویند و اقسام آنم به شرح زیر است : 1- ترکیب تشبیهی که از به هم پیوستن مشبه به به مشبه یا مشبه به به وجه شبه حاصل شود مثل : سرو قد، مشکموی، گلرنگ، مشکبوی

2- ترکیب دو اسم بدون ادات : جفا پیشه، هنر پیشه

3- ترکیب دو اسم به اضافهٔ ادات مثل : نیزه به دست

4- ترکیب اسم با ادات که انواع بسیاری دارد : الف - ترکیب " ب " و اسم : بنام، بخرد ب- ترکیب " با " و اسم : با نام، با عقل، با غیرت ج- ترکیب " هم " با اسم که اشتراک را می رساند : همراه، همنشین د- ترکیب " نا " و "ن " با اسم : ناکام، ناچار، نامرد ه- ترکیب " بی " با اسم : بی خرد، بی شعور و- ترکیب " مند " با اسم : هنرمند، خردمند، تنومند، برومند ز - ترکیب " ور " با اسم : هنرور، دانشور، سرور، جانور، گنجور، رنجور ،مزدور ح- ترکیب اسم با " ناک" که بیشتر افاده معنی علت و آفت می‌باشد : نمناک، بیمناک

"بی " پیوسته بر سر اسم می آید ولی " نا " هم به اسم و هم به صفت می تواند متصل شود ولی استعمال آن با صفت بیشتر است .

صفت سماعی و قیاسی

1- کلمه‌ای را که دارای معنی وصفی باشد و در زبان پارسی ِ کنونی برای آن اشتقاق یا ترکیبی در تصور نباشد، صفت سماعی گویند : گران، سبک، نیک، بد، زشت، تنگ، کوتاه

2- کلماتی که بر رنگ دلالت می‌کنند بیشتر صفت سماعی هستند : سپید، سیاه، سرخ، زرد و گاه قیاسی : نیلی، آبی، سرمه یی

3- صفات سماعی هنگام ترکیب مقدم هستند : گرانسنگ، سبکمغز، کوتاه قد و گاه مؤخر می باشند : چشم سپید، بالابلند

طرز استعمال صفت

1- صفت پیش از موصوف و بعد از آن نیز می آید، و هرگاه موصوف، مقدم باشد به شکل اضافه، استعمال می‌شود و کسرهٔ اضافه بر حرف آخر موصوف وارد می‌شود

2- هرگاه موصوف به " و " و یا " الف " ختم شود، در آخر آن " ی " اضافه می‌شود و وقتی به " ه " مخفی تمام شود، " ی " ملیِّنه اضافه می‌شود

3- صفت های مرکب، غالبا به واسطهٔ یکی از اجزای خود به موصوف، مرتبط می شوند و بنابراین از صفت و موصوف تشکیل می شوند

4- مطابقهٔ صفت با موصوف روا نیست و چون موصوف، جمع باشد صفت را مفرد می آورند و همین روش میان نویسنگان و شاعران معمول بوده و هم اکنون نیز متداول است و برخلاف این نیز مواردی در سخن بزرگان دیده شده که صفت را با موصوف تطبیق می‌دهند

چندی صفت و موصوف

هرگاه موصوفی دارای چند صفت باشد آن را به یکی از سه طریق استعمال می‌کنند : الف - موصوف را مقدم می‌کنند و صفات را به همدیگر اضافه می‌کنند ب- آنکه صفات را به هم عطف می‌کنند ج- بعضی از صفات را پیش از موصوف و بعضی را پس از آن می آورند و در صورتی که در آخر موصوف " ی " وحدت نباشد، اضافه می‌کنند

هرگاه صفت و موصوف ؛ متعدد باشد، ممکن است آن را به یکی از چند طریق استعمال کنند : الف - هر صفتی با موصوف خود ذکر شود ب- موصوف ها مقدم و صفت ها مؤخر باشند و در این صورت یا هر دو صفت به هر دو موصوف ممکن است راجع شود یا آن که هر صغنی به یکی از موصوف ها تعلق گیرد

و نیز ممکن است یک صفت دارای دو موصوف باشد

تقدیم صفت بر مضاف الیه

در موقعی که موصوف را بخواهند اضافه کنند، صفت را می آورند و پس از آن عمل اضافه را انجام می‌دهند و این مطرد و در نظم و نثر متداول است، ولی در بعضی مواقع اضافه را بر وصف، مقدم می‌کنند

"ی" وحدت در موصوف و صفت

" ی " وحدت یا در آخر صفت در می آید چنانکه گوییم : " مرد فاضلی است. طبع لطیفی دارد " و اکنون این طریقه زبان فارسی معمول است. یا در آخر موصوف، مذکور می افتد

هر گاه مقصود از صفت بیان جنس و نوع موصوف باشد، بیشتر آن را با " ی " وحدت همراه می‌کنند و در اول آن لفظ " ازین " می آورند

هر گاه مقصود تعداد و شمردن اوصاف باشد، آن را هم عطف نمی‌کنند

در موقع ندا و الحاق " ی " وحدت به هر یک از صغت ها، مقصود شمردن و تعداد اوصاف باشد و غالبا موصوف ذکر نمی‌شود .

ضمیر موصوف

ضمیر "من" از میانهٔ ضمایر، موصوف واقع می‌شود

در سایر ضمایر، صفت در حکم توضیح و به منزلهٔ بدل است.

• معناشناسی (Semantics)
• آشنایی با چند اصطلاح:
  • Synonym:
  • Antonym:
    • Gradable Antonyms:
    • Ingradable Antonyms:
  • Taxonomic Sisters:
  • Hyponyms and Hypernyms:
  • Meronyms:
  • Homonyms:
  • Polysemy:
  • Homograph:
  • Homophones:
  • Denotation and Connotation:
  • Componential Analysis:
  • Fuzzy Concepts:
  • Prototypes:
  • مشکلی بنام Metaphor:
  • نقش های معنایی:

بطورکلی بررسی ارتباط میان واژه و معنا را معناشناسی می گویند. در منطق نیز بررسی ارتباط میان نمادها و آنچه که نمادها نشان می دهند را معناشناسی (Semantics) می نامند.

خوب است در آغاز به این نکته اشاره کنم که در معناشناسی، میانِ واژه (word) و واژه قاموسی (lexeme) تفاوت وجود دارد. واژه را که همه می شناسیم . اما واژه قاموسی شامل بنِ واژه ، واژه کامل ، و یا یک اصطلاح(idiom) است و بطور کلی واحد و یکان فرهنگ نویسی بشمار می رود. از همین رو فرهنگ زبان یا واژه نامه را نیز Lexicon می نامند. بنابراین، ”dog“، ”happiness“، ”put up with“، هرسه، واژه قاموسی هستند.

دو واژه ی قاموسیِ هم معنی را مترادف می نامند. توجه کنید که هیچ دو واژه ای در زبان بطور کامل هم معنی نیستند. حتی اگر شما ”پوشیدن“ و ”تن کردن“ را مترادف بدانید نیز این دو هرگز کاملا هم معنی نیستند! آشکارترین تفاوت میان این دو آن است که پوشیدن را می توانید برای موارد رسمی نیز بکار برید، اما از ”تن کردن“ تنها برای موارد غیر رسمی می توانید استفاده کنید.
نکته دیگر این است که دو واژه شاید معناهای متفاوتی داشته باشند؛ بنابراین، ممکن است تنها یک معنا از دو واژه با توجه به بافت سخن، مترادف باشند. با این وجود، شما آن دو واژه را در آن بافت، مترادف می خوانید.

دو واژه که در بافت سخن، دارای دو معنای متضاد باشند را antonym می گویند. واژه های متضاد بر دو دسته اند:

مانند سرد و گرم. شما می توانید بگووید سردتر یا گرم تر؛ همچنین می توانید بپرسید که چه اندازه گرم یا چه اندازه سرد؟

مانند مرده و زنده. شما نمی توانید بگویید مرده تر! و نمی توانید بپرسید که چقدر مرده یا چقدر زنده؟!

برای گروهی از واژگان قاموسی بکار می رود که در یک سطح طبقه بندی قرار می گیرند. برای نمونه سگ، خوک، اسب، و... از نظر حیوان بودن، taxonomic sisters هستند. بعضی از ”خواهران رده ای“ که محدود هستند را بسته (closed) می ناند : ”روزهای هفته“. برخی دیگر مانند ”راه های خوش آمدگویی“ را باز یا نامحدود یا open می نامند.

هایپانیم، اشاره به ارتباطِ شمولی دارد. برای نمونه، ”سرخ“ هایپانیمِ رنگ است و ”شیر“ هایپانیمِ گربه سانان است. خودِ رنگ و گربه سانان در اینجا هایپرنیم است.

مرونیم ها مثل هایپانیم ها هستند با این تفاوت که مرونیم ها اشاره به اجزای یک چیز دارند. برای نمونه، ”بال“ جزیی از یک پرنده و ”دستگیره“ جزیی از یک در است.

دو واژه که یک شکل و یک تلفظ دارند، اما از نظر معنایی متفاوت اند. برای نمونه در زبان انگلیسی، bank هم بمعنی بانک و هم به معنی ساحل رود بکار می رود. گرچه هر دوی این واژگان یک جور نوشته می شوند، اما از نظر معنا شناسی، این دو، واژگانی متفاوت هستند. این دو واژه را هومونیم می نامیم.

بعضی از واژگان، تک معنایی (monosemy) هستند و برخی دیگر چندمعنایی (polysemy) اند. تشخیص تفاوت میان هومونیم ها و پالسمی ها بسیار دشوار و کارِ زبان شناسان است. برای نمونه زبان شناسان “table” به معنی ”لوح“ و “table” به معنی ”جدول“ را در زیر یک سرواژه قرار داده و آنرا پالسمی (و نه هومونیم) می دانند.

دو واژه که به یک صورت نوشته می شوند، اما از نظر تلفظ و معنا متفاوت هستند. برای نمونه شکل های اسمی و فعلیِ واژه project هومونیم نیستند، بلکه homograph اند.

واژه های متفاوت با تلفظ یکسان را هوموفون می نامند. برای نمونه: ”hair“ و ”hare“.

معنای صریح و آشکار یک واژه که معمولا در واژه نامه ها به آن اشاره می شود را denotative meaning می نامند. معنای ضمنی یک واژه را connotative meaning می نامند. برای نمونه هنگامیکه کسی به شما می گوید : ”زهرا برای من مادری کرده است“، معنای صریح واژه ”مادری“ در اینجا اینگونه است که زهرا مخاطب شما را بزرگ کرده و پرورش داده است، اما معنای ضمنی آن این است که زهرا در حق مخاطب شما مهر و محبت فراوان روا داشته است.

یکی از روش های نشان دادن معنی واژگان قاموسی، آوردن اجزای معنایی آنها (meaning components) است. به بررسی اجزای مرد، زن، دختر، و پسر توجه کنید:
:مرد : + انسان، - مونث، + بزرگسال
:زن : + انسان، + مونث، + بزرگسال
:دختر: + انسان، + مونث، - بزرگسال
:پسر: + انسان، - مونث، - بزرگسال

این روش، نسبت به شیوه ی آوردن مرجع (reference) برای معنا (sense) برتری دارد. چراکه گاه دو معنای متفاوت، به یک مرجع اشاره دارند! به نمونه زیر توجه کنید:
:رییس جمهور
:رییس شورای عالی امنیت ملی

هر دو معنای اشاره شده در بالا، به یک نفر اشاره دارند. برابر قانون اساسی ایران، رییس جمهور، رییس شورای امنیت ملی است. با این وجود، از نظر معنایی، میان ریاست جمهوری و ریاست شورای امنیت ملی تفاوت آشکار وجود دارد.
البته به تشریح معنی از راه بررسی اجزایی در ظاهر یک اشکال بزرگ نیز وارد است. این روش معمولا برای بیان معنای ضمنی (connotative meaning) کامل نیست:

در نگاه نخست، بچلر متضاد واژه اسپینسر است، اما بار معنایی منفی موجود در واژه دوم را چه کار کنیم؟! واژه نخست را در فارسی می توانیم بصورت ”مرد مجرد“ ترجمه کنیم، اما اگر بخواهیم واژه دوم را ترجمه کنیم باید بگوییم : ”پیردختر“ یا ”دختر ترشیده“ یا چیزی شبیه به اینها!
پاسخ این است که شما برای معنای صریح و معنای ضمنی واژه، دو هویت مستقل قائل می شوید و برای نمونه می توانید برای معنای ضمنی اسپینسر، یک (+ negative feedback) و یا یک (- young) یا هر معنای ضمنی دیگری که برداشت می کنید را نیز می آورید.

همه اجزای معنایی واژگان را نمی توان با آری و نه و یا + و – نشان داد. برای نمونه، در مورد بستنی، ماهیت این واژه آیا + جامد است یا - جامد؟! اشتباه نکنید! این ایراد از معناشناسی نیست، این مفهومِ گنگ دقیقا همان نگاهی است که شما به معنای بستنی دارید. همین حالا به پرسش من پاسخ دهید : ”آیا بستنی جامد است؟“ خوب اگر شما بگویید آری، پس فرق ماهیت سنگ و چوب و پارچه با بستنی چیست؟ آنچه از ماهیت بستنی در ذهن شما نقش می بندد این است که چیزی است میان جامد و مایع؛ نه می توان آنرا جامد خواند و نه می توان آنرا مایع دانست.

برخی واژگان در ذهن انسان به مجموعه ای از مرجع های متفاوت اشاره دارند. برای نمونه واژه ی ورزش اینگونه است. هنگامیکه شما این واژه را به تنهایی می شنوید احتمالا در ذهن شما ”نرمش صبحگاهی“، ”فوتبال“، ”کشتی“، و... نقش می بنند. این حالت را ما بصورت یک دایره ی دارت نشان می دهیم که درآن هرچه به سوی میانه هدف پیش می رویم، مفاهیم معروف تر که با شنیدن واژه زودتر به ذهن خطور می کنند(prototypes) دیده می شوند.
تصویر زیر چیزی است که تصور می کنم یک آمریکایی از ورزش داشته باشد:

شاید بسیاری از آمریکاییان بازی بیس بال را نیز در دایره دارتِ معناییِ خود بگنجانند. شاید برخی بوکس یا کشتی را در منطقه درونی تر دایره جای دهند و فوتبال آمریکایی را به خارج تر برانند. به هر روی، تصویر شکل یافته، همان معنایی است که فرد مورد نظر ما از ورزش در ذهن خود دارد.

متافور یعنی استعاره. استعاره نوعی تشبیه است که در آن از ادات تشبیه استفاده نشده باشد. برای نمونه در فارسی می گوییم ”حسن که خرس است!“. این جمله یعنی حسن که مانند خرس گنده است.
در انگلیسی ممکن است روابط جنسی نامشروع را به ناپاکی و نداشتن اینگونه روابط را به پاکی تشبیه کرده و بصورت استعاره بکار برند:

پرسش: در برخورد با استعاره ها، از دید معناشناسی، آیا باید معنای ظاهری آنها را بررسی نمود یا باید معنای باطنی شان را در نظر گرفت؟
پاسخ: هر دو! فراموش نکنید که معناشناسی دقیقا بررسی همان چیزی است که در ذهن انسان نقش می بنند. هنگامیکه شما با یک استعاره بر می خورید، ابتدا معنای ظاهری و سپس معنای باطنی آن شما را متوجه خود می کند و این ارزش کار استعاره است. برخی مترجمان غیرحرفه ای متاسفانه در ترجمه استعاره ها معنا یا تفسیر خود از آن را بیان می کنند و این بزرگترین خیانت به اثر نویسنده و اشتباهی بزرگ در ترجمه است.

در هنگام خواندن نقش های معنایی، تلاش نکنید مفاهیم ارایه شده را با مفاهیم موجود در دستور سنتی برابری دهید. گرچه می توان برخی از آنها را معادل فعل ، فاعل ، مفعول ، یا... در دستور زبان دانست، با این وجود خواهید دید که برای نمونه فاعل در معناشناسی گونه های متفاوتی دارد:

Agent: کارگزار.

Patient: چیزی که از کارِ کارگزار یا علت تاثیر پذیرفته است.

Location: محل انجام کار (یا حادثه).

Instrument: چیزی که کارگزار برای انجام کار از آن استفاده نموده است.

Time: زمان انجام کار (یا حادثه).

Recipient: دریافت کننده ی نتیجه ی کارِ کارگزار.

Experiencer: گیرنده انگیزه.

Stimulus: انگیزه.

Cause: علت.

Goal: محلِ مقصد.

یکی از دوستان می گفت: ”زمان! کارگزار، انگیزه، و علت، که یکی است!“ باید بگویم بله! در دستور زبان شاید هر سه را فاعل بدانیم، اما در معنا، میان این سه و نیز میان Patient و Recipient تفاوت هایی وجود دارد. برای درک بهتر مفاهیم بالا، به نمونه های زیر توجه کنید:

خانواده های زبان های جهان

در سال 2000، برابر محاسبه ی زبانشناسان، بیش از شش هزار زبان در سراسر جهان استفاده می شده است که بیشتر آنها را ده هزار نفر یا کمتر بکار می برده اند. این تعداد تا سال 2100 یعنی در گذرِ تنها یک قرن نصف خواهد شد. ”یعنی هر دوازده روز = مرگ یک زبان“. بسیاری از فرهنگ های بومی و ملی نیز همراه با این زبان ها به موزه ی تاریخ سپرده خواهد شد. زبان هایی که تعداد سخنگویان بدانها بسیار است (مانند زبان فارسی) دیرتر فراموش خواهند شد. بسیاری معتقدند که زبان هایی باقی خواهد ماند که خاستگاه آنها مهد فن آوری یا اقتصاد باشدبیشتر بر این باورند که زبانی که مردمِ آن بدان عشق ورزند نیز هرگز نخواهد مرد.
برای دسته بندی زبان ها از دیدگاه زبان شناسی، دو شیوه مرسوم است:

شیوه ی وابسته به گونه شناسی (Typology ) در این شیوه، زبان ها بر پایه ساختار شان دسته بندی می شوند. در این روش، برای نمونه، زبان انگلیسی و زبان چینی که هر دو از واژه پردازیِ ”فاعل- فعل- مفعول“ پیروی می کنند، در یک گروه قرار می گیرند.

شیوه ی زادگانی (Genetic) : در این شیوه، زبان ها برپایه ی روند شکل گیری و برمبنای تاریخی دسته بندی می شوند. این روش، بسیار پیچیده تر و علمی تر از شیوه ی وابسته به گونه شناسی است. در شیوه ی زادگانی، گروهی از دانش ها همچون باستان شناسی ، مردم شناسی ، تاریخ، و... توسط زبانشناسان بخدمت گرفته می شود. خانواده های زبان ها نیز با استفاده از همین شیوه دسته بندی شده اند.

گروه زبان های هند و ایرانی

 
گروه زبان های هند و ایرانی ، مهمترین گروه از خانواده ی زبان های هند و اروپایی است؛ چراکه کهن ترین گروه از این خانواده به شمار می رود که متن های بسیاری از آن بجای مانده است. تنها خطِ آ ، خطِ ب ، و متن های موجود از زبان هیتی (Hittite)کهن تر از گروه هند و ایرانی هستند. خط آ ، معدود نوشته هایی متعلق به 1500 سال پیش از میلاد هستند که بر روی گل کنده کاری شده و در جزیره ی کرت پیدا شده اند. خط ب نیز متعلق به 1400 سال پیش از میلاد است و آنهم بر روی لوح های گلی در کرت و یونان پیدا شده است. با این وجود، بدلیل اندک بودن بقایای این دو خط و نیز کم بودن دانسته های ما درباره ی زبانی که با این دو خط نوشته می شده است، نمی توان از آنها چیز زیادی بدست آورد. زبان هیتی نیز در آناتولی و بخش هایی از سوریه امروزی بکار می رفته است. با وجود لوح های بسیاری که از این زبان بجای مانده، زبانشناسان هنوز نتوانسته اند آنرا در یکی از گروه های خانواده ی هند و اروپایی جای دهند و تنها به این نکته بسنده می کنند که این زبان احتمالا هند و اروپایی بوده است.

از سوی دیگر، به دلایل زیر، از خانواده ی هند و ایرانی متن های بسیاری بجای مانده و امروزه مرجعی قابل اطمینان برای پژوهشگران شده است:

1 .زبان سانسکریت «هند باستان)، از قرن 14 پیش از میلاد {برخی این تاریخ را تا چهار قرن پیش از این نیز به عقب برده اند} تا قرن پنجم پیش از میلاد، زبان دینی هندویان بشمار می رفته است و به همین دلیل مهمترین متن های دینی هندیان به این زبان نوشته شده است. از قرن پنجم پیش از میلاد به بعد نیز از زبان سانسکریت بعنوان زبان ادبیات کلاسیک هندی استفاده شده است.

2 .زبان اوستایی (ایران باستان)، زبانی است که اوستا بدان نوشته شده و بدیهی است که مورد احترام و پاسداری ایرانیان بوده است. عین کتاب اوستا هم اکنون موجود است و بعلاوه واژه نامه های چندجلدی از زبان اوستایی نیز انتشار یافته که می تواند مورد توجه پژوهشگران باشد.

3 .زبان پارسی باستان ، از آنجایی که زبان مردم ایران تا قرن سوم پیش از میلاد بوده است، از دید من، بسیار شایان اهمیت است. باقی مانده های این زبان بر روی لوح های سنگی بجامانده از دوران هخامنشی موجود است. معروفترین لوح بجامانده، کتیبه بیستون است که به سه زبان پارسی باستان، ایلامی، و آکِدی نوشته شده است. متاسفانه زبان پارسی باستان از هجوم و تاراج تازیان و دیگران بی نصیب نمانده و بسیاری از شواهد مربوط به آن از میان رفته است. بسیاری دیگر از این شواهد نیز در دوران قاجار به کشورهای غربی صادر شده است. واژه نامه ی پارسه- فارسی که برای نخستین بار در جهان در تارنمای دنبلید آورده شده است، با بهره گیری از گنجینه ی متن ها و واژه نامه ی Parsah-English دانشگاه شیکاگو نوشته شده و از کتابهای تاریخ زبان فارسی و واج شناسی تاریخی زبان فارسی (هر دو اثر دکتر مهری باقری) نیز در گردآوری این واژه نامه استفاده شده است.

به هر روی، گروه زبان های هند و ایرانی به دو زیرگروه ایرانی و هندی تقسیم می شود:

1 .زبان های ایرانی: زبانهای مهم این زیرگروه عبارتند از اوستایی ، پارسی باستان، سکایی (امروزه وجود ندارد)، استی (Ossetic) در قفقاز ، پهلوی ، فارسی ، پشتو در افغانستان ، دُری در افغانستان، فارسی تاجیکی ، کردی ، و بلوچی.

2 .زبان های هندی: زبانهای مهم این زیرگروه عبارتند از سانسکریت، هندی ، اردو ، بنگالی ، گجراتی ، سیلانی ، و نپالی.

زبان‌شناسی رایانه‌ای، جزء علوم بین‌رشته‌ای است که سعی دارد با بهره‌گیری از روش‌های محاسباتی و صوری به مدل‌سازی ماشینی زبان طبیعی بپردازد. زبان شناسی رایانه‌ای همچنین شاخه‌ای از هوش مصنوعی محسوب می‌شود.

در مورد استفاده از آن از جمله میتوان به کاربردهای زیر اشاره کرد:

فرایافت concept و تجزیه زبانهای برنامه نویسی:

 نوآم چامسکی توانست تشابه زبانهای طبیعی و زبانهای برنامه نویسی را به اثبات برساند. یعنی یک زبان رایانه ای مانند زبانهای طبیعی دارای یک دستور زبان و یک فرهنگ می باشد. تفسیر یک متن از تجزیه ی واژه ها lexicon آغاز سپس با تجزیه نحو syntax و در آخر با تجزیه مفهوم semantic آن پایان می یابد.

ترجمه ماشینی (خودکار) :

 این شاخه از زبان شناسی رایانه‌ای‌ زمان درازی کم اهمیت جلوه می کرد اما امروزه یکی از موارد مورد علاقه پژوهشگران این رشته می باشد. پس از مرحله ی تجزیه واژه ها و نحو می باید تجزیه ی مفهوم و سپس پرگماتیک را نیز افزود. در واقع این دو سعی در شناخت مفهوم خاص یک واژه در مکانی که ظاهر می شود را دارد.

پرسش و پاسخ با زبانهای طبیعی:

 این ایده مدتی به عنوان پاسخی قانع کننده به مسئله ارتباط انسان و ماشین تلقی می شد. این دید در واقع جنبه ی وسیع تری از دستور زایشی چامسکی است.

زبان‌شناسی میکوشد تا به پرسشهایی بنیادین همچون «زبان چیست؟» و «زبان چگونه عمل می‌‌کند؟» پاسخ گوید. برای نمونه در این که «زبان آدمی با سامانه ارتباطی دیگر جانوران چه تفاوتی دارد؟»، «کودک چگونه سخن گفتن می‌‌آموزد؟»، «انسان چگونه می‌‌نویسد و از چه راهی زبان نانوشتاری را واکاوی (تحلیل) می‌کند؟»، «چرا زبانها دیگرگون می‌شوند؟» و جز اینها. کسی را که به بررسی‌های زبانشناختی میپردازد، زبان‌شناس می‌‌نامند. زبانشناس اگرچه باید آزمودگی گسترده‌ای در چندین گونه زبان داشته باشد ولی بایستگی و لزومی ندارد که به روانی به چندین زبان سخن بگوید. برای او مهم‌تر این است که بتواند پدیده‌های زبان‌شناختی را مانند سامانه واژه‌های یک زبان یا کارواژه‌های آن را کندوکاو نماید و بازبشکافد. او بیشتر یک مشاهده گر برون گرا و ورزیده است تا یک طرف گفتگو..

دانش زبان‌شناسی با کتاب دستور سانسکریت نوشته پانینی هندی آغاز گشت. پانینی در سده پنجم پیش از زایش مسیح دستور زبان بسیار پیشرفته‌ای نوشت.

دانش زبان‌شناسی شاخه‌های گوناگونی دارد. برخی از آنها از این قرارند: زبان‌شناسی سنجشی-تاریخی، دستور گشتاری، دستور زایشی، آواشناسی، معناشناسی و گونه‌شناسی زبان.عصب شناسی زبان و زبان شناسی بالینی نیز از شاخه های جدید زبان شناسی میباشند

.

موانع راه

در دوران باستان، پادشاهی تخته سنگی بزرگ را بر سر راهی قرار داد و مخفی شد تا ببیند چه کسی آن را از سر راه بر می دارد. تعدادی از تاجران ثروتمند و درباریانش از راه رسیدند و بدون توجه از کنار آن رد شدند. تعدادی هم پادشاه را به این خاطر که جاده ها را برای تردد مناسب سازی نکرده سرزنشش کردند. اما هیچکدامشان کاری برای کنار زدن تخته سنگ انجام ندادند. تا وقتی که یک روستایی با باری از سبزیجات بر دوش از راه رسید وقتی به تخته سنگ رسید بارش را بر روی زمین گذاشت و سعی کرد تا سنگ را به کنار جاده هدایت کند. بعد از کلی تقلا بلاخره موفق شد. وقتی داشت بارش را از زمین بلند می کرد متوجه کیسه ای در جایی که تخته سنگ در آنجا بود، شد. کیسه پر از سکه های طلا بود و یاداشتی از طرف پادشاه با خود داشت که در آن نوشته شده بود: طلا ها برای کسی است که تخته سنگ را از سر راه بردارد. روستایی چیزی را یاد گرفت که هیچ کدام از رهگذران یاد نگرفته بودند.

www.hyperdictionary.com

این فرهنگ لغت معنی یک کلمه را به زبان های انگلیسی، آلمانی، اسپانیایی، فرانسه و ایتالیایی ارائه می دهد و در کنار معنی هر لغت تلفظ آن را هم در اختیار شما می گذارد.

از این فرهنگ لغت هر چی بگم کم گفتم، واقعا دیکشنری قرن هست.اما حیف که تو این سایت تلفظ ندارد. شما می توانید لوح فشرده آن را تهیه کنید.

این سایت فارسی ترجمه لغات را به فارسی و انگلیسی به شما می دهد اما زیاد قوی نیست.بدم نیست.

این فرهنگ لغت فارسی، هم انگلیسی به فارسی است و هم فارسی به انگلیسی و بر عکس قیافش چیز خوبی نشان می دهد.

فرهنگ مریام هم شاید به جرات بشه گفت کامل ترین، به روز ترین و کار راه انداز ترین دیکشنری آن لاین هست.

این فرهنگ ربطی به زبان انگلیسی ندارد و در اصل یک مترجم پینگلیشی است، شما به کمک این فرهنگ لغت می توانید متون پینگلیشی خود را به فارسی ترجمه کنید.

 در این بخش شما را با متن فیلم با Movie Script آشنا می کنیم، شاید جالب باشد که بدانید شما می توانید متن هر فیلم، سریال و نمایشنامه رادیویی و تلویزیونی را در اینترنت پیدا کنید. این متن ها بر اساس سال ساخت و اسم فیلم قابل دسترس می باشند و به شما (در مواردی که فیلم شما زیرنویس دار نمی باشد) کمک می کند که مکالمات و روند داستان فیلم را راحت تر پیگیری نمایید.
ما در ذیل به تعدادی از این سایت ها که به نظرمان قویتر و مفید تر می باشند اشاره می کنیم، مطمئناً شما سایت های بهتری را خواهید یافت و این تنها بهانه است برای آشنایی شما با اینگونه امکانات که به شما کمک می کند زبان انگلیسی را بهتر و عمیق تر بیاموزید. برای مشاهده کامل متن به ادامه مطلب بروید.......

کلمه ی(Few)(کم، اندک، کمی) همیشه با اسمهای قابل شمارش بکار برده می شوند و عدم یا نبودن چیزی یا شخص را رسانده و همیشه با اسم جمع و فعل جمع همراه است و معنی جمله همیشه میل به منفی دارد.

There were Few children in the garden.-

                        جمع                 جمع

Little (کم، اندک، کوچک)

همیشه با اسمهای غیر قابل شمارش همراه است و با اسم و فعل مفرد بکار می رود و عدم وجود چیزی را می رساند و معنی جملات با (Little) همیشه میل بطرف منفی دارد.

- There is little water in the river.

                                                           مفرد                          مفرد

(چند تا) a few

با اسمهای قابل شمارش و با فعل جمع بکار می رود و وجود چند چیز را می رساند (مثبت) حتی به تعداد کم.

-         He has a Few friends in this city.

 A little (کمی)

با اسمهای غیر قابل شمارش و با فعل مفرد بکار رفته و وجود مقدار چیزی را می رساند (مثبت) حتی اگر به مقدار کم باشد.

- He has a little money in his wallet.

تبصره:

 هنگامیکه جواب سوالی با (yes) شروع شود در آن جمله از (a Few) و (a Little) استفاده می کنند و وقتی جواب با کلمه ی (not) شروع شود از (Few) و (Little) استفاده می شود، البته اگر در جمله ای از (only) استفاده شود باید از صفات مثبت 

(a few) و (a little) استفاده کرد.

فرق بین (much) و (many)

Much: فقط با اسمهای غیر قابل شمارش و با فعل مفرد همراه است و در جملات مثبت، منفی و سوالی بکار برده می شود ولی بهتر است که در جملات مثبت از کلمات  (plenty of) و یا (a lot of ) استفاده نمود.

Many: فقط با اسمهای قابل شمارش و با فعل جمع همراه است و در جملات مثبت، منفی و سوالی بکار برده می شود ولی بهتر است در جملات مثبت از کلمات (a lot of) استفاده کرد.

1-               He has not (many-much) money.

2-               There is not (many-much) food in the house.

3-               Are there (many-much) books in the library?

4-               How (many-much) times a day do you go to the mosque?

5-               How (many-much) time do you need to do it?

ترکیب در جمله بوسیله (not only… but also)

جملاتی که دارای فاعل یکسان هستند بوسیله کلمات (not only) و (but also) به هم ربط داده می شوند.

همیشه برای ترکیب دو جمله بوسیله (not only) و (but also) و فاعل و فعل مشترک بین دو جمله را نوشته و سپس (not only) آورده و سپس ادامه جمله اول و قسمت مشترک جمله دوم (که با جمله اول مشترک بود) را حذف کرده و سپس و (but also)

را آورده و بعد ادامه جمله را نوشته .

- He is kind. He is helpful.

- He is not only kind but also helpful.

فرق بین (some) و (any)

کلمه (some) در جملات مثبت و با اسمهای قابل شمارش و غیر قابل شمارش و با فعل مفرد و جمع بکار می رود ولی (any) در جملات منفی و سوالی با اسمهای قابل شمارش و با فعل مفرد و جمع بکار می رود. البته کلمه ی (any) بعضی مواقع با جملات سوالی می آید و موقعی است که سوال کننده انتظار جواب مثبت داشته باشد.

- Can you give me some more information?

• اسم
• حالت اسم
• انواع ضمیر
• حرف تعریف نامعین (a) و (an)
• فعل
• سوالات کوتاه Tag Questions
• جلوگیری از تکرار کلمات بوسیله بکار بردن افعال کمکی
• طریقه بکاربردن کلمات استفهامی مثل:
• طرز ساخت صفات تفصیلی و عالی
• قیود
• طبقه بندی قیدها
• محل قرار گرفتن قیود
• جمع بستن اسمها
• حروف ربط
• صفت
• Who, what, whom, why, whose, where,which

1) meanings (معانی)

الف) time (زمان): just اغلب وقوع انجام کاری را در "زمان حال" و یا "زمان نزدیک به حال" نشان می دهد. مثال:

I’ll be back in a minute – I’m just changing my shirt. (=”right now”)

من یک دقیقه دیگر بر می گردم – در حال عوض کردن پیراهنم هستم. (همین الان)

Alice has just phoned. (=”a short time ago”)

آلیس تلفن کرد. (چند لحظه پیش)

“What’s happened to Alex? He seems to have disappeared.” “No, he’s around. I saw him just yesterday.”

"چه اتفاقی برای الکس افتاده است؟ به نظر می رسد که ناپدید شده باشد." "نه، او همین اطراف است. من او را همین دیروز دیدم."

ب) “only” (فقط):

Complete set of garden tools for just £15.99!

یکدست کامل ابزار باغبانی فقط 15.99 پوند!

“Can I help you?” “No thanks, I’m just looking.” (=”in a shop/store”)

"می توانم به شما کنم؟" "نه ممنون، فقط نگاه می کنم." (در فروشگاه یا مغازه)

ج) “exactly” (دقیقا):

“What’s the time?” “It’s just four o’clock.”

"ساعت چند است؟" "دقیقا چهار"

Thanks. That’s just what I wanted.

ممنونم. دقیقا همان چیزی بود که من می خواستم.

د) emphasiser (تاکید کننده):

You’re just beautiful.

شما واقعا زیبا هستید.

2) tenses (زمانها)

در زبان انگلیسی بریتانیایی هرگاه just انجام کاری را در "زمان حال" و یا "زمان نزدیک به حال" نشان می دهد، معمولا از زمان حال کامل استفاده می شود. مثال:

“Where’s Eric?” “He’s just gone out.”

"اریک کجاست؟" "او همین چند لحظه پیش رفت بیرون."

I’ve just had a call from Sarah.

من همین چند لحظه پیش تماسی از طرف سارا داشتم.

ولی دقت کنید که در زبان انگلیسی آمریکایی هرگاه just انجام کاری را در "زمان حال" و یا "زمان نزدیک به حال" نشان می دهد، معمولا از زمان گذشته استفاده می شود. مثال:

“Where’s Eric?” “He just went out.”

I just had a call from Sarah.

آموزش پنجمين لغت به روش تصوير سازي ذهني ( به خطر انداختن )

تلفظ اين كلمه مثل( جيب پرداز ) است.

 ‌]جيب پرداز مانند خود پرداز [ بانك ملي قرار است از خودپردازهاي انساني استفاده كند. يعني بجای دستگاههای خود پرداز افرادي را استخدام مي كند تا جلو بانك بایستند و از جیب خود به مشتريان بانک پول پرداخت كنند. پس وظيفه اين كارمندان به خطر انداختن خود است.

حالا شما تصور كنيد در چنين پستي استخدام شده ايد. هر لحظه بايد خود را به خطر بياندازيد زيرا هيچ وسيله دفاعي يا امنيتي نداريد و هر آن ممكن است كسي (جيب پرداز ) شما را بزند!

                                                                                    به خطر انداختن   =   Jeopardize

آموزش ششمين لغت به روش تصوير سازي ذهني : ( نور ضعيف ، سوسو  )

كف اتاق يك گليم انداخته ايم. اين گليم با گليمهاي معمولي فرق مي كند. اين گليم يك گليم فوق مدرن است زيرا از آن براي نورپردازي و خلق صحنه هاي هنري استفاده مي شود. به اين صورت كه در تاريكي مطلق، اين گليم سوسو مي زند.

 gleam سوسو زدن =

آموزش هفتمین لغت به روش تصوير سازي ذهني:

( رذل ، پست ، خطرناك ) (يكصدا ، متفق القول)

دو نفر از اهالی اصفهان كنار زاینده رود به تماشاي رودخانه مشغولند كه ناگهان يك سگ ماهي كه چاقو پنجه بكس در دست دارد به سطح آب آمده و به اصفهاني ها چنگ و دندان نشان مي دهد. اصفهاني كوچكتر به اصفهاني بزرگتر مي گويد: اين چي چييس؟!

اصفهاني بزرگتر مي گويد : فيشس ( ماهييس) رذلس، پستس ، خطرناكس. بيا از اينجا فرار كنيم!

بر وزن فيشس) = ‌آدم شرور، پست...) vicious                                                              

آموزش هشتمین لغت به روش تصوير سازي ذهني:

معلوم نيست به چه دليل يوناني ها طرفدار مس هستند. انها در همه جا، از جمله در ميادين ورزشي به جاي تشويق تيم مورد علاقه خود بطور يكصدا و متفق القول فرياد مي زنند : مس

يكصدا، متفق القول = unanimous

آموزش نهمین لغت به روش تصوير سازي ذهني:( شجاع)

شما كنار دريا ايستاده ايد و مشغول تماشاي وال ها هستيد. وال ها يكي يكي به سطح آب مي آيند ولي با ديدن شما فرار مي كنند و دوباره به زير آب مي روند. تا اينكه يك وال روس ( يعني يك وال كه اهل كشور روس است) به سطح آب آمده و بدون اينكه از شما بترسد از آب خارج شده و با شما كشتي مي گيرد. در توصيف چنين والي مي گوييد: وال روس شجاع است.

valorous شجاع =

آموزش دهمين لغت به روش تصوير سازي ذهني:( عجيب)

وقتي شما از چيزي بيزار مي شويد آن چيز براي شما عجيب جلوه مي كند.مثلا از شخصي به دليلي بيزار مي شويد و ناگهان آن شخص دماغش بلند مي شود .موهايش بسيار بلند مي شود. ناخنهايش خيلي بلند مي شود و به همه چيز شباهت دارد بجز آدميزاد! پس اگر مي خواهيد آدمها عجيب نشوند از آنها بيزار نشويد.

bizarre = عجيب

آموزش يازدهمين لغت به روش تصوير سازي ذهني:( كوتاه كردن)

كره تل ( كره اي كه از تل ساخته شده باشد) وقتي در مجاورت حرارت قرار مي گيرد شروع مي كند به كوتاه كردن مو.                                                                                   

 کوتاه شدن   =  Curtail

براي مطالعه درس زبان انگليسي چهارمهارت را بايد فرابگيريم كه عبارتند از:

listening – speaking – reading – writing

گفته مي شود بهتر است براي يادگيري زبان خارجي همان ترتيب يادگيري زبان اول را رعايت كنيم يعني:

1-                              گوش دادن (listening)

2-                              صحبت كردن  (speaking)

3-                              خواندن (reading)

4-                              نوشتن (writing)

تا حدودي اين توصيه درست است اما اگر قرار باشد زبان خارجي را هم مثل زبان اول در طول چندين سال يادبگيريم ممكن است سرخورده شويم و بعد از صرف وقت و عمر و انرژي و هزينه زياد از يادگيري زبان دوم صرف نظر كنيم.بنابر اين بهتر است يك برنامه مدون داشته باشيم و تكنيكهايي را بياموزيم كه در مدت بسيار كوتاهي به اين هدف نايل شويم.اصل مهم و اصولي در آموزش زبان مداومت است. اما بايد بدانيم كه مهارتهاي چهارگانه زبان را چگونه بهتر و سريعتر و با جذابيت بيشتر فرابگيريم.

مهارت گوش دادن و صحبت كردن (listening & speaking skills)

A good listener is a good speaker. اين اصل مبين اين است كه يك شنونده خوب خواهد توانست به خوبي صحبت كند. به عبارت ديگر خوب گوش دادن منجر به خوب صحبت كردن مي شود. يعني گوش دادن مقدمه صحبت كردن است. منظوراز (a good listener) اين است كه زبان آموز بداند به چه مطلبي و چگونه گوش كند. راههاي متفاوتي براي اين منظور وجود دارد.مثلا مي توانيد از كتابهاي  Tactics for Listening استفاده كنيد. همچنين مي توانيد از سايتهاي اينترنتي مانند:  englishtown يا studioclassroom و يا دهها سايت ديگر استفاده كنيد.اين روشها بسيار خوب است اما مستلزم وقت و هزينه است و معمولا موفقيت زيادي در پي ندارد.روش ديگر(كه بسيار مناسب به نظر مي رسد) اين است كه هر شب مدت 5 دقيقه برنامه انگليسي BBC يا VOA را ضبط كنيد.سپس چندين بار به مطلب ضبط شده گوش كنيد.هر بار كه به مطلب گوش مي كنيد بايد فقط به يك مورد خاص توجه كنيد. مثلا بار اول  سعي كنيد فقط افعال را بشنويد(دقت كنيد كه در اين مرحله دانستن معني عبارات شنيده شده هدف نيست) باردوم سعي كنيد فقط حروف اضافه را بشنويد.دفعه بعد به اسامي خاص توجه كنيد.بعد به صفتهاو...به همين ترتيب اين فعاليت را دنبال كنيد و در آخرين مرحله يك بار ديگر گوش كنيد و به معني و مفهوم هم توجه كنيد. و سپس كلماتي را كه مبهم هستند چندين مرتبه ديگر گوش كنيد.اين كاررا بايد هرروز يا هرشب به طور مداوم و در زمان معين انجام دهيد.اين فعاليت را مي توانيد فقط در 20 دقيقه به انجام برسانيد.البته همان طور كه گفته شد بايد با صبروحوصله اين كاررا ادامه دهيد.پس از مدت كوتاهي نتايج شگرف آن را خواهيد ديد و توفيقتان در امر يادگيري باعث شگفتي ديگران و حتي خود شما خواهد شد!

زبان انگليسي با لحن (accent)  هاي مختلفي صحبت مي شود ولي كسي كه مي خواهد انگليسي بياموزد بايد يك لحن استاندارد را دنبال كند. راديو بي بي سي British English و صداي آمريكا American English مي باشد. البته امروزه لحن غالب American Accent يعني همان  VOA است ولي اين كه شما با چه لهجه اي صحبت كنيد انتخاب با خود شمااست. نكته مهم اين است كه شما نبايد از دو لهجه متفاوت استفاده كنيد.يعني نبايد بعضي از كلمات را با لحن British  و بعضي ديگر را با لحن American ادا نماييد. به برخي از تفاوتهاي انگليسي آمريكايي و انگليسي بريتانيايي توجه كنيد:

تفاوت در تلفظ : در انگليسي آمريكايي برخي كلمات با صداي ( اَ )تلفظ مي شوند در حاليكه همان كلمات در انگليسي بريتانيايي با صداي (آ) ادا مي شوند. مثال : pass

البته از اين نظر اكثر كلمات در هر دو لهجه تلفظ يكسان دارند. 

مثال: cat – mat – sad

father – harm – car                                                                                                                                    

البته تفاوتهاي تلفظي ديگري هم وجود دارند كه به تجربه درخواهيديافت.

تفاوت در نگارش: برخي كلمات در انگليسي بريتانيايي با ou و در انگليسي آمريكايي با o نوشته مي شود مثل colour / color

زبان انگليسي در برخي كشورها second language  است يعني مردم آن كشور به دو زبان صحبت مي كنند و دروس در مراكز علمي معمولا به زبان انگليسي ارايه مي شود بنابراين حتي كودكان در چنين كشورهايي مي توانند به راحتي به زبان انگليسي تكلم كنند. در كشور ما زبان انگليسي foreign language  است.بنابراين ما كسي را نمي يابيم تا با كمك وي speaking practice  داشته باشيم بنابر اين بايد به دنبال راه ديگري باشيم.به اين اصل توجه فرماييدA good reader is a good writer. منظور اين است كه يك خواننده خوب در نوشتن به همان زبان هم مشكلي نخواهد داشت.در واقع اگر بخواهيد قادر به نوشتن باشيد ابتدا بايد يك خواننده خوب باشيد. خواننده خوب كسي است كه مي داند چه مطلبي را بخواند و چگونه بخواند. بهترين كاراين است كه كتابهاي داستان انگليسي را مطالعه كنيد.اين كتابها در سطوح مختلف و تحت عناويني از قبيل Easy English و stage و يا simplified موجود مي باشند.لازم است شما هر ماه دو يا سه عدد از اين كتابها را به اين ترتيب مطالعه نماييد:ابتدا كتاب را با سرعت تمام و بدون توجه به معني از اول تا آخر مطالعه كنيد. دور دوم با تامل بيشتر مطالعه كنيد.در اين مرحله به دو گروه از لغات مشكل برخورد خواهيدكرد.دسته اول لغاتي هستند كه مي شود معني آنها را حدس زد.زيرچنين لغاتي خط بكشيد. دسته دوم لغات كليدي (key words) هستند. دور چنين لغاتي خط بكشيد. سپس با استفاده از يك فرهنگ لغت انگليسي به فارسي فقط معني لغات كليدي را بيابيد و ترجمه آنها را در حاشيه ( و نه بين خطوط) يادداشت كنيد. سپس شروع كنيد به مطالعه كتاب به قصد لذت بردن.در اين مرحله ديگر نبايد به فرهنگ  لغت مراجعه كنيد. حتي نبايد به فارسي فكر كنيد يعني به جاي ترجمه عبارات سعي كنيد جريان داستان را در ذهن خود بازآفريني و تخيل كنيد. چنين مطالعه اي لذت وافري به شما خواهد بخشيد.ضمن اين كه دامنه لغت شما افزايش يافته و دستور زبان هم در شما تقويت خواهد شد و دو ابزار مهم براي نوشتن (يعني واژگان و دستور زبان را به درستي و در مدت بسيار كوتاهي كسب خواهيد كرد.)

براي مهارت نوشتن علاوه بر آنچه گفته شد بايد دفترچه خاطرات همراه داشته باشيد تا وقايع روزمره و نكات جالبي را كه مي بينيد, مي خوانيد و يا به ذهنتان مي رسد به زبان انگليسي يادداشت نماييد. البته نبايد نگران نحوه نگارش باشيد و اصلا نبايد قدرت قلمتان را در انگليسي با زبان فارسي مقايسه كنيد.مهم اين است كه به اين فعاليت مشغول باشيد تا در مدت كوتاهي در نوشتن مهارت پيدا كنيد.

 به طور خلاصه: ابزار لازم براي كسب مهارت listening گوش دادن فعال است. صحبت كردن با خارجي زبانها هم مفيداست كه البته معمولا اين امكان براي همه فراهم نيست.

ابزار لازم براي كسب مهارت speaking توسعه دايره لغات است. براي اين كار راههاي زيادي پيشنهاد مي شود.مثلا مي توانيد هر روز يك ليست لغت روي برگه هاي كاغذ بنويسيد و معني آنها را پشت برگه بنويسيد و در فرصتهايي كه پيش مي آيد آنها را مرور كنيد.از چمله سريع ترين روشهاي يادگيري واژگان تصوير سازي ذهني است که شما در اين وبلاگ با آن آشنا مي شويد.

منبع: http://www.rezalotfian.blogfa.com

دانش واژگانی (Vocabulary  )

1- واژه های دستوری  (Function Words ) : عبارتند ازضمایر، حروف تعریف و غیره ...

2- واژه های معنایی (Content Words ) : عبارتند از  اسم ، فعل ، صفت ، و غیره ...  

    واژگان معنایی به کار رفته در دوره راهنمایی به گونه ای هستند که یا می توان در کلاس

    یافت ، یا با خود به کلاس آورد  ،یا تصویر آن را بر روی تخته کشید ، یا با لوحه به   

    نمایش گذاشت یا با انجام عملی مفهوم آن را منتقل کرد  و در نهایت توضیح مختصری به

    انگلیسی  یا فارسی داده و  از کلمات متضاد و مترادف کمک گرفت.

   روش تدریس لغات جدید :

   الف- مرحله معرفی (:( Presentation

     1- از دانش آموزان بخواهید که کتابهای خود را بسته  و به شما گوس دهند .

       2- واژه جدید را چند بار تلفظ کنید و معنی آن را با استفاده از فلاش کارت ، لوحه ، و یا

           خود شئ ( در صورتی که در کلاس موجود باشد) به دانش آموزان تفهیم کنید .

      3- واژه جدید را در یک یا دو جمله جدید به کار ببرید تا مفهوم آن کاملا درک شود .

      4- هر واژه را روی تخته نوشته و یا از روی فلاش کارت به دانش آموزان نشان دهید .

         در این مرحله هر واژه را چند بار تکرار نمائید تا فرم نوشتاری آن را در حالی که تلفظ

         واژه را می شنوند ، ببیند.

   ب- مرحله تمرین (Practice  )

     1- از دانش آموزان بخواهید به صورت گروهی  و انفرادی واژگان را بعد از شما تکرار

          کنند.

     2- از دانش آموزان بخواهید به صورت گروهی  و انفرادی واژگان را بعد از شما با دیدن 

          تصاویر تکرار کنند .

     3- از دانش آموزان بخواهید به صورت گروهی  و انفرادی واژگان را بعد از شما با دیدن

          فرم نوشتاری تکرار کنند .

ج- مرحله تولید و کاربرد ( Production )

     1- کلمه های تدریس شده را با  به کارگیری از شیوه های زیر ارزشیابی کنید.

         یکی از دستورالعمل های زیر را به دانش آموزان بدهید : 

       - یک .............. به من نشان بده . Show me a ……………          

       - به ................  اشاره کن Point to a ………………….            .

       - یک .............  به من بده.         Give me a ……………….               

       - تصویر یک ........ را بکش.   Draw a picture of a ……..       

    2- جمله ای با یک جای خالی بنویسید و از دانش آموزان بخواهید با یکی از کلمات جدید 

       تدریس شده آن را کامل کنند.

    3- از دانش آموزان بخواهید تا کلمات تدریس شده را در جمله بکار ببرند.

لغات جدید بکمک تصاویر

1- معرفی کلمه :   ضمن اشاره به تصویر و کلمه ، کلمات مربوط به هر تصویر را چند بار

    تکرار کنید . در این مرحله دانش آموزان فقط گوش می دهند.

2- تکرار گروهی : ضمن اشاره به کلمه تصویر را بگویید و از دانش آموزان بخواهید بعد از

     شما تکرار کنند. این عمل را با تک تک  تصاویر انجام دهید.

3 - اشاره معلم و تکرار گروهی : به تصاویر اشاره کنید بدون آنکه کلمات را بر زبان آورید

    با حرکات    دست ، دانش آموزان را به گفتن کلمه مربوط به هر تصویر تشویق کنید.

4- تکرار انفرادی : از چند نفر به طور انفرادی بخواهید تا با اشاره شما به تصاویر ، کلمه

    مربوط به آن را ادا کنند. لازم به یادآوری است که دانش آموزان مجازند فقط بعد از معلم

    کلمات را بطور انفرادی یا گروهی تکرار کنند.

مهارت های چهارگانه :

1- مهارت شنیداری (listening  )

    برای آموزش زبان خارجی لازم است ابتدا دانش آموزان در حد لزوم در معرض زبان قرار گیرند تا

    مهارت های دریافتی زبان (receptive skills  ) را در خود تقویت نمایند و سپس از آنها خواسته  

    شود تا دست به تولیدزبان بزنند ، مهارت شنیداری برای رسیدن به این هدف نقش مهمی ایفا می کند .

    مهارت شنیداری می تواند به دانش آموزان کمک کند تا دانش پایه زبانی را در خود تقویت کنند. انجام

    فعالیت های زیر می تواند به توسعه مهارت شنیداری کمک کند:

      1- شنیدن و تکرار کردن (listen and repeat  )

      2- شنیدن و اشاره کردن یا شنیدن جور کردن (listen and point  or listen and match  )

      3- شنیدن و خواندن (listen and repeat  )

      4- شنیدن و انجام دادن (listen and do  )

2- مهارت گفتاری (Speaking  )

    این مهارت به دانش آموزان فرصت می دهد تا الگوهای زبانی جدید را بطور شفاهی تمرین کرده و

    تولید نمایند . انجام فعالیت های زیر می تواند به توسعه مهارت گفتاری کمک کند:

     1- ایفای نقش (role play )

     2- انجام تمرینات شفاهی (oral drills )

     3- بازگو کردن یک متن کوتاه شنیده شده یا خوانده شده

     4- شرح فعالیت های روزمره

     5- حدس زدن و کامل کردن ادامه یک متن از طریق گوش کردن یا یک متن ناقص

     6- توصیف یک تصویر و یا چند تصویر مربوط به هم.

     7- مقایسه بین دو یا چند تصویر

3- مهارت خواندن  (Reading  )

    در تدریس  مهارت خواندن ، زبان آموزان ابتدا به صورت منظم با حروف الفبا آشنا می شوند. سپس

    با روش دیدن و گفتن (look and say  ) بیان کلمات را به عنوان یک واحد به طور شفاهی تمرین

    می کنند. خواندن کلمات جدید با روش  (listen  and  read  ) انجام می شود و معانی آن نیز به

    وسیله تصا ویر درک می شوند. تشخیص کلمات جدید و تسلط بر شکل نوشتاری آنها به وسیله

    تمرینات موجود در کتاب کار و به کارگیری جداول و غیره  تقویت می گردد. در گام بعدی به دانش

    آموزان کمک میگرد دتا بین حروف نوشته شده در یک کلمه وتلفظ آنها ارتباط برقرار کنند (phonics  ) .

     به تدریج زبان آموزان مهارت خواندن خود را با خواندن جملات کوتاه توسعه می دهند تا جایی که قادر  خواهند  بود تا متون خواندنی را خوانده و درک نمایند و به سئوالات آن پاسخ دهند.

4- مهارت نوشتن (Writing  )

    از آنجایی که نگارش زبان فارسی با انگلیسی که یک زبان خارجی می باشد متفاوت است . لازم ا ست

     که دانش آموزان به  انجام یک سلسله فعالیت های که در اصطلاح  فعالیت های ” پیش نوشتاری“ گفته   میشود

     مبادرت ورزند. هدف از این نوع فعالیت ها ایجاد هماهنگی در کنترل حرکات دست و چشم ، رعایت فاصله و

     تمرین  و ممارست در حرکات روان و سریع قلم با خودکار جهت دست یابی به ریتم طبیعی نوشتن حروف در

    انگلیسی می باشد. مهارت دستخط  با حرکات ساده شروع شده و ابتدا با نمرین الگوهای حروف و سپس به نوشتن

    حروف بزرگ و کوچک ادامه می یابد . در نهایت به ارتباط  حروف با یکدیگر به شکل تقریبا سر هم

    (semi – cursive  ) ختم می گردد . با انجام این کار دانش آموزان به یک دستخط زیبا ، واضح و  روان    دست   پیدا خواهد کرد. در مرحله بعد ، مهارت نوشتن از طریق انجام تمرینات در کتاب درسی و کتاب کار توسعه

    می یابد و در نهایت نوشتن کنترل شده  جملات و ساختارهای گرامری تدریس شده با نظارت معلم انجام می شود.

Chapter 21

Chapter 21
THE discussion of Mr. Collins's offer was now nearly at an end, and Elizabeth had only to suffer from the uncomfortable feelings necessarily attending it, and occasionally from some peevish allusion of her mother. As for the gentleman himself, his feelings were chiefly expressed, not by embarrassment or dejection, or by trying to avoid her, but by stiffness of manner and resentful silence. He scarcely ever spoke to her, and the assiduous attentions which he had been so sensible of himself, were transferred for the rest of the day to Miss Lucas, whose civility in listening to him, was a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to her friend.
The morrow produced no abatement of Mrs. Bennet's ill humour or ill health. Mr. Collins was also in the same state of angry pride. Elizabeth had hoped that his resentment might shorten his visit, but his plan did not appear in the least affected by it. He was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday he still meant to stay.

After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton, to inquire if Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament over his absence from the Netherfield ball. He joined them on their entering the town and attended them to their aunt's, where his regret and vexation, and the concern of every body was well talked over. -- To Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self imposed.

``I found,'' said he, ``as the time drew near, that I had better not meet Mr. Darcy; -- that to be in the same room, the same party with him for so many hours together, might be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise unpleasant to more than myself.''

She highly approved his forbearance, and they had leisure for a full discussion of it, and for all the commendation which they civilly bestowed on each other, as Wickham and another officer walked back with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he particularly attended to her. His accompanying them was a double advantage; she felt all the compliment it offered to herself, and it was most acceptable as an occasion of introducing him to her father and mother.

Soon after their return, a letter was delivered to Miss Bennet; it came from Netherfield, and was opened immediately. The envelope contained a sheet of elegant, little, hot-pressed paper, well covered with a lady's fair, flowing hand; and Elizabeth saw her sister's countenance change as she read it, and saw her dwelling intently on some particular passages. Jane recollected herself soon, and putting the letter away, tried to join with her usual cheerfulness in the general conversation; but Elizabeth felt an anxiety on the subject which drew off her attention even from Wickham; and no sooner had he and his companion taken leave, than a glance from Jane invited her to follow her up stairs. When they had gained their own room, Jane taking out the letter, said,

``This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains, has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town; and without any intention of coming back again. You shall hear what she says.''

She then read the first sentence aloud, which comprised the information of their having just resolved to follow their brother to town directly, and of their meaning to dine that day in Grosvenor street, where Mr. Hurst had a house. The next was in these words. ``I do not pretend to regret any thing I shall leave in Hertfordshire, except your society, my dearest friend; but we will hope at some future period, to enjoy many returns of the delightful intercourse we have known, and in the mean while may lessen the pain of separation by a very frequent and most unreserved correspondence. I depend on you for that.'' To these high flown expressions, Elizabeth listened with all the insensibility of distrust; and though the suddenness of their removal surprised her, she saw nothing in it really to lament; it was not to be supposed that their absence from Netherfield would prevent Mr. Bingley's being there; and as to the loss of their society, she was persuaded that Jane must soon cease to regard it, in the enjoyment of his.

``It is unlucky,'' said she, after a short pause, ``that you should not be able to see your friends before they leave the country. But may we not hope that the period of future happiness to which Miss Bingley looks forward, may arrive earlier than she is aware, and that the delightful intercourse you have known as friends, will be renewed with yet greater satisfaction as sisters? -- Mr. Bingley will not be detained in London by them.''

``Caroline decidedly says that none of the party will return into Hertfordshire this winter. I will read it to you --''

``When my brother left us yesterday, he imagined that the business which took him to London, might be concluded in three or four days, but as we are certain it cannot be so, and at the same time convinced that when Charles gets to town he will be in no hurry to leave it again, we have determined on following him thither, that he may not be obliged to spend his vacant hours in a comfortless hotel. Many of my acquaintance are already there for the winter; I wish I could hear that you, my dearest friend, had any intention of making one in the croud, but of that I despair. I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which that season generally brings, and that your beaux will be so numerous as to prevent your feeling the loss of the three of whom we shall deprive you.''

``It is evident by this,'' added Jane, ``that he comes back no more this winter.''

``It is only evident that Miss Bingley does not mean he should.''

``Why will you think so? It must be his own doing. -- He is his own master. But you do not know all. I will read you the passage which particularly hurts me. I will have no reserves from you.'' ``Mr. Darcy is impatient to see his sister, and to confess the truth, we are scarcely less eager to meet her again. I really do not think Georgiana Darcy has her equal for beauty, elegance, and accomplishments; and the affection she inspires in Louisa and myself is heightened into something still more interesting, from the hope we dare to entertain of her being hereafter our sister. I do not know whether I ever before mentioned to you my feelings on this subject, but I will not leave the country without confiding them, and I trust you will not esteem them unreasonable. My brother admires her greatly already, he will have frequent opportunity now of seeing her on the most intimate footing, her relations all wish the connection as much as his own, and a sister's partiality is not misleading me, I think, when I call Charles most capable of engaging any woman's heart. With all these circumstances to favour an attachment and nothing to prevent it, am I wrong, my dearest Jane, in indulging the hope of an event which will secure the happiness of so many?''

``What think you of this sentence, my dear Lizzy?'' -- said Jane as she finished it. ``Is it not clear enough? -- Does it not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference, and that if she suspects the nature of my feelings for him, she means (most kindly!) to put me on my guard? Can there be any other opinion on the subject?''

``Yes, there can; for mine is totally different. -- Will you hear it?''

``Most willingly.''

``You shall have it in few words. Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in the hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you.''

Jane shook her head.

``Indeed, Jane, you ought to believe me. -- No one who has ever seen you together, can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley I am sure cannot. She is not such a simpleton. Could she have seen half as much love in Mr. Darcy for herself, she would have ordered her wedding clothes. But the case is this. We are not rich enough, or grand enough for them; and she is the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion that when there has been one intermarriage, she may have less trouble in achieving a second; in which there is certainly some ingenuity, and I dare say it would succeed, if Miss de Bourgh were out of the way. But, my dearest Jane, you cannot seriously imagine that because Miss Bingley tells you her brother greatly admires Miss Darcy, he is in the smallest degree less sensible of your merit than when he took leave of you on Tuesday, or that it will be in her power to persuade him that instead of being in love with you, he is very much in love with her friend.''

``If we thought alike of Miss Bingley,'' replied Jane, ``your representation of all this, might make me quite easy. But I know the foundation is unjust. Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving any one; and all that I can hope in this case is, that she is deceived herself.''

``That is right. -- You could not have started a more happy idea, since you will not take comfort in mine. Believe her to be deceived by all means. You have now done your duty by her, and must fret no longer.''

``But, my dear sister, can I be happy, even supposing the best, in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry elsewhere?''

``You must decide for yourself,'' said Elizabeth, ``and if, upon mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him.''

``How can you talk so?'' -- said Jane faintly smiling, -- ``You must know that though I should be exceedingly grieved at their disapprobation, I could not hesitate.''

``I did not think you would; -- and that being the case, I cannot consider your situation with much compassion.''

``But if he returns no more this winter, my choice will never be required. A thousand things may arise in six months!''

The idea of his returning no more Elizabeth treated with the utmost contempt. It appeared to her merely the suggestion of Caroline's interested wishes, and she could not for a moment suppose that those wishes, however openly or artfully spoken, could influence a young man so totally independent of every one.

She represented to her sister as forcibly as possible what she felt on the subject, and had soon the pleasure of seeing its happy effect. Jane's temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield and answer every wish of her heart.

They agreed that Mrs. Bennet should only hear of the departure of the family, without being alarmed on the score of the gentleman's conduct; but even this partial communication gave her a great deal of concern, and she bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky that the ladies should happen to go away, just as they were all getting so intimate together. After lamenting it however at some length, she had the consolation of thinking that Mr. Bingley would be soon down again and soon dining at Longbourn, and the conclusion of all was the comfortable declaration that, though he had been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full courses.

Chapter 22

Chapter 22
THE Bennets were engaged to dine with the Lucases, and again during the chief of the day, was Miss Lucas so kind as to listen to Mr. Collins. Elizabeth took an opportunity of thanking her. ``It keeps him in good humour,'' said she, ``and I am more obliged to you than I can express.'' Charlotte assured her friend of her satisfaction in being useful, and that it amply repaid her for the little sacrifice of her time. This was very amiable, but Charlotte's kindness extended farther than Elizabeth had any conception of; -- its object was nothing less than to secure her from any return of Mr. Collins's addresses, by engaging them towards herself. Such was Miss Lucas's scheme; and appearances were so favourable that when they parted at night, she would have felt almost sure of success if he had not been to leave Hertfordshire so very soon. But here, she did injustice to the fire and independence of his character, for it led him to escape out of Longbourn House the next morning with admirable slyness, and hasten to Lucas Lodge to throw himself at her feet. He was anxious to avoid the notice of his cousins, from a conviction that if they saw him depart, they could not fail to conjecture his design, and he was not willing to have the attempt known till its success could be known likewise; for though feeling almost secure, and with reason, for Charlotte had been tolerably encouraging, he was comparatively diffident since the adventure of Wednesday. His reception however was of the most flattering kind. Miss Lucas perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane. But little had she dared to hope that so much love and eloquence awaited her there.
In as short a time as Mr. Collins's long speeches would allow, every thing was settled between them to the satisfaction of both; and as they entered the house, he earnestly entreated her to name the day that was to make him the happiest of men; and though such a solicitation must be waved for the present, the lady felt no inclination to trifle with his happiness. The stupidity with which he was favoured by nature must guard his courtship from any charm that could make a woman wish for its continuance; and Miss Lucas, who accepted him solely from the pure and disinterested desire of an establishment, cared not how soon that establishment were gained.

Sir William and Lady Lucas were speedily applied to for their consent; and it was bestowed with a most joyful alacrity. Mr. Collins's present circumstances made it a most eligible match for their daughter, to whom they could give little fortune; and his prospects of future wealth were exceedingly fair. Lady Lucas began directly to calculate with more interest than the matter had ever excited before, how many years longer Mr. Bennet was likely to live; and Sir William gave it as his decided opinion that whenever Mr. Collins should be in possession of the Longbourn estate, it would be highly expedient that both he and his wife should make their appearance at St. James's. The whole family, in short, were properly overjoyed on the occasion. The younger girls formed hopes of coming out a year or two sooner than they might otherwise have done; and the boys were relieved from their apprehension of Charlotte's dying an old maid. Charlotte herself was tolerably composed. She had gained her point, and had time to consider of it. Her reflections were in general satisfactory. Mr. Collins to be sure was neither sensible nor agreeable; his society was irksome, and his attachment to her must be imaginary. But still, he would be her husband. -- Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want. This preservative she had now obtained; and at the age of twenty-seven, without having ever been handsome, she felt all the good luck of it. The least agreeable circumstance in the business was the surprise it must occasion to Elizabeth Bennet, whose friendship she valued beyond that of any other person. Elizabeth would wonder, and probably would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such disapprobation. She resolved to give her the information herself, and therefore charged Mr. Collins, when he returned to Longbourn to dinner, to drop no hint of what had passed before any of the family. A promise of secrecy was of course very dutifully given, but it could not be kept without difficulty; for the curiosity excited by his long absence burst forth in such very direct questions on his return, as required some ingenuity to evade, and he was at the same time exercising great self-denial, for he was longing to publish his prosperous love.

As he was to begin his journey too early on the morrow to see any of the family, the ceremony of leave-taking was performed when the ladies moved for the night; and Mrs. Bennet, with great politeness and cordiality, said how happy they should be to see him at Longbourn again, whenever his other engagements might allow him to visit them.

``My dear Madam,'' he replied, ``this invitation is particularly gratifying, because it is what I have been hoping to receive; and you may be very certain that I shall avail myself of it as soon as possible.''

They were all astonished; and Mr. Bennet, who could by no means wish for so speedy a return, immediately said,

``But is there not danger of Lady Catherine's disapprobation here, my good sir? -- You had better neglect your relations, than run the risk of offending your patroness.''

``My dear sir,'' replied Mr. Collins, ``I am particularly obliged to you for this friendly caution, and you may depend upon my not taking so material a step without her ladyship's concurrence.''

``You cannot be too much on your guard. Risk any thing rather than her displeasure; and if you find it likely to be raised by your coming to us again, which I should think exceedingly probable, stay quietly at home, and be satisfied that we shall take no offence.''

``Believe me, my dear sir, my gratitude is warmly excited by such affectionate attention; and depend upon it, you will speedily receive from me a letter of thanks for this, as well as for every other mark of your regard during my stay in Hertfordshire. As for my fair cousins, though my absence may not be long enough to render it necessary, I shall now take the liberty of wishing them health and happiness, not excepting my cousin Elizabeth.''

With proper civilities the ladies then withdrew; all of them equally surprised to find that he meditated a quick return. Mrs. Bennet wished to understand by it that he thought of paying his addresses to one of her younger girls, and Mary might have been prevailed on to accept him. She rated his abilities much higher than any of the others; there was a solidity in his reflections which often struck her, and though by no means so clever as herself, she thought that if encouraged to read and improve himself by such an example as her's, he might become a very agreeable companion. But on the following morning, every hope of this kind was done away. Miss Lucas called soon after breakfast, and in a private conference with Elizabeth related the event of the day before.

The possibility of Mr. Collins's fancying himself in love with her friend had once occurred to Elizabeth within the last day or two; but that Charlotte could encourage him, seemed almost as far from possibility as that she could encourage him herself, and her astonishment was consequently so great as to overcome at first the bounds of decorum, and she could not help crying out,

``Engaged to Mr. Collins! my dear Charlotte, -- impossible!''

The steady countenance which Miss Lucas had commanded in telling her story, gave way to a momentary confusion here on receiving so direct a reproach; though, as it was no more than she expected, she soon regained her composure, and calmly replied,

``Why should you be surprised, my dear Eliza? -- Do you think it incredible that Mr. Collins should be able to procure any woman's good opinion, because he was not so happy as to succeed with you?''

But Elizabeth had now recollected herself, and making a strong effort for it, was able to assure her with tolerable firmness that the prospect of their relationship was highly grateful to her, and that she wished her all imaginable happiness.

``I see what you are feeling,'' replied Charlotte, -- ``you must be surprised, very much surprised, -- so lately as Mr. Collins was wishing to marry you. But when you have had time to think it all over, I hope you will be satisfied with what I have done. I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.''

Elizabeth quietly answered ``Undoubtedly;'' -- and after an awkward pause, they returned to the rest of the family. Charlotte did not stay much longer, and Elizabeth was then left to reflect on what she had heard. It was a long time before she became at all reconciled to the idea of so unsuitable a match. The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers of marriage within three days, was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted. She had always felt that Charlotte's opinion of matrimony was not exactly like her own, but she could not have supposed it possible that, when called into action, she would have sacrificed every better feeling to worldly advantage. Charlotte the wife of Mr. Collins, was a most humiliating picture! -- And to the pang of a friend disgracing herself and sunk in her esteem, was added the distressing conviction that it was impossible for that friend to be tolerably happy in the lot she had chosen.

Chapter 23

Chapter 23
ELIZABETH was sitting with her mother and sisters, reflecting on what she had heard, and doubting whether she were authorised to mention it, when Sir William Lucas himself appeared, sent by his daughter to announce her engagement to the family. With many compliments to them, and much self-gratulation on the prospect of a connection between the houses, he unfolded the matter, -- to an audience not merely wondering, but incredulous; for Mrs. Bennet, with more perseverance than politeness, protested he must be entirely mistaken, and Lydia, always unguarded and often uncivil, boisterously exclaimed,
``Good Lord! Sir William, how can you tell such a story? -- Do not you know that Mr. Collins wants to marry Lizzy?''

Nothing less than the complaisance of a courtier could have borne without anger such treatment; but Sir William's good breeding carried him through it all; and though he begged leave to be positive as to the truth of his information, he listened to all their impertinence with the most forbearing courtesy.

Elizabeth, feeling it incumbent on her to relieve him from so unpleasant a situation, now put herself forward to confirm his account, by mentioning her prior knowledge of it from Charlotte herself; and endeavoured to put a stop to the exclamations of her mother and sisters, by the earnestness of her congratulations to Sir William, in which she was readily joined by Jane, and by making a variety of remarks on the happiness that might be expected from the match, the excellent character of Mr. Collins, and the convenient distance of Hunsford from London.

Mrs. Bennet was in fact too much overpowered to say a great deal while Sir William remained; but no sooner had he left them than her feelings found a rapid vent. In the first place, she persisted in disbelieving the whole of the matter; secondly, she was very sure that Mr. Collins had been taken in; thirdly, she trusted that they would never be happy together; and fourthly, that the match might be broken off. Two inferences, however, were plainly deduced from the whole; one, that Elizabeth was the real cause of all the mischief; and the other, that she herself had been barbarously used by them all; and on these two points she principally dwelt during the rest of the day. Nothing could console and nothing appease her. -- Nor did that day wear out her resentment. A week elapsed before she could see Elizabeth without scolding her, a month passed away before she could speak to Sir William or Lady Lucas without being rude, and many months were gone before she could at all forgive their daughter.

Mr. Bennet's emotions were much more tranquil on the occasion, and such as he did experience he pronounced to be of a most agreeable sort; for it gratified him, he said, to discover that Charlotte Lucas, whom he had been used to think tolerably sensible, was as foolish as his wife, and more foolish than his daughter!

Jane confessed herself a little surprised at the match; but she said less of her astonishment than of her earnest desire for their happiness; nor could Elizabeth persuade her to consider it as improbable. Kitty and Lydia were far from envying Miss Lucas, for Mr. Collins was only a clergyman; and it affected them in no other way than as a piece of news to spread at Meryton.

Lady Lucas could not be insensible of triumph on being able to retort on Mrs. Bennet the comfort of having a daughter well married; and she called at Longbourn rather oftener than usual to say how happy she was, though Mrs. Bennet's sour looks and ill-natured remarks might have been enough to drive happiness away.

Between Elizabeth and Charlotte there was a restraint which kept them mutually silent on the subject; and Elizabeth felt persuaded that no real confidence could ever subsist between them again. Her disappointment in Charlotte made her turn with fonder regard to her sister, of whose rectitude and delicacy she was sure her opinion could never be shaken, and for whose happiness she grew daily more anxious, as Bingley had now been gone a week, and nothing was heard of his return.

Jane had sent Caroline an early answer to her letter, and was counting the days till she might reasonably hope to hear again. The promised letter of thanks from Mr. Collins arrived on Tuesday, addressed to their father, and written with all the solemnity of gratitude which a twelvemonth's abode in the family might have prompted. After discharging his conscience on that head, he proceeded to inform them, with many rapturous expressions, of his happiness in having obtained the affection of their amiable neighbour, Miss Lucas, and then explained that it was merely with the view of enjoying her society that he had been so ready to close with their kind wish of seeing him again at Longbourn, whither he hoped to be able to return on Monday fortnight; for Lady Catherine, he added, so heartily approved his marriage, that she wished it to take place as soon as possible, which he trusted would be an unanswerable argument with his amiable Charlotte to name an early day for making him the happiest of men.

Mr. Collins's return into Hertfordshire was no longer a matter of pleasure to Mrs. Bennet. On the contrary, she was as much disposed to complain of it as her husband. -- It was very strange that he should come to Longbourn instead of to Lucas Lodge; it was also very inconvenient and exceedingly troublesome. -- She hated having visitors in the house while her health was so indifferent, and lovers were of all people the most disagreeable. Such were the gentle murmurs of Mrs. Bennet, and they gave way only to the greater distress of Mr. Bingley's continued absence.

Neither Jane nor Elizabeth were comfortable on this subject. Day after day passed away without bringing any other tidings of him than the report which shortly prevailed in Meryton of his coming no more to Netherfield the whole winter; a report which highly incensed Mrs. Bennet, and which she never failed to contradict as a most scandalous falsehood.

Even Elizabeth began to fear -- not that Bingley was indifferent -- but that his sisters would be successful in keeping him away. Unwilling as she was to admit an idea so destructive of Jane's happiness, and so dishonourable to the stability of her lover, she could not prevent its frequently recurring. The united efforts of his two unfeeling sisters and of his overpowering friend, assisted by the attractions of Miss Darcy and the amusements of London, might be too much, she feared, for the strength of his attachment.

As for Jane, her anxiety under this suspence was, of course, more painful than Elizabeth's; but whatever she felt she was desirous of concealing, and between herself and Elizabeth, therefore, the subject was never alluded to. But as no such delicacy restrained her mother, an hour seldom passed in which she did not talk of Bingley, express her impatience for his arrival, or even require Jane to confess that if he did not come back, she should think herself very ill used. It needed all Jane's steady mildness to bear these attacks with tolerable tranquillity.

Mr. Collins returned most punctually on the Monday fortnight, but his reception at Longbourn was not quite so gracious as it had been on his first introduction. He was too happy, however, to need much attention; and luckily for the others, the business of love-making relieved them from a great deal of his company. The chief of every day was spent by him at Lucas Lodge, and he sometimes returned to Longbourn only in time to make an apology for his absence before the family went to bed.

Mrs. Bennet was really in a most pitiable state. The very mention of any thing concerning the match threw her into an agony of ill humour, and wherever she went she was sure of hearing it talked of. The sight of Miss Lucas was odious to her. As her successor in that house, she regarded her with jealous abhorrence. Whenever Charlotte came to see them she concluded her to be anticipating the hour of possession; and whenever she spoke in a low voice to Mr. Collins, was convinced that they were talking of the Longbourn estate, and resolving to turn herself and her daughters out of the house as soon as Mr. Bennet were dead. She complained bitterly of all this to her husband.

``Indeed, Mr. Bennet,'' said she, ``it is very hard to think that Charlotte Lucas should ever be mistress of this house, that I should be forced to make way for her, and live to see her take my place in it!''

``My dear, do not give way to such gloomy thoughts. Let us hope for better things. Let us flatter ourselves that I may be the survivor.''

This was not very consoling to Mrs. Bennet, and, therefore, instead of making any answer, she went on as before,

``I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate, If it was not for the entail I should not mind it.''

``What should not you mind?''

``I should not mind any thing at all.''

``Let us be thankful that you are preserved from a state of such insensibility.''

``I never can be thankful, Mr. Bennet, for any thing about the entail. How any one could have the conscience to entail away an estate from one's own daughters I cannot understand; and all for the sake of Mr. Collins too! -- Why should he have it more than anybody else?''

``I leave it to yourself to determine,'' said Mr. Bennet.

END OF VOL. I VOLUME II

Chapter 24

Chapter 24
MISS Bingley's letter arrived, and put an end to doubt. The very first sentence conveyed the assurance of their being all settled in London for the winter, and concluded with her brother's regret at not having had time to pay his respects to his friends in Hertfordshire before he left the country.
Hope was over, entirely over; and when Jane could attend to the rest of the letter, she found little, except the professed affection of the writer, that could give her any comfort. Miss Darcy's praise occupied the chief of it. Her many attractions were again dwelt on, and Caroline boasted joyfully of their increasing intimacy, and ventured to predict the accomplishment of the wishes which had been unfolded in her former letter. She wrote also with great pleasure of her brother's being an inmate of Mr. Darcy's house, and mentioned with raptures some plans of the latter with regard to new furniture. Elizabeth, to whom Jane very soon communicated the chief of all this, heard it in silent indignation. Her heart was divided between concern for her sister, and resentment against all the others. To Caroline's assertion of her brother's being partial to Miss Darcy she paid no credit. That he was really fond of Jane, she doubted no more than she had ever done; and much as she had always been disposed to like him, she could not think without anger, hardly without contempt, on that easiness of temper, that want of proper resolution which now made him the slave of his designing friends, and led him to sacrifice his own happiness to the caprice of their inclinations. Had his own happiness, however, been the only sacrifice, he might have been allowed to sport with it in what ever manner he thought best; but her sister's was involved in it, as, she thought, he must be sensible himself. It was a subject, in short, on which reflection would be long indulged, and must be unavailing. She could think of nothing else, and yet whether Bingley's regard had really died away, or were suppressed by his friends' interference; whether he had been aware of Jane's attachment, or whether it had escaped his observation; whichever were the case, though her opinion of him must be materially affected by the difference, her sister's situation remained the same, her peace equally wounded.

A day or two passed before Jane had courage to speak of her feelings to Elizabeth; but at last on Mrs. Bennet's leaving them together, after a longer irritation than usual about Netherfield and its master, she could not help saying,

``Oh! that my dear mother had more command over herself; she can have no idea of the pain she gives me by her continual reflections on him. But I will not repine. It cannot last long. He will be forgot, and we shall all be as we were before.''

Elizabeth looked at her sister with incredulous solicitude, but said nothing.

``You doubt me,'' cried Jane, slightly colouring; ``indeed you have no reason. He may live in my memory as the most amiable man of my acquaintance, but that is all. I have nothing either to hope or fear, and nothing to reproach him with. Thank God! I have not that pain. A little time therefore. -- I shall certainly try to get the better.''

With a stronger voice she soon added, ``I have this comfort immediately, that it has not been more than an error of fancy on my side, and that it has done no harm to any one but myself.''

``My dear Jane!'' exclaimed Elizabeth, ``you are too good. Your sweetness and disinterestedness are really angelic; I do not know what to say to you. I feel as if I had never done you justice, or loved you as you deserve.''

Miss Bennet eagerly disclaimed all extraordinary merit, and threw back the praise on her sister's warm affection.

``Nay,'' said Elizabeth, ``this is not fair. You wish to think all the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of any body. I only want to think you perfect, and you set yourself against it. Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching on your privilege of universal good will. You need not. There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense. I have met with two instances lately; one I will not mention; the other is Charlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable! in every view it is unaccountable!''

``My dear Lizzy, do not give way to such feelings as these. They will ruin your happiness. You do not make allowance enough for difference of situation and temper. Consider Mr. Collins's respectability, and Charlotte's prudent, steady character. Remember that she is one of a large family; that as to fortune, it is a most eligible match; and be ready to believe, for every body's sake, that she may feel something like regard and esteem for our cousin.''

``To oblige you, I would try to believe almost any thing, but no one else could be benefited by such a belief as this; for were I persuaded that Charlotte had any regard for him, I should only think worse of her understanding, than I now do of her heart. My dear Jane, Mr. Collins is a conceited, pompous, narrow-minded, silly man; you know he is, as well as I do; and you must feel, as well as I do, that the woman who marries him, cannot have a proper way of thinking. You shall not defend her, though it is Charlotte Lucas. You shall not, for the sake of one individual, change the meaning of principle and integrity, nor endeavour to persuade yourself or me that selfishness is prudence, and insensibility of danger, security for happiness.''

``I must think your language too strong in speaking of both,'' replied Jane, ``and I hope you will be convinced of it, by seeing them happy together. But enough of this. You alluded to something else. You mentioned two instances. I cannot misunderstand you, but I intreat you, dear Lizzy, not to pain me by thinking that person to blame, and saying your opinion of him is sunk. We must not be so ready to fancy ourselves intentionally injured. We must not expect a lively young man to be always so guarded and circumspect. It is very often nothing but our own vanity that deceives us. Women fancy admiration means more than it does.''

``And men take care that they should.''

``If it is designedly done, they cannot be justified; but I have no idea of there being so much design in the world as some persons imagine.''

``I am far from attributing any part of Mr. Bingley's conduct to design,'' said Elizabeth; ``but without scheming to do wrong, or to make others unhappy, there may be error, and there may be misery. Thoughtlessness, want of attention to other people's feelings, and want of resolution, will do the business,''

``And do you impute it to either of those?''

``Yes; to the last. But if I go on, I shall displease you by saying what I think of persons you esteem. Stop me whilst you can.''

``You persist, then, in supposing his sisters influence him.''

``Yes, in conjunction with his friend.''

``I cannot believe it. Why should they try to influence him? They can only wish his happiness, and if he is attached to me, no other woman can secure it.''

``Your first position is false. They may wish many things besides his happiness; they may wish his increase of wealth and consequence; they may wish him to marry a girl who has all the importance of money, great connections, and pride.''

``Beyond a doubt, they do wish him to chuse Miss Darcy,'' replied Jane; ``but this may be from better feelings than you are supposing. They have known her much longer than they have known me; no wonder if they love her better. But, whatever may be their own wishes, it is very unlikely they should have opposed their brother's. What sister would think herself at liberty to do it, unless there were something very objectionable? If they believed him attached to me, they would not try to part us; if he were so, they could not succeed. By supposing such an affection, you make every body acting unnaturally and wrong, and me most unhappy. Do not distress me by the idea. I am not ashamed of having been mistaken -- or, at least, it is slight, it is nothing in comparison of what I should feel in thinking ill of him or his sisters. Let me take it in the best light, in the light in which it may be understood.''

Elizabeth could not oppose such a wish; and from this time Mr. Bingley's name was scarcely ever mentioned between them.

Mrs. Bennet still continued to wonder and repine at his returning no more, and though a day seldom passed in which Elizabeth did not account for it clearly, there seemed little chance of her ever considering it with less perplexity. Her daughter endeavoured to convince her of what she did not believe herself, that his attentions to Jane had been merely the effect of a common and transient liking, which ceased when he saw her no more; but though the probability of the statement was admitted at the time, she had the same story to repeat every day. Mrs. Bennet's best comfort was that Mr. Bingley must be down again in the summer.

Mr. Bennet treated the matter differently. ``So, Lizzy,'' said he one day, ``your sister is crossed in love I find. I congratulate her. Next to being married, a girl likes to be crossed in love a little now and then. It is something to think of, and gives her a sort of distinction among her companions. When is your turn to come? You will hardly bear to be long outdone by Jane. Now is your time. Here are officers enough at Meryton to disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.''

``Thank you, Sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me. We must not all expect Jane's good fortune.''

``True,'' said Mr. Bennet, ``but it is a comfort to think that, whatever of that kind may befall you, you have an affectionate mother who will always make the most of it.''

Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling the gloom, which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on many of the Longbourn family. They saw him often, and to his other recommendations was now added that of general unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and every body was pleased to think how much they had always disliked Mr. Darcy before they had known any thing of the matter.

Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there might be any extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown to the society of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour always pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of mistakes -- but by everybody else Mr. Darcy was condemned as the worst of men.

Chapter 25

Chapter 25
AFTER a week spent in professions of love and schemes of felicity, Mr. Collins was called from his amiable Charlotte by the arrival of Saturday. The pain of separation, however, might be alleviated on his side, by preparations for the reception of his bride, as he had reason to hope that shortly after his next return into Hertfordshire, the day would be fixed that was to make him the happiest of men. He took leave of his relations at Longbourn with as much solemnity as before; wished his fair cousins health and happiness again, and promised their father another letter of thanks.
On the following Monday, Mrs. Bennet had the pleasure of receiving her brother and his wife, who came as usual to spend the Christmas at Longbourn. Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister, as well by nature as education. The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well bred and agreeable. Mrs. Gardiner, who was several years younger than Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Philips, was an amiable, intelligent, elegant woman, and a great favourite with all her Longbourn nieces. Between the two eldest and herself especially, there subsisted a very particular regard. They had frequently been staying with her in town.

The first part of Mrs. Gardiner's business on her arrival, was to distribute her presents and describe the newest fashions. When this was done, she had a less active part to play. It became her turn to listen. Mrs. Bennet had many grievances to relate, and much to complain of. They had all been very ill-used since she last saw her sister. Two of her girls had been on the point of marriage, and after all there was nothing in it.

``I do not blame Jane,'' she continued, ``for Jane would have got Mr. Bingley, if she could. But, Lizzy! Oh, sister! it is very hard to think that she might have been Mr. Collins's wife by this time, had not it been for her own perverseness. He made her an offer in this very room, and she refused him. The consequence of it is, that Lady Lucas will have a daughter married before I have, and that Longbourn estate is just as much entailed as ever. The Lucases are very artful people indeed, sister. They are all for what they can get. I am sorry to say it of them, but so it is. It makes me very nervous and poorly, to be thwarted so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else. However, your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts, and I am very glad to hear what you tell us, of long sleeves.''

Mrs. Gardiner, to whom the chief of this news had been given before, in the course of Jane and Elizabeth's correspondence with her, made her sister a slight answer, and, in compassion to her nieces, turned the conversation.

When alone with Elizabeth afterwards, she spoke more on the subject. ``It seems likely to have been a desirable match for Jane,'' said she. ``I am sorry it went off. But these things happen so often! A young man, such as you describe Mr. Bingley, so easily falls in love with a pretty girl for a few weeks, and when accident separates them, so easily forgets her, that these sort of inconstancies are very frequent.''

``An excellent consolation in its way,'' said Elizabeth, ``but it will not do for us. We do not suffer by accident. It does not often happen that the interference of friends will persuade a young man of independent fortune to think no more of a girl, whom he was violently in love with only a few days before.''

``But that expression of "violently in love" is so hackneyed, so doubtful, so indefinite, that it gives me very little idea. It is as often applied to feelings which arise from an half-hour's acquaintance, as to a real, strong attachment. Pray, how violent was Mr. Bingley's love?''

``I never saw a more promising inclination. He was growing quite inattentive to other people, and wholly engrossed by her. Every time they met, it was more decided and remarkable. At his own ball he offended two or three young ladies by not asking them to dance, and I spoke to him twice myself without receiving an answer. Could there be finer symptoms? Is not general incivility the very essence of love?''

``Oh, yes! -- of that kind of love which I suppose him to have felt. Poor Jane! I am sorry for her, because, with her disposition, she may not get over it immediately. It had better have happened to you, Lizzy; you would have laughed yourself out of it sooner. But do you think she would be prevailed on to go back with us? Change of scene might be of service -- and perhaps a little relief from home, may be as useful as anything.''

Elizabeth was exceedingly pleased with this proposal, and felt persuaded of her sister's ready acquiescence.

``I hope,'' added Mrs. Gardiner, ``that no consideration with regard to this young man will influence her. We live in so different a part of town, all our connections are so different, and, as you well know, we go out so little, that it is very improbable they should meet at all, unless he really comes to see her.''

``And that is quite impossible; for he is now in the custody of his friend, and Mr. Darcy would no more suffer him to call on Jane in such a part of London -- ! My dear aunt, how could you think of it? Mr. Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as Gracechurch Street, but he would hardly think a month's ablution enough to cleanse him from its impurities, were he once to enter it; and depend upon it, Mr. Bingley never stirs without him.''

``So much the better. I hope they will not meet at all. But does not Jane correspond with the sister? She will not be able to help calling.''

``She will drop the acquaintance entirely.''

But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place this point, as well as the still more interesting one of Bingley's being withheld from seeing Jane, she felt a solicitude on the subject which convinced her, on examination, that she did not consider it entirely hopeless. It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that his affection might be re-animated, and the influence of his friends successfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane's attractions.

Miss Bennet accepted her aunt's invitation with pleasure; and the Bingleys were no otherwise in her thoughts at the time, than as she hoped that, by Caroline's not living in the same house with her brother, she might occasionally spend a morning with her, without any danger of seeing him.

The Gardiners staid a week at Longbourn; and what with the Philipses, the Lucases, and the officers, there was not a day without its engagement. Mrs. Bennet had so carefully provided for the entertainment of her brother and sister, that they did not once sit down to a family dinner. When the engagement was for home, some of the officers always made part of it, of which officers Mr. Wickham was sure to be one; and on these occasions, Mrs. Gardiner, rendered suspicious by Elizabeth's warm commendation of him, narrowly observed them both. Without supposing them, from what she saw, to be very seriously in love, their preference of each other was plain enough to make her a little uneasy; and she resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the subject before she left Hertfordshire, and represent to her the imprudence of encouraging such an attachment.

To Mrs. Gardiner, Wickham had one means of affording pleasure, unconnected with his general powers. About ten or a dozen years ago, before her marriage, she had spent a considerable time in that very part of Derbyshire to which he belonged. They had, therefore, many acquaintance in common; and, though Wickham had been little there since the death of Darcy's father, five years before, it was yet in his power to give her fresher intelligence of her former friends, than she had been in the way of procuring.

Mrs. Gardiner had seen Pemberley, and known the late Mr. Darcy by character perfectly well. Here, consequently, was an inexhaustible subject of discourse. In comparing her recollection of Pemberley with the minute description which Wickham could give, and in bestowing her tribute of praise on the character of its late possessor, she was delighting both him and herself. On being made acquainted with the present Mr. Darcy's treatment of him, she tried to remember something of that gentleman's reputed disposition, when quite a lad, which might agree with it, and was confident at last that she recollected having heard Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud, ill-natured boy.

Chapter 26

Chapter 26
MRS. Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punctually and kindly given on the first favourable opportunity of speaking to her alone; after honestly telling her what she thought, she thus went on:
``You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not afraid of speaking openly. Seriously, I would have you be on your guard. Do not involve yourself, or endeavour to involve him in an affection which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against him; he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do better. But as it is -- you must not let your fancy run away with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it. Your father would depend on your resolution and good conduct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your father.''

``My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed.''

``Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise.''

``Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will take care of myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall not be in love with me, if I can prevent it.''

``Elizabeth, you are not serious now.''

``I beg your pardon. I will try again. At present I am not in love with Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But he is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I ever saw -- and if he becomes really attached to me -- I believe it will be better that he should not. I see the imprudence of it. -- Oh! that abominable Mr. Darcy! -- My father's opinion of me does me the greatest honor; and I should be miserable to forfeit it. My father, however, is partial to Mr. Wickham. In short, my dear aunt, I should be very sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy; but since we see every day that where there is affection, young people are seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering into engagements with each other, how can I promise to be wiser than so many of my fellow creatures if I am tempted, or how am I even to know that it would be wisdom to resist? All that I can promise you, therefore, is not to be in a hurry. I will not be in a hurry to believe myself his first object. When I am in company with him, I will not be wishing. In short, I will do my best.''

``Perhaps it will be as well, if you discourage his coming here so very often. At least, you should not remind your mother of inviting him.''

``As I did the other day,'' said Elizabeth, with a conscious smile; ``very true, it will be wise in me to refrain from that. But do not imagine that he is always here so often. It is on your account that he has been so frequently invited this week. You know my mother's ideas as to the necessity of constant company for her friends. But really, and upon my honour, I will try to do what I think to be wisest; and now, I hope you are satisfied.''

Her aunt assured her that she was; and Elizabeth having thanked her for the kindness of her hints, they parted; a wonderful instance of advice being given on such a point without being resented.

Mr. Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been quitted by the Gardiners and Jane; but as he took up his abode with the Lucases, his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs. Bennet. His marriage was now fast approaching, and she was at length so far resigned as to think it inevitable, and even repeatedly to say in an ill-natured tone that she ``wished they might be happy.'' Thursday was to be the wedding day, and on Wednesday Miss Lucas paid her farewell visit; and when she rose to take leave, Elizabeth, ashamed of her mother's ungracious and reluctant good wishes, and sincerely affected herself, accompanied her out of the room. As they went down stairs together, Charlotte said,

``I shall depend on hearing from you very often, Eliza.''

``That you certainly shall.''

``And I have another favour to ask. Will you come and see me?''

``We shall often meet, I hope, in Hertfordshire.''

``I am not likely to leave Kent for some time. Promise me, therefore, to come to Hunsford.''

Elizabeth could not refuse, though she foresaw little pleasure in the visit.

``My father and Maria are to come to me in March,'' added Charlotte, ``and I hope you will consent to be of the party. Indeed, Eliza, you will be as welcome to me as either of them.''

The wedding took place; the bride and bridegroom set off for Kent from the church door, and every body had as much to say or to hear on the subject as usual. Elizabeth soon heard from her friend; and their correspondence was as regular and frequent as it had ever been; that it should be equally unreserved was impossible. Elizabeth could never address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over, and, though determined not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the sake of what had been, rather than what was. Charlotte's first letters were received with a good deal of eagerness; there could not but be curiosity to know how she would speak of her new home, how she would like Lady Catherine, and how happy she would dare pronounce herself to be; though, when the letters were read, Elizabeth felt that Charlotte expressed herself on every point exactly as she might have foreseen. She wrote cheerfully, seemed surrounded with comforts, and mentioned nothing which she could not praise. The house, furniture, neighbourhood, and roads, were all to her taste, and Lady Catherine's behaviour was most friendly and obliging. It was Mr. Collins's picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally softened; and Elizabeth perceived that she must wait for her own visit there, to know the rest.

Jane had already written a few lines to her sister to announce their safe arrival in London; and when she wrote again, Elizabeth hoped it would be in her power to say something of the Bingleys.

Her impatience for this second letter was as well rewarded as impatience generally is. Jane had been a week in town, without either seeing or hearing from Caroline. She accounted for it, however, by supposing that her last letter to her friend from Longbourn had by some accident been lost.

``My aunt,'' she continued, ``is going to-morrow into that part of the town, and I shall take the opportunity of calling in Grosvenor-street.''

She wrote again when the visit was paid, and she had seen Miss Bingley. ``I did not think Caroline in spirits,'' were her words, ``but she was very glad to see me, and reproached me for giving her no notice of my coming to London. I was right, therefore; my last letter had never reached her. I enquired after their brother, of course. He was well, but so much engaged with Mr. Darcy, that they scarcely ever saw him. I found that Miss Darcy was expected to dinner. I wish I could see her. My visit was not long, as Caroline and Mrs. Hurst were going out. I dare say I shall soon see them here.''

Elizabeth shook her head over this letter. It convinced her that accident only could discover to Mr. Bingley her sister's being in town.

Four weeks passed away, and Jane saw nothing of him. She endeavoured to persuade herself that she did not regret it; but she could no longer be blind to Miss Bingley's inattention. After waiting at home every morning for a fortnight, and inventing every evening a fresh excuse for her, the visitor did at last appear; but the shortness of her stay, and yet more, the alteration of her manner, would allow Jane to deceive herself no longer. The letter which she wrote on this occasion to her sister, will prove what she felt.

``My dearest Lizzy will, I am sure, be incapable of triumphing in her better judgment, at my expence, when I confess myself to have been entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard for me. But, my dear sister, though the event has proved you right, do not think me obstinate if I still assert that, considering what her behaviour was, my confidence was as natural as your suspicion. I do not at all comprehend her reason for wishing to be intimate with me, but if the same circumstances were to happen again, I am sure I should be deceived again. Caroline did not return my visit till yesterday; and not a note, not a line, did I receive in the mean time. When she did come, it was very evident that she had no pleasure in it; she made a slight, formal, apology for not calling before, said not a word of wishing to see me again, and was in every respect so altered a creature, that when she went away I was perfectly resolved to continue the acquaintance no longer. I pity, though I cannot help blaming her. She was very wrong in singling me out as she did; I can safely say, that every advance to intimacy began on her side. But I pity her, because she must feel that she has been acting wrong, and because I am very sure that anxiety for her brother is the cause of it, I need not explain myself farther; and though we know this anxiety to be quite needless, yet if she feels it, it will easily account for her behaviour to me; and so deservedly dear as he is to his sister, whatever anxiety she may feel on his behalf is natural and amiable. I cannot but wonder, however, at her having any such fears now, because, if he had at all cared about me, we must have met long, long ago. He knows of my being in town, I am certain, from something she said herself; and yet it should seem by her manner of talking, as if she wanted to persuade herself that he is really partial to Miss Darcy. I cannot understand it. If I were not afraid of judging harshly, I should be almost tempted to say that there is a strong appearance of duplicity in all this. But I will endeavour to banish every painful thought, and think only of what will make me happy: your affection, and the invariable kindness of my dear uncle and aunt. Let me hear from you very soon. Miss Bingley said something of his never returning to Netherfield again, of giving up the house, but not with any certainty. We had better not mention it. I am extremely glad that you have such pleasant accounts from our friends at Hunsford. Pray go to see them, with Sir William and Maria. I am sure you will be very comfortable there.

Your's, &c.''

This letter gave Elizabeth some pain; but her spirits returned as she considered that Jane would no longer be duped, by the sister at least. All expectation from the brother was now absolutely over. She would not even wish for any renewal of his attentions. His character sunk on every review of it; and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible advantage to Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. Darcy's sister, as, by Wickham's account, she would make him abundantly regret what he had thrown away.

Mrs. Gardiner about this time reminded Elizabeth of her promise concerning that gentleman, and required information; and Elizabeth had such to send as might rather give contentment to her aunt than to herself. His apparent partiality had subsided, his attentions were over, he was the admirer of some one else. Elizabeth was watchful enough to see it all, but she could see it and write of it without material pain. Her heart had been but slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied with believing that she would have been his only choice, had fortune permitted it. The sudden acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most remarkable charm of the young lady to whom he was now rendering himself agreeable; but Elizabeth, less clear-sighted perhaps in his case than in Charlotte's, did not quarrel with him for his wish of independence. Nothing, on the contrary, could be more natural; and while able to suppose that it cost him a few struggles to relinquish her, she was ready to allow it a wise and desirable measure for both, and could very sincerely wish him happy.

All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and after relating the circumstances, she thus went on: -- ``I am now convinced, my dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my feelings are not only cordial towards him; they are even impartial towards Miss King. I cannot find out that I hate her at all, or that I am in the least unwilling to think her a very good sort of girl. There can be no love in all this. My watchfulness has been effectual; and though I should certainly be a more interesting object to all my acquaintance, were I distractedly in love with him, I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance. Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly. Kitty and Lydia take his defection much more to heart than I do. They are young in the ways of the world, and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something to live on, as well as the plain.''

Chapter 27

Chapter 27
WITH no greater events than these in the Longbourn family, and otherwise diversified by little beyond the walks to Meryton, sometimes dirty and sometimes cold, did January and February pass away. March was to take Elizabeth to Hunsford. She had not at first thought very seriously of going thither; but Charlotte, she soon found, was depending on the plan, and she gradually learned to consider it herself with greater pleasure as well as greater certainty. Absence had increased her desire of seeing Charlotte again, and weakened her disgust of Mr. Collins. There was novelty in the scheme; and as, with such a mother and such uncompanionable sisters, home could not be faultless, a little change was not unwelcome for its own sake. The journey would moreover give her a peep at Jane; and, in short, as the time drew near, she would have been very sorry for any delay. Every thing, however, went on smoothly, and was finally settled according to Charlotte's first sketch. She was to accompany Sir William and his second daughter. The improvement of spending a night in London was added in time, and the plan became perfect as plan could be.
The only pain was in leaving her father, who would certainly miss her, and who, when it came to the point, so little liked her going that he told her to write to him, and almost promised to answer her letter.

The farewell between herself and Mr. Wickham was perfectly friendly; on his side even more. His present pursuit could not make him forget that Elizabeth had been the first to excite and to deserve his attention, the first to listen and to pity, the first to be admired; and in his manner of bidding her adieu, wishing her every enjoyment, reminding her of what she was to expect in Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and trusting their opinion of her -- their opinion of every body -- would always coincide, there was a solicitude, an interest which she felt must ever attach her to him with a most sincere regard; and she parted from him convinced that, whether married or single, he must always be her model of the amiable and pleasing.

Her fellow-travellers the next day were not of a kind to make her think him less agreeable. Sir William Lucas and his daughter Maria, a good humoured girl, but as empty-headed as himself, had nothing to say that could be worth hearing, and were listened to with about as much delight as the rattle of the chaise. Elizabeth loved absurdities, but she had known Sir William's too long. He could tell her nothing new of the wonders of his presentation and knighthood; and his civilities were worn out like his information.

It was a journey of only twenty-four miles, and they began it so early as to be in Gracechurch-street by noon. As they drove to Mr. Gardiner's door, Jane was at a drawing-room window watching their arrival; when they entered the passage she was there to welcome them, and Elizabeth, looking earnestly in her face, was pleased to see it healthful and lovely as ever. On the stairs were a troop of little boys and girls, whose eagerness for their cousin's appearance would not allow them to wait in the drawing-room, and whose shyness, as they had not seen her for a twelvemonth, prevented their coming lower. All was joy and kindness. The day passed most pleasantly away; the morning in bustle and shopping, and the evening at one of the theatres.

Elizabeth then contrived to sit by her aunt. Their first subject was her sister; and she was more grieved than astonished to hear, in reply to her minute enquiries, that though Jane always struggled to support her spirits, there were periods of dejection. It was reasonable, however, to hope that they would not continue long. Mrs. Gardiner gave her the particulars also of Miss Bingley's visit in Gracechurch-street, and repeated conversations occurring at different times between Jane and herself, which proved that the former had, from her heart, given up the acquaintance.

Mrs. Gardiner then rallied her niece on Wickham's desertion, and complimented her on bearing it so well.

``But, my dear Elizabeth,'' she added, ``what sort of girl is Miss King? I should be sorry to think our friend mercenary.''

``Pray, my dear aunt, what is the difference in matrimonial affairs, between the mercenary and the prudent motive? Where does discretion end, and avarice begin? Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want to find out that he is mercenary.''

``If you will only tell me what sort of girl Miss King is, I shall know what to think.''

``She is a very good kind of girl, I believe. I know no harm of her.''

``But he paid her not the smallest attention, till her grandfather's death made her mistress of this fortune.''

``No -- why should he? If it was not allowable for him to gain my affections, because I had no money, what occasion could there be for making love to a girl whom he did not care about, and who was equally poor?''

``But there seems indelicacy in directing his attentions towards her, so soon after this event.''

``A man in distressed circumstances has not time for all those elegant decorums which other people may observe. If she does not object to it, why should we?''

``Her not objecting, does not justify him. It only shews her being deficient in something herself -- sense or feeling.''

``Well,'' cried Elizabeth, ``have it as you choose. He shall be mercenary, and she shall be foolish.''

``No, Lizzy, that is what I do not choose. I should be sorry, you know, to think ill of a young man who has lived so long in Derbyshire.''

``Oh! if that is all, I have a very poor opinion of young men who live in Derbyshire; and their intimate friends who live in Hertfordshire are not much better. I am sick of them all. Thank Heaven! I am going to-morrow where I shall find a man who has not one agreeable quality, who has neither manner nor sense to recommend him. Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing, after all.''

``Take care, Lizzy; that speech savours strongly of disappointment.''

Before they were separated by the conclusion of the play, she had the unexpected happiness of an invitation to accompany her uncle and aunt in a tour of pleasure which they proposed taking in the summer.

``We have not quite determined how far it shall carry us,'' said Mrs. Gardiner, ``but perhaps to the Lakes.''

No scheme could have been more agreeable to Elizabeth, and her acceptance of the invitation was most ready and grateful. ``My dear, dear aunt,'' she rapturously cried, ``what delight! what felicity! You give me fresh life and vigour. Adieu to disappointment and spleen. What are men to rocks and mountains? Oh! what hours of transport we shall spend! And when we do return, it shall not be like other travellers, without being able to give one accurate idea of any thing. We will know where we have gone -- we will recollect what we have seen. Lakes, mountains, and rivers shall not be jumbled together in our imaginations; nor, when we attempt to describe any particular scene, will we begin quarrelling about its relative situation. Let our first effusions be less insupportable than those of the generality of travellers.''

Chapter 28

Chapter 28
EVERY object in the next day's journey was new and interesting to Elizabeth; and her spirits were in a state for enjoyment; for she had seen her sister looking so well as to banish all fear for her health, and the prospect of her northern tour was a constant source of delight.
When they left the high-road for the lane to Hunsford, every eye was in search of the Parsonage, and every turning expected to bring it in view. The palings of Rosings Park was their boundary on one side. Elizabeth smiled at the recollection of all that she had heard of its inhabitants.

At length the Parsonage was discernable. The garden sloping to the road, the house standing in it, the green pales and the laurel hedge, everything declared that they were arriving. Mr. Collins and Charlotte appeared at the door, and the carriage stopped at a small gate, which led by a short gravel walk to the house, amidst the nods and smiles of the whole party. In a moment they were all out of the chaise, rejoicing at the sight of each other. Mrs. Collins welcomed her friend with the liveliest pleasure, and Elizabeth was more and more satisfied with coming, when she found herself so affectionately received. She saw instantly that her cousin's manners were not altered by his marriage; his formal civility was just what it had been, and he detained her some minutes at the gate to hear and satisfy his enquiries after all her family. They were then, with no other delay than his pointing out the neatness of the entrance, taken into the house; and as soon as they were in the parlour, he welcomed them a second time with ostentatious formality to his humble abode, and punctually repeated all his wife's offers of refreshment.

Elizabeth was prepared to see him in his glory; and she could not help fancying that in displaying the good proportion of the room, its aspect and its furniture, he addressed himself particularly to her, as if wishing to make her feel what she had lost in refusing him. But though every thing seemed neat and comfortable, she was not able to gratify him by any sigh of repentance; and rather looked with wonder at her friend that she could have so cheerful an air, with such a companion. When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte. Once or twice she could discern a faint blush; but in general Charlotte wisely did not hear. After sitting long enough to admire every article of furniture in the room, from the sideboard to the fender, to give an account of their journey, and of all that had happened in London, Mr. Collins invited them to take a stroll in the garden, which was large and well laid out, and to the cultivation of which he attended himself. To work in his garden was one of his most respectable pleasures; and Elizabeth admired the command of countenance with which Charlotte talked of the healthfulness of the excercise, and owned she encouraged it as much as possible. Here, leading the way through every walk and cross walk, and scarcely allowing them an interval to utter the praises he asked for, every view was pointed out with a minuteness which left beauty entirely behind. He could number the fields in every direction, and could tell how many trees there were in the most distant clump. But of all the views which his garden, or which the country, or the kingdom could boast, none were to be compared with the prospect of Rosings, afforded by an opening in the trees that bordered the park nearly opposite the front of his house. It was a handsome modern building, well situated on rising ground.

From his garden, Mr. Collins would have led them round his two meadows, but the ladies, not having shoes to encounter the remains of a white frost, turned back; and while Sir William accompanied him, Charlotte took her sister and friend over the house, extremely well pleased, probably, to have the opportunity of shewing it without her husband's help. It was rather small, but well built and convenient; and everything was fitted up and arranged with a neatness and consistency of which Elizabeth gave Charlotte all the credit. When Mr. Collins could be forgotten, there was really a great air of comfort throughout, and by Charlotte's evident enjoyment of it, Elizabeth supposed he must be often forgotten. She had already learnt that Lady Catherine was still in the country. It was spoken of again while they were at dinner, when Mr. Collins joining in, observed,

``Yes, Miss Elizabeth, you will have the honour of seeing Lady Catherine de Bourgh on the ensuing Sunday at church, and I need not say you will be delighted with her. She is all affability and condescension, and I doubt not but you will be honoured with some portion of her notice when service is over. I have scarcely any hesitation in saying that she will include you and my sister Maria in every invitation with which she honours us during your stay here. Her behaviour to my dear Charlotte is charming. We dine at Rosings twice every week, and are never allowed to walk home. Her ladyship's carriage is regularly ordered for us. I should say, one of her ladyship's carriages, for she has several.''

``Lady Catherine is a very respectable, sensible woman indeed,'' added Charlotte, ``and a most attentive neighbour.''

``Very true, my dear, that is exactly what I say. She is the sort of woman whom one cannot regard with too much deference.''

The evening was spent chiefly in talking over Hertfordshire news, and telling again what had been already written; and when it closed, Elizabeth, in the solitude of her chamber, had to meditate upon Charlotte's degree of contentment, to understand her address in guiding, and composure in bearing with her husband, and to acknowledge that it was all done very well. She had also to anticipate how her visit would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings. A lively imagination soon settled it all. About the middle of the next day, as she was in her room getting ready for a walk, a sudden noise below seemed to speak the whole house in confusion; and after listening a moment, she heard somebody running up stairs in a violent hurry, and calling loudly after her. She opened the door, and met Maria in the landing place, who, breathless with agitation, cried out,

``Oh, my dear Eliza! pray make haste and come into the dining-room, for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is. Make haste, and come down this moment.''

Elizabeth asked questions in vain; Maria would tell her nothing more, and down they ran into the dining-room, which fronted the lane, in quest of this wonder; it was two ladies stopping in a low phaeton at the garden gate.

``And is this all?'' cried Elizabeth. ``I expected at least that the pigs were got into the garden, and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter!''

``La! my dear,'' said Maria quite shocked at the mistake, ``it is not Lady Catherine. The old lady is Mrs. Jenkinson, who lives with them. The other is Miss De Bourgh. Only look at her. She is quite a little creature. Who would have thought she could be so thin and small!''

``She is abominably rude to keep Charlotte out of doors in all this wind. Why does she not come in?''

``Oh! Charlotte says, she hardly ever does. It is the greatest of favours when Miss De Bourgh comes in.''

``I like her appearance,'' said Elizabeth, struck with other ideas. ``She looks sickly and cross. -- Yes, she will do for him very well. She will make him a very proper wife.''

Mr. Collins and Charlotte were both standing at the gate in conversation with the ladies; and Sir William, to Elizabeth's high diversion, was stationed in the doorway, in earnest contemplation of the greatness before him, and constantly bowing whenever Miss De Bourgh looked that way.

At length there was nothing more to be said; the ladies drove on, and the others returned into the house. Mr. Collins no sooner saw the two girls than he began to congratulate them on their good fortune, which Charlotte explained by letting them know that the whole party was asked to dine at Rosings the next day.

Chapter 29

Chapter 29
MR. Collins's triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete. The power of displaying the grandeur of his patroness to his wondering visitors, and of letting them see her civility towards himself and his wife, was exactly what he had wished for; and that an opportunity of doing it should be given so soon was such an instance of Lady Catherine's condescension as he knew not how to admire enough.
``I confess,'' said he, ``that I should not have been at all surprised by her Ladyship's asking us on Sunday to drink tea and spend the evening at Rosings. I rather expected, from my knowledge of her affability, that it would happen. But who could have foreseen such an attention as this? Who could have imagined that we should receive an invitation to dine there (an invitation moreover including the whole party) so immediately after your arrival!''

``I am the less surprised at what has happened,'' replied Sir William, ``from that knowledge of what the manners of the great really are, which my situation in life has allowed me to acquire. About the Court, such instances of elegant breeding are not uncommon.''

Scarcely any thing was talked of the whole day, or next morning, but their visit to Rosings. Mr. Collins was carefully instructing them in what they were to expect, that the sight of such rooms, so many servants, and so splendid a dinner might not wholly overpower them.

When the ladies were separating for the toilette, he said to Elizabeth,

``Do not make yourself uneasy, my dear cousin, about your apparel. Lady Catherine is far from requiring that elegance of dress in us, which becomes herself and daughter. I would advise you merely to put on whatever of your clothes is superior to the rest, there is no occasion for any thing more. Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved.''

While they were dressing, he came two or three times to their different doors, to recommend their being quick, as Lady Catherine very much objected to be kept waiting for her dinner. -- Such formidable accounts of her ladyship, and her manner of living, quite frightened Maria Lucas, who had been little used to company, and she looked forward to her introduction at Rosings with as much apprehension, as her father had done to his presentation at St. James's.

As the weather was fine, they had a pleasant walk of about half a mile across the park. -- Every park has its beauty and its prospects; and Elizabeth saw much to be pleased with, though she could not be in such raptures as Mr. Collins expected the scene to inspire, and was but slightly affected by his enumeration of the windows in front of the house, and his relation of what the glazing altogether had originally cost Sir Lewis De Bourgh.

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria's alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm. -- Elizabeth's courage did not fail her. She had heard nothing of Lady Catherine that spoke her awful from any extraordinary talents or miraculous virtue, and the mere stateliness of money and rank she thought she could witness without trepidation.

From the entrance hall, of which Mr. Collins pointed out, with a rapturous air, the fine proportion and finished ornaments, they followed the servants through an ante-chamber, to the room where Lady Catherine, her daughter, and Mrs. Jenkinson were sitting. -- Her ladyship, with great condescension, arose to receive them; and as Mrs. Collins had settled it with her husband that the office of introduction should be her's, it was performed in a proper manner, without any of those apologies and thanks which he would have thought necessary.

In spite of having been at St. James's, Sir William was so completely awed by the grandeur surrounding him, that he had but just courage enough to make a very low bow, and take his seat without saying a word; and his daughter, frightened almost out of her senses, sat on the edge of her chair, not knowing which way to look. Elizabeth found herself quite equal to the scene, and could observe the three ladies before her composedly. -- Lady Catherine was a tall, large woman, with strongly-marked features, which might once have been handsome. Her air was not conciliating, nor was her manner of receiving them such as to make her visitors forget their inferior rank. She was not rendered formidable by silence; but whatever she said was spoken in so authoritative a tone as marked her self-importance, and brought Mr. Wickham immediately to Elizabeth's mind; and from the observation of the day altogether, she believed Lady Catherine to be exactly what he had represented.

When, after examining the mother, in whose countenance and deportment she soon found some resemblance of Mr. Darcy, she turned her eyes on the daughter, she could almost have joined in Maria's astonishment at her being so thin, and so small. There was neither in figure nor face any likeness between the ladies. Miss De Bourgh was pale and sickly; her features, though not plain, were insignificant; and she spoke very little, except in a low voice to Mrs. Jenkinson, in whose appearance there was nothing remarkable, and who was entirely engaged in listening to what she said, and placing a screen in the proper direction before her eyes.

After sitting a few minutes, they were all sent to one of the windows to admire the view, Mr. Collins attending them to point out its beauties, and Lady Catherine kindly informing them that it was much better worth looking at in the summer.

The dinner was exceedingly handsome, and there were all the servants, and all the articles of plate which Mr. Collins had promised; and, as he had likewise foretold, he took his seat at the bottom of the table, by her ladyship's desire, and looked as if he felt that life could furnish nothing greater. -- He carved, and ate, and praised with delighted alacrity; and every dish was commended, first by him, and then by Sir William, who was now enough recovered to echo whatever his son in law said, in a manner which Elizabeth wondered Lady Catherine could bear. But Lady Catherine seemed gratified by their excessive admiration, and gave most gracious smiles, especially when any dish on the table proved a novelty to them. The party did not supply much conversation. Elizabeth was ready to speak whenever there was an opening, but she was seated between Charlotte and Miss De Bourgh -- the former of whom was engaged in listening to Lady Catherine, and the latter said not a word to her all dinner time. Mrs. Jenkinson was chiefly employed in watching how little Miss De Bourgh ate, pressing her to try some other dish, and fearing she were indisposed. Maria thought speaking out of the question, and the gentlemen did nothing but eat and admire.

When the ladies returned to the drawing room, there was little to be done but to hear Lady Catherine talk, which she did without any intermission till coffee came in, delivering her opinion on every subject in so decisive a manner as proved that she was not used to have her judgment controverted. She enquired into Charlotte's domestic concerns familiarly and minutely, and gave her a great deal of advice as to the management of them all; told her how every thing ought to be regulated in so small a family as her's, and instructed her as to the care of her cows and her poultry. Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others. In the intervals of her discourse with Mrs. Collins, she addressed a variety of questions to Maria and Elizabeth, but especially to the latter, of whose connections she knew the least, and who, she observed to Mrs. Collins, was a very genteel, pretty kind of girl. She asked her at different times, how many sisters she had, whether they were older or younger than herself, whether any of them were likely to be married, whether they were handsome, where they had been educated, what carriage her father kept, and what had been her mother's maiden name? -- Elizabeth felt all the impertinence of her questions, but answered them very composedly. -- Lady Catherine then observed,

``Your father's estate is entailed on Mr. Collins, I think. For your sake,'' turning to Charlotte, ``I am glad of it; but otherwise I see no occasion for entailing estates from the female line. -- It was not thought necessary in Sir Lewis de Bourgh's family. -- Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?''

``A little.''

``Oh! then -- some time or other we shall be happy to hear you. Our instrument is a capital one, probably superior to -- You shall try it some day. -- Do your sisters play and sing?''

``One of them does.''

``Why did not you all learn? -- You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as your's. -- Do you draw?''

``No, not at all.''

``What, none of you?''

``Not one.''

``That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters.''

``My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London.''

``Has your governess left you?''

``We never had any governess.''

``No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! -- I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.''

Elizabeth could hardly help smiling, as she assured her that had not been the case.

``Then, who taught you? who attended to you? Without a governess you must have been neglected.''

``Compared with some families, I believe we were; but such of us as wished to learn, never wanted the means. We were always encouraged to read, and had all the masters that were necessary. Those who chose to be idle, certainly might.''

``Aye, no doubt; but that is what a governess will prevent, and if I had known your mother, I should have advised her most strenuously to engage one. I always say that nothing is to be done in education without steady and regular instruction, and nobody but a governess can give it. It is wonderful how many families I have been the means of supplying in that way. I am always glad to get a young person well placed out. Four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson are most delightfully situated through my means; and it was but the other day that I recommended another young person, who was merely accidentally mentioned to me, and the family are quite delighted with her. Mrs. Collins, did I tell you of Lady Metcalfe's calling yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. "Lady Catherine," said she, "you have given me a treasure." Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?''

``Yes, Ma'am, all.''

``All! -- What, all five out at once? Very odd! -- And you only the second. -- The younger ones out before the elder are married! -- Your younger sisters must be very young?''

``Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps she is full young to be much in company. But really, Ma'am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. -- The last born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth, as the first. And to be kept back on such a motive! -- I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind.''

``Upon my word,'' said her ladyship, ``you give your opinion very decidedly for so young a person. -- Pray, what is your age?''

``With three younger sisters grown up,'' replied Elizabeth smiling, ``your Ladyship can hardly expect me to own it.''

Lady Catherine seemed quite astonished at not receiving a direct answer; and Elizabeth suspected herself to be the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with so much dignified impertinence!

``You cannot be more than twenty, I am sure, -- therefore you need not conceal your age.''

``I am not one and twenty.''

When the gentlemen had joined them, and tea was over, the card tables were placed. Lady Catherine, Sir William, and Mr. and Mrs. Collins sat down to quadrille; and as Miss De Bourgh chose to play at cassino, the two girls had the honour of assisting Mrs. Jenkinson to make up her party. Their table was superlatively stupid. Scarcely a syllable was uttered that did not relate to the game, except when Mrs. Jenkinson expressed her fears of Miss De Bourgh's being too hot or too cold, or having too much or too little light. A great deal more passed at the other table, Lady Catherine was generally speaking -- stating the mistakes of the three others, or relating some anecdote of herself. Mr. Collins was employed in agreeing to every thing her Ladyship said, thanking her for every fish he won, and apologising if he thought he won too many. Sir William did not say much. He was storing his memory with anecdotes and noble names.

When Lady Catherine and her daughter had played as long as they chose, the tables were broke up, the carriage was offered to Mrs. Collins, gratefully accepted, and immediately ordered. The party then gathered round the fire to hear Lady Catherine determine what weather they were to have on the morrow. From these instructions they were summoned by the arrival of the coach, and with many speeches of thankfulness on Mr. Collins's side, and as many bows on Sir William's, they departed. As soon as they had driven from the door, Elizabeth was called on by her cousin to give her opinion of all that she had seen at Rosings, which, for Charlotte's sake, she made more favourable than it really was. But her commendation, though costing her some trouble, could by no means satisfy Mr. Collins, and he was very soon obliged to take her ladyship's praise into his own hands.

Chapter 30

Chapter 30
SIR WILLIAM staid only a week at Hunsford; but his visit was long enough to convince him of his daughter's being most comfortably settled, and of her possessing such a husband and such a neighbour as were not often met with. While Sir William was with them, Mr. Collins devoted his mornings to driving him out in his gig and shewing him the country; but when he went away, the whole family returned to their usual employments, and Elizabeth was thankful to find that they did not see more of her cousin by the alteration, for the chief of the time between breakfast and dinner was now passed by him either at work in the garden, or in reading and writing, and looking out of window in his own book room, which fronted the road. The room in which the ladies sat was backwards. Elizabeth at first had rather wondered that Charlotte should not prefer the dining parlour for common use; it was a better sized room, and had a pleasanter aspect; but she soon saw that her friend had an excellent reason for what she did, for Mr. Collins would undoubtedly have been much less in his own apartment, had they sat in one equally lively; and she gave Charlotte credit for the arrangement.
From the drawing room they could distinguish nothing in the lane, and were indebted to Mr. Collins for the knowledge of what carriages went along, and how often especially Miss De Bourgh drove by in her phaeton, which he never failed coming to inform them of, though it happened almost every day. She not unfrequently stopped at the Parsonage, and had a few minutes' conversation with Charlotte, but was scarcely ever prevailed on to get out.

Very few days passed in which Mr. Collins did not walk to Rosings, and not many in which his wife did not think it necessary to go likewise; and till Elizabeth recollected that there might be other family livings to be disposed of, she could not understand the sacrifice of so many hours. Now and then, they were honoured with a call from her ladyship, and nothing escaped her observation that was passing in the room during these visits. She examined into their employments, looked at their work, and advised them to do it differently; found fault with the arrangement of the furniture, or detected the housemaid in negligence; and if she accepted any refreshment, seemed to do it only for the sake of finding out that Mrs. Collins's joints of meat were too large for her family.

Elizabeth soon perceived that though this great lady was not in the commission of the peace for the county, she was a most active magistrate in her own parish, the minutest concerns of which were carried to her by Mr. Collins; and whenever any of the cottagers were disposed to be quarrelsome, discontented or too poor, she sallied forth into the village to settle their differences, silence their complaints, and scold them into harmony and plenty.

The entertainment of dining at Rosings was repeated about twice a week; and, allowing for the loss of Sir William, and there being only one card table in the evening, every such entertainment was the counterpart of the first. Their other engagements were few; as the style of living of the neighbourhood in general was beyond the Collinses' reach. This, however, was no evil to Elizabeth, and upon the whole she spent her time comfortably enough; there were half hours of pleasant conversation with Charlotte, and the weather was so fine for the time of year, that she had often great enjoyment out of doors. Her favourite walk, and where she frequently went while the others were calling on Lady Catherine, was along the open grove which edged that side of the park, where there was a nice sheltered path, which no one seemed to value but herself, and where she felt beyond the reach of Lady Catherine's curiosity.

In this quiet way, the first fortnight of her visit soon passed away. Easter was approaching, and the week preceding it was to bring an addition to the family at Rosings, which in so small a circle must be important. Elizabeth had heard, soon after her arrival, that Mr. Darcy was expected there in the course of a few weeks, and though there were not many of her acquaintance whom she did not prefer, his coming would furnish one comparatively new to look at in their Rosings parties, and she might be amused in seeing how hopeless Miss Bingley's designs on him were, by his behaviour to his cousin, for whom he was evidently destined by Lady Catherine; who talked of his coming with the greatest satisfaction, spoke of him in terms of the highest admiration, and seemed almost angry to find that he had already been frequently seen by Miss Lucas and herself.

His arrival was soon known at the Parsonage, for Mr. Collins was walking the whole morning within view of the lodges opening into Hunsford Lane, in order to have the earliest assurance of it; and after making his bow as the carriage turned into the park, hurried home with the great intelligence. On the following morning he hastened to Rosings to pay his respects. There were two nephews of Lady Catherine to require them, for Mr. Darcy had brought with him a Colonel Fitzwilliam, the younger son of his uncle, Lord ----; and to the great surprise of all the party, when Mr. Collins returned, the gentlemen accompanied him. Charlotte had seen them, from her husband's room, crossing the road, and immediately running into the other, told the girls what an honour they might expect, adding,

``I may thank you, Eliza, for this piece of civility. Mr. Darcy would never have come so soon to wait upon me.''

Elizabeth had scarcely time to disclaim all right to the compliment, before their approach was announced by the door-bell, and shortly afterwards the three gentlemen entered the room. Colonel Fitzwilliam, who led the way, was about thirty, not handsome, but in person and address most truly the gentleman. Mr. Darcy looked just as he had been used to look in Hertfordshire, paid his compliments, with his usual reserve, to Mrs. Collins; and whatever might be his feelings towards her friend, met her with every appearance of composure. Elizabeth merely curtseyed to him, without saying a word.

Colonel Fitzwilliam entered into conversation directly with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, and talked very pleasantly; but his cousin, after having addressed a slight observation on the house and garden to Mrs. Collins, sat for some time without speaking to any body. At length, however, his civility was so far awakened as to enquire of Elizabeth after the health of her family. She answered him in the usual way, and after a moment's pause, added,

``My eldest sister has been in town these three months. Have you never happened to see her there?''

She was perfectly sensible that he never had; but she wished to see whether he would betray any consciousness of what had passed between the Bingleys and Jane; and she thought he looked a little confused as he answered that he had never been so fortunate as to meet Miss Bennet. The subject was pursued no farther, and the gentlemen soon afterwards went away.

Chapter 11

Chapter 11
WHEN the ladies removed after dinner, Elizabeth ran up to her sister, and, seeing her well guarded from cold, attended her into the drawing-room; where she was welcomed by her two friends with many professions of pleasure; and Elizabeth had never seen them so agreeable as they were during the hour which passed before the gentlemen appeared. Their powers of conversation were considerable. They could describe an entertainment with accuracy, relate an anecdote with humour, and laugh at their acquaintance with spirit.
But when the gentlemen entered, Jane was no longer the first object. Miss Bingley's eyes were instantly turned towards Darcy, and she had something to say to him before he had advanced many steps. He addressed himself directly to Miss Bennet, with a polite congratulation; Mr. Hurst also made her a slight bow, and said he was ``very glad;'' but diffuseness and warmth remained for Bingley's salutation. He was full of joy and attention. The first half hour was spent in piling up the fire, lest she should suffer from the change of room; and she removed at his desire to the other side of the fireplace, that she might be farther from the door. He then sat down by her, and talked scarcely to any one else. Elizabeth, at work in the opposite corner, saw it all with great delight.

When tea was over, Mr. Hurst reminded his sister-in-law of the card-table -- but in vain. She had obtained private intelligence that Mr. Darcy did not wish for cards; and Mr. Hurst soon found even his open petition rejected. She assured him that no one intended to play, and the silence of the whole party on the subject seemed to justify her. Mr. Hurst had therefore nothing to do but to stretch himself on one of the sophas and go to sleep. Darcy took up a book; Miss Bingley did the same; and Mrs. Hurst, principally occupied in playing with her bracelets and rings, joined now and then in her brother's conversation with Miss Bennet.

Miss Bingley's attention was quite as much engaged in watching Mr. Darcy's progress through his book, as in reading her own; and she was perpetually either making some inquiry, or looking at his page. She could not win him, however, to any conversation; he merely answered her question, and read on. At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, ``How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.''

No one made any reply. She then yawned again, threw aside her book, and cast her eyes round the room in quest of some amusement; when, hearing her brother mentioning a ball to Miss Bennet, she turned suddenly towards him and said,

``By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at Netherfield? -- I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a pleasure.''

``If you mean Darcy,'' cried her brother, ``he may go to bed, if he chuses, before it begins -- but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough I shall send round my cards.''

``I should like balls infinitely better,'' she replied, ``if they were carried on in a different manner; but there is something insufferably tedious in the usual process of such a meeting. It would surely be much more rational if conversation instead of dancing made the order of the day.''

``Much more rational, my dear Caroline, I dare say, but it would not be near so much like a ball.''

Miss Bingley made no answer; and soon afterwards got up and walked about the room. Her figure was elegant, and she walked well; -- but Darcy, at whom it was all aimed, was still inflexibly studious. In the desperation of her feelings she resolved on one effort more; and turning to Elizabeth, said,

``Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a turn about the room. -- I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.''

Elizabeth was surprised, but agreed to it immediately. Miss Bingley succeeded no less in the real object of her civility; Mr. Darcy looked up. He was as much awake to the novelty of attention in that quarter as Elizabeth herself could be, and unconsciously closed his book. He was directly invited to join their party, but he declined it, observing that he could imagine but two motives for their chusing to walk up and down the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere. ``What could he mean? she was dying to know what could be his meaning'' -- and asked Elizabeth whether she could at all understand him?

``Not at all,'' was her answer; ``but depend upon it, he means to be severe on us, and our surest way of disappointing him will be to ask nothing about it.''

Miss Bingley, however, was incapable of disappointing Mr. Darcy in any thing, and persevered therefore in requiring an explanation of his two motives.

``I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,'' said he, as soon as she allowed him to speak. ``You either chuse this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; -- if the first, I should be completely in your way; -- and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.''

``Oh! shocking!'' cried Miss Bingley. ``I never heard any thing so abominable. How shall we punish him for such a speech?''

``Nothing so easy, if you have but the inclination,'' said Elizabeth. ``We can all plague and punish one another. Teaze him -- laugh at him. -- Intimate as you are, you must know how it is to be done.''

``But upon my honour I do not. I do assure you that my intimacy has not yet taught me that. Teaze calmness of temper and presence of mind! No, no -- I feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself.''

``Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!'' cried Elizabeth. ``That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintance. I dearly love a laugh.''

``Miss Bingley,'' said he, ``has given me credit for more than can be. The wisest and the best of men, nay, the wisest and best of their actions, may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.''

``Certainly,'' replied Elizabeth -- ``there are such people, but I hope I am not one of them. I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. -- But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.''

``Perhaps that is not possible for any one. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.''

``Such as vanity and pride.''

``Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride -- where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.''

Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.

``Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,'' said Miss Bingley; -- ``and pray what is the result?''

``I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise.''

``No'' -- said Darcy, ``I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. -- It is I believe too little yielding -- certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. -- My good opinion once lost is lost for ever.''

``That is a failing indeed!'' -- cried Elizabeth. ``Implacable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault well. -- I really cannot laugh at it; you are safe from me.''

``There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.''

``And your defect is a propensity to hate every body.''

``And yours,'' he replied with a smile, ``is wilfully to misunderstand them.''

``Do let us have a little music,'' -- cried Miss Bingley, tired of a conversation in which she had no share. -- ``Louisa, you will not mind my waking Mr. Hurst.''

Her sister made not the smallest objection, and the piano-forte was opened, and Darcy, after a few moments recollection, was not sorry for it. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12
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. 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.
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.

The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss Bennet that it would not be safe for her -- that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm where she felt herself to be right.

To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence -- Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked -- and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her, and more teazing than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were at one time left by themselves for half an hour, he adhered most conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her.

On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley's civility to Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, after assuring the latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. -- Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest spirits.

They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them very wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. -- But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense, by the absence of Jane and Elizabeth.

They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough bass and human nature; and had some new extracts to admire, and some new observations of thread-bare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was going to be married.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13
``I HOPE my dear,'' said Mr. Bennet to his wife as they were at breakfast the next morning, ``that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.''
``Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody that is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in, and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home.''

``The person of whom I speak, is a gentleman and a stranger.''

Mrs. Bennet's eyes sparkled. -- ``A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Bingley, I am sure. Why Jane -- you never dropt a word of this; you sly thing! Well, I am sure I shall be extremely glad to see Mr. Bingley. -- But -- good lord! how unlucky! there is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell. I must speak to Hill, this moment.''

``It is not Mr. Bingley,'' said her husband; ``it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life.''

This roused a general astonishment; and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and five daughters at once.

After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained. ``About a month ago I received this letter, and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.''

``Oh! my dear,'' cried his wife, ``I cannot bear to hear that mentioned. Pray do not talk of that odious man. I do think it is the hardest thing in the world that your estate should be entailed away from your own children; and I am sure if I had been you, I should have tried long ago to do something or other about it.''

Jane and Elizabeth attempted to explain to her the nature of an entail. They had often attempted it before, but it was a subject on which Mrs. Bennet was beyond the reach of reason; and she continued to rail bitterly against the cruelty of settling an estate away from a family of five daughters, in favour of a man whom nobody cared anything about.

``It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,'' said Mr. Bennet, ``and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself.''

``No, that I am sure I shall not; and I think it was very impertinent of him to write to you at all, and very hypocritical. I hate such false friends. Why could not he keep on quarrelling with you, as his father did before him?''

``Why, indeed, he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear.''

``Hunsford, near Westerham, Kent,

15th October.

DEAR SIR,

THE disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with any one with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.'' -- ``There, Mrs. Bennet.'' -- ``My mind however is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her Ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures of good-will are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends, -- but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'nnight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day. I remain, dear sir, with respectful compliments to your lady and daughters, your well-wisher and friend,

WILLIAM COLLINS.''

``At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peacemaking gentleman,'' said Mr. Bennet, as he folded up the letter. ``He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again.''

``There is some sense in what he says about the girls however; and if he is disposed to make them any amends, I shall not be the person to discourage him.''

``Though it is difficult,'' said Jane, ``to guess in what way he can mean to make us the atonement he thinks our due, the wish is certainly to his credit.''

Elizabeth was chiefly struck with his extraordinary deference for Lady Catherine, and his kind intention of christening, marrying, and burying his parishioners whenever it were required.

``He must be an oddity, I think,'' said she. ``I cannot make him out. -- There is something very pompous in his stile. -- And what can he mean by apologizing for being next in the entail? -- We cannot suppose he would help it, if he could. -- Can he be a sensible man, sir?''

``No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him.''

``In point of composition,'' said Mary, ``his letter does not seem defective. The idea of the olive branch perhaps is not wholly new, yet I think it is well expressed.''

To Catherine and Lydia, neither the letter nor its writer were in any degree interesting. It was next to impossible that their cousin should come in a scarlet coat, and it was now some weeks since they had received pleasure from the society of a man in any other colour. As for their mother, Mr. Collins's letter had done away much of her ill-will, and she was preparing to see him with a degree of composure which astonished her husband and daughters.

Mr. Collins was punctual to his time, and was received with great politeness by the whole family. Mr. Bennet, indeed, said little; but the ladies were ready enough to talk, and Mr. Collins seemed neither in need of encouragement, nor inclined to be silent himself. He was a tall, heavy looking young man of five and twenty. His air was grave and stately, and his manners were very formal. He had not been long seated before he complimented Mrs. Bennet on having so fine a family of daughters, said he had heard much of their beauty, but that, in this instance, fame had fallen short of the truth; and added, that he did not doubt her seeing them all in due time well disposed of in marriage. This gallantry was not much to the taste of some of his hearers, but Mrs. Bennet who quarrelled with no compliments, answered most readily,

``You are very kind, sir, I am sure; and I wish with all my heart it may prove so; for else they will be destitute enough. Things are settled so oddly.''

``You allude, perhaps, to the entail of this estate.''

``Ah! sir, I do indeed. It is a grievous affair to my poor girls, you must confess. Not that I mean to find fault with you, for such things, I know, are all chance in this world. There is no knowing how estates will go when once they come to be entailed.''

``I am very sensible, madam, of the hardship to my fair cousins, -- and could say much on the subject, but that I am cautious of appearing forward and precipitate. But I can assure the young ladies that I come prepared to admire them. At present I will not say more, but perhaps when we are better acquainted --''

He was interrupted by a summons to dinner; and the girls smiled on each other. They were not the only objects of Mr. Collins's admiration. The hall, the dining-room, and all its furniture were examined and praised; and his commendation of every thing would have touched Mrs. Bennet's heart, but for the mortifying supposition of his viewing it all as his own future property. The dinner too, in its turn, was highly admired; and he begged to know to which of his fair cousins, the excellence of its cookery was owing. But here he was set right by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen. He begged pardon for having displeased her. In a softened tone she declared herself not at all offended; but he continued to apologise for about a quarter of an hour.

Chapter 14

Chapter 14
DURING dinner, Mr. Bennet scarcely spoke at all; but when the servants were withdrawn, he thought it time to have some conversation with his guest, and therefore started a subject in which he expected him to shine, by observing that he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable. Mr. Bennet could not have chosen better. Mr. Collins was eloquent in her praise. The subject elevated him to more than usual solemnity of manner, and with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank -- such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine. She had been graciously pleased to approve of both the discourses which he had already had the honour of preaching before her. She had also asked him twice to dine at Rosings, and had sent for him only the Saturday before, to make up her pool of quadrille in the evening. Lady Catherine was reckoned proud by many people he knew, but he had never seen any thing but affability in her. She had always spoken to him as she would to any other gentleman; she made not the smallest objection to his joining in the society of the neighbourhood, nor to his leaving his parish occasionally for a week or two, to visit his relations. She had even condescended to advise him to marry as soon as he could, provided he chose with discretion; and had once paid him a visit in his humble parsonage; where she had perfectly approved all the alterations he had been making, and had even vouchsafed to suggest some herself, -- some shelves in the closets up stairs.
``That is all very proper and civil I am sure,'' said Mrs. Bennet, ``and I dare say she is a very agreeable woman. It is a pity that great ladies in general are not more like her. Does she live near you, sir?''

``The garden in which stands my humble abode is separated only by a lane from Rosings Park, her ladyship's residence.''

``I think you said she was a widow, sir? has she any family?''

``She has one only daughter, the heiress of Rosings, and of very extensive property.''

``Ah!'' cried Mrs. Bennet, shaking her head, ``then she is better off than many girls. And what sort of young lady is she? is she handsome?''

``She is a most charming young lady indeed. Lady Catherine herself says that in point of true beauty, Miss De Bourgh is far superior to the handsomest of her sex; because there is that in her features which marks the young woman of distinguished birth. She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not otherwise have failed of; as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them. But she is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies.''

``Has she been presented? I do not remember her name among the ladies at court.''

``Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town; and by that means, as I told Lady Catherine myself one day, has deprived the British court of its brightest ornament. Her ladyship seemed pleased with the idea, and you may imagine that I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies. I have more than once observed to Lady Catherine that her charming daughter seemed born to be a duchess, and that the most elevated rank, instead of giving her consequence, would be adorned by her. -- These are the kind of little things which please her ladyship, and it is a sort of attention which I conceive myself peculiarly bound to pay.''

``You judge very properly,'' said Mr. Bennet, ``and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?''

``They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible.''

Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment, maintaining at the same time the most resolute composure of countenance, and, except in an occasional glance at Elizabeth, requiring no partner in his pleasure.

By tea-time, however, the dose had been enough, and Mr. Bennet was glad to take his guest into the drawing-room again, and when tea was over, glad to invite him to read aloud to the ladies. Mr. Collins readily assented, and a book was produced; but on beholding it (for every thing announced it to be from a circulating library), he started back, and begging pardon, protested that he never read novels. -- Kitty stared at him, and Lydia exclaimed. -- Other books were produced, and after some deliberation he chose Fordyce's Sermons. Lydia gaped as he opened the volume, and before he had, with very monotonous solemnity, read three pages, she interrupted him with,

``Do you know, mama, that my uncle Philips talks of turning away Richard, and if he does, Colonel Forster will hire him. My aunt told me so herself on Saturday. I shall walk to Meryton to-morrow to hear more about it, and to ask when Mr. Denny comes back from town.''

Lydia was bid by her two eldest sisters to hold her tongue; but Mr. Collins, much offended, laid aside his book, and said,

``I have often observed how little young ladies are interested by books of a serious stamp, though written solely for their benefit. It amazes me, I confess; -- for certainly, there can be nothing so advantageous to them as instruction. But I will no longer importune my young cousin.''

Then turning to Mr. Bennet, he offered himself as his antagonist at backgammon. Mr. Bennet accepted the challenge, observing that he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters apologised most civilly for Lydia's interruption, and promised that it should not occur again, if he would resume his book; but Mr. Collins, after assuring them that he bore his young cousin no ill will, and should never resent her behaviour as any affront, seated himself at another table with Mr. Bennet, and prepared for backgammon.

Chapter 15

Chapter 15
MR. COLLINS was not a sensible man, and the deficiency of nature had been but little assisted by education or society; the greatest part of his life having been spent under the guidance of an illiterate and miserly father; and though he belonged to one of the universities, he had merely kept the necessary terms, without forming at it any useful acquaintance. The subjection in which his father had brought him up had given him originally great humility of manner, but it was now a good deal counteracted by the self-conceit of a weak head, living in retirement, and the consequential feelings of early and unexpected prosperity. A fortunate chance had recommended him to Lady Catherine de Bourgh when the living of Hunsford was vacant; and the respect which he felt for her high rank and his veneration for her as his patroness, mingling with a very good opinion of himself, of his authority as a clergyman, and his rights as a rector, made him altogether a mixture of pride and obsequiousness, self-importance and humility.
Having now a good house and very sufficient income, he intended to marry; and in seeking a reconciliation with the Longbourn family he had a wife in view, as he meant to chuse one of the daughters, if he found them as handsome and amiable as they were represented by common report. This was his plan of amends -- of atonement -- for inheriting their father's estate; and he thought it an excellent one, full of eligibility and suitableness, and excessively generous and disinterested on his own part.

His plan did not vary on seeing them. -- Miss Bennet's lovely face confirmed his views, and established all his strictest notions of what was due to seniority; and for the first evening she was his settled choice. The next morning, however, made an alteration; for in a quarter of an hour's te^te-a`-te^te with Mrs. Bennet before breakfast, a conversation beginning with his parsonage-house, and leading naturally to the avowal of his hopes that a mistress for it might be found at Longbourn, produced from her, amid very complaisant smiles and general encouragement, a caution against the very Jane he had fixed on. -- ``As to her younger daughters she could not take upon her to say -- she could not positively answer -- but she did not know of any prepossession; -- her eldest daughter, she must just mention -- she felt it incumbent on her to hint, was likely to be very soon engaged.''

Mr. Collins had only to change from Jane to Elizabeth -- and it was soon done -- done while Mrs. Bennet was stirring the fire. Elizabeth, equally next to Jane in birth and beauty, succeeded her of course.

Mrs. Bennet treasured up the hint, and trusted that she might soon have two daughters married; and the man whom she could not bear to speak of the day before was now high in her good graces.

Lydia's intention of walking to Meryton was not forgotten; every sister except Mary agreed to go with her; and Mr. Collins was to attend them, at the request of Mr. Bennet, who was most anxious to get rid of him, and have his library to himself; for thither Mr. Collins had followed him after breakfast, and there he would continue, nominally engaged with one of the largest folios in the collection, but really talking to Mr. Bennet, with little cessation, of his house and garden at Hunsford. Such doings discomposed Mr. Bennet exceedingly. In his library he had been always sure of leisure and tranquillity; and though prepared, as he told Elizabeth, to meet with folly and conceit in every other room in the house, he was used to be free from them there; his civility, therefore, was most prompt in inviting Mr. Collins to join his daughters in their walk; and Mr. Collins, being in fact much better fitted for a walker than a reader, was extremely well pleased to close his large book, and go.

In pompous nothings on his side, and civil assents on that of his cousins, their time passed till they entered Meryton. The attention of the younger ones was then no longer to be gained by him. Their eyes were immediately wandering up in the street in quest of the officers, and nothing less than a very smart bonnet indeed, or a really new muslin in a shop window, could recall them.

But the attention of every lady was soon caught by a young man, whom they had never seen before, of most gentlemanlike appearance, walking with an officer on the other side of the way. The officer was the very Mr. Denny, concerning whose return from London Lydia came to inquire, and he bowed as they passed. All were struck with the stranger's air, all wondered who he could be, and Kitty and Lydia, determined if possible to find out, led the way across the street, under pretence of wanting something in an opposite shop, and fortunately had just gained the pavement when the two gentlemen, turning back, had reached the same spot. Mr. Denny addressed them directly, and entreated permission to introduce his friend, Mr. Wickham, who had returned with him the day before from town, and he was happy to say, had accepted a commission in their corps. This was exactly as it should be; for the young man wanted only regimentals to make him completely charming. His appearance was greatly in his favour; he had all the best part of beauty -- a fine countenance, a good figure, and very pleasing address. The introduction was followed up on his side by a happy readiness of conversation -- a readiness at the same time perfectly correct and unassuming; and the whole party were still standing and talking together very agreeably, when the sound of horses drew their notice, and Darcy and Bingley were seen riding down the street. On distinguishing the ladies of the group, the two gentlemen came directly towards them, and began the usual civilities. Bingley was the principal spokesman, and Miss Bennet the principal object. He was then, he said, on his way to Longbourn on purpose to inquire after her. Mr. Darcy corroborated it with a bow, and was beginning to determine not to fix his eyes on Elizabeth, when they were suddenly arrested by the sight of the stranger, and Elizabeth happening to see the countenance of both as they looked at each other, was all astonishment at the effect of the meeting. Both changed colour, one looked white, the other red. Mr. Wickham, after a few moments, touched his hat -- a salutation which Mr. Darcy just deigned to return. What could be the meaning of it? -- It was impossible to imagine; it was impossible not to long to know.

In another minute Mr. Bingley, but without seeming to have noticed what passed, took leave and rode on with his friend.

Mr. Denny and Mr. Wickham walked with the young ladies to the door of Mr. Philips's house, and then made their bows, in spite of Miss Lydia's pressing entreaties that they would come in, and even in spite of Mrs. Philips' throwing up the parlour window and loudly seconding the invitation.

Mrs. Philips was always glad to see her nieces, and the two eldest, from their recent absence, were particularly welcome, and she was eagerly expressing her surprise at their sudden return home, which, as their own carriage had not fetched them, she should have known nothing about, if she had not happened to see Mr. Jones's shop boy in the street, who had told her that they were not to send any more draughts to Netherfield because the Miss Bennets were come away, when her civility was claimed towards Mr. Collins by Jane's introduction of him. She received him with her very best politeness, which he returned with as much more, apologising for his intrusion without any previous acquaintance with her, which he could not help flattering himself, however, might be justified by his relationship to the young ladies who introduced him to her notice. Mrs. Philips was quite awed by such an excess of good breeding; but her contemplation of one stranger was soon put an end to by exclamations and inquiries about the other, of whom, however, she could only tell her nieces what they already knew, that Mr. Denny had brought him from London, and that he was to have a lieutenant's commission in the ----shire. She had been watching him the last hour, she said, as he walked up and down the street, and had Mr. Wickham appeared, Kitty and Lydia would certainly have continued the occupation, but unluckily no one passed the windows now except a few of the officers, who in comparison with the stranger, were become ``stupid, disagreeable fellows.'' Some of them were to dine with the Philipses the next day, and their aunt promised to make her husband call on Mr. Wickham, and give him an invitation also, if the family from Longbourn would come in the evening. This was agreed to, and Mrs. Philips protested that they would have a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards. The prospect of such delights was very cheering, and they parted in mutual good spirits. Mr. Collins repeated his apologies in quitting the room, and was assured with unwearying civility that they were perfectly needless.

As they walked home, Elizabeth related to Jane what she had seen pass between the two gentlemen; but though Jane would have defended either or both, had they appeared to be wrong, she could no more explain such behaviour than her sister.

Mr. Collins, on his return, highly gratified Mrs. Bennet by admiring Mrs. Philips's manners and politeness. He protested that except Lady Catherine and her daughter, he had never seen a more elegant woman; for she had not only received him with the utmost civility, but had even pointedly included him in her invitation for the next evening, although utterly unknown to her before. Something he supposed might be attributed to his connection with them, but yet he had never met with so much attention in the whole course of his life.

Chapter 16

Chapter 16
As no objection was made to the young people's engagement with their aunt, and all Mr. Collins's scruples of leaving Mr. and Mrs. Bennet for a single evening during his visit were most steadily resisted, the coach conveyed him and his five cousins at a suitable hour to Meryton; and the girls had the pleasure of hearing, as they entered the drawing-room, that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was then in the house.
When this information was given, and they had all taken their seats, Mr. Collins was at leisure to look around him and admire, and he was so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment, that he declared he might almost have supposed himself in the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings; a comparison that did not at first convey much gratification; but when Mrs. Philips understood from him what Rosings was, and who was its proprietor, when she had listened to the description of only one of Lady Catherine's drawing-rooms, and found that the chimney-piece alone had cost eight hundred pounds, she felt all the force of the compliment, and would hardly have resented a comparison with the housekeeper's room.

In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her mansion, with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble abode and the improvements it was receiving, he was happily employed until the gentlemen joined them; and he found in Mrs. Philips a very attentive listener, whose opinion of his consequence increased with what she heard, and who was resolving to retail it all among her neighbours as soon as she could. To the girls, who could not listen to their cousin, and who had nothing to do but to wish for an instrument, and examine their own indifferent imitations of china on the mantlepiece, the interval of waiting appeared very long. It was over at last, however. The gentlemen did approach; and when Mr. Wickham walked into the room, Elizabeth felt that she had neither been seeing him before, nor thinking of him since, with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration. The officers of the -----shire were in general a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and walk, as they were superior to the broad-faced stuffy uncle Philips, breathing port wine, who followed them into the room.

Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, and on the probability of a rainy season, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.

With such rivals for the notice of the fair, as Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed likely to sink into insignificance; to the young ladies he certainly was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind listener in Mrs. Philips, and was, by her watchfulness, most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin.

When the card tables were placed, he had an opportunity of obliging her in return, by sitting down to whist.

``I know little of the game, at present,'' said he, ``but I shall be glad to improve myself, for in my situation of life --'' Mrs. Philips was very thankful for his compliance, but could not wait for his reason.

Mr. Wickham did not play at whist, and with ready delight was he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia. At first there seemed danger of Lydia's engrossing him entirely for she was a most determined talker; but being likewise extremely fond of lottery tickets, she soon grew too much interested in the game, too eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes, to have attention for any one in particular. Allowing for the common demands of the game, Mr. Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not hope to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that gentleman. Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself. He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in an hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.

``About a month,'' said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, ``He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire, I understand.''

``Yes,'' replied Wickham; -- ``his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself -- for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy.''

Elizabeth could not but look surprised.

``You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. -- Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?''

``As much as I ever wish to be,'' cried Elizabeth warmly, -- ``I have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think him very disagreeable.''

``I have no right to give my opinion,'' said Wickham, ``as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one. I have known him too long and to well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish -- and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else. -- Here you are in your own family.''

``Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Every body is disgusted with his pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by any one.''

``I cannot pretend to be sorry,'' said Wickham, after a short interruption, ``that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts; but with him I believe it does not often happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chuses to be seen.''

``I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man.'' Wickham only shook his head.

``I wonder,'' said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, ``whether he is likely to be in this country much longer.''

``I do not at all know; but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the ----shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood.''

``Oh! no -- it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim to all the world; a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him any thing and every thing, rather than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the memory of his father.''

Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented farther inquiry.

Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter especially, with gentle but very intelligible gallantry.

``It was the prospect of constant society, and good society,'' he added, ``which was my chief inducement to enter the ----shire. I knew it to be a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted me farther by his account of their present quarters, and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton had procured them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society. A military life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it eligibl