ᠶᠡᠬᠡᠷᠬᠡᠦ ᠬᠢᠭᠡᠳ ᠠᠳᠬᠠᠭ ------- ᠵᠧᠢᠨ᠂ ᠣᠰᠲ᠋ᠢᠨ （ᠠᠩᠭ᠍ᠯᠢ） Pride and Prejudice.傲慢与偏见

CLASSICSCALICOCALICO ADAPTED BY: Jan Fields ILLUSTRATED BY: Eric Scott Fisher Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice J an e Austen ’s 1 Adapted by: Jan Fields Illustrated by: Eric Scott Fisher Pride and Prejudice J an e Austen ’s Pride and Prejudice.indd 1 5/3/11 3:29 PM visit us at www.abdopublishing.com Published by Magic Wagon, a division of the ABDO Group, 8000 West 78th Street, Edina, Minnesota 55439. Copyright © 2012 by Abdo Consulting Group, Inc. International copyrights reserved in all countries. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Calico Chapter Books™ is a trademark and logo of Magic Wagon. Printed in the United States of America, Melrose Park, Illinois. 052011 092011 This book contains at least 10% recycled materials. Original text by Jane Austen Adapted by Jan Fields Illustrated by Eric Scott Fisher Edited by Stephanie Hedlund and Rochelle Baltzer Cover and interior design by Abbey Fitzgerald Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Fields, Jan. Jane Austen’s Pride and prejudice / adapted by Jan Fields ; illustrated by Eric Scott Fisher. p. cm. -- (Calico illustrated classics) Summary: At the turn of eighteenth-century England, spirited Elizabeth Bennet copes with the suit of the snobbish Mr. Darcy while trying to sort out the romantic entanglements of two of her sisters, sweet and beautiful Jane and scatterbrained Lydia. ISBN 978-1-61641-619-5 [1. Courtship--Fiction. 2. Sisters--Fiction. 3. Interpersonal relations- -Fiction. 4. Family life--England--Fiction. 5. England--Social life and customs--19th century--Fiction. 6. Great Britain--History--1789- 1820--Fiction.] I. Fisher, Eric Scott, ill. II. Austen, Jane, 1775-1817. Pride and prejudice. III. Title. IV. Title: Pride and prejudice. PZ7.F479177Jan 2011 [Fic]--dc22 2011010666 Pride and Prejudice.indd 2 5/3/11 3:29 PM CHAPTER 1: The Bennets 4 CHAPTER 2: Mr. Darcy 11 CHAPTER 3: Staying at Netherfi eld 16 CHAPTER 4: Pride . 22 CHAPTER 5: Wickham’s Story . 31 CHAPTER 6: The Netherfi eld Ball 41 CHAPTER 7: The Loss of Two Marriages . 51 CHAPTER 8: Darcy Comes to Rosings 60 CHAPTER 9: Darcy Proposes . 69 CHAPTER 10: Lydia Goes to Brighton 76 CHAPTER 11: Pemberley . 83 CHAPTER 12: A Bennet Wedding 91 CHAPTER 13: Bingley Arrives 98 CHAPTER 14: True Affections . 106 Table of Contents Pride and Prejudice.indd 3 5/3/11 3:29 PM 4 The Bennets It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. In the village of Longbourn, the arrival of a young man of fortune to the neighborhood was exciting beyond words. Nowhere was the excitement more obvious than at the estate house itself. “You must visit Netherfi eld Park to meet Mr. Bingley,” Mrs. Bennet announced to her husband. “He must marry one of our girls.” “Is that why he has come here?” “Don’t be silly,” his wife said. “But he is certain to fall in love with one of them.” “Perhaps you should visit him with all the girls,” her husband said. “I will send along a 1 Pride and Prejudice.indd 4 5/3/11 3:29 PM 5 note giving my permission to marry whichever one of you he likes!” With fi ve daughters of marrying age, Mrs. Bennet could think of little but marriage all the time. The Longbourn estate could only be passed from one male to another. With no Bennet sons, the house and income would move to a distant cousin when Mr. Bennet died. Mrs. Bennet’s only hope was to marry her daughters to fi ne gentlemen as quickly as possible. “We’ll see Mr. Bingley at social events,” her second-oldest daughter Elizabeth said sensibly. “Mrs. Long has promised to introduce us.” Her mother sniffed. “Like she would do that. She is a selfi sh woman with two daughters of her own. Oh, forget Mr. Bingley.” “I wish you had told me before I visited him,” Mr. Bennet said with a smile. “Now you must meet him. It’s only proper.” The girls squealed with joy and Mrs. Bennet scolded her husband for teasing her. Pride and Prejudice.indd 5 5/3/11 3:29 PM 6 From talk with the neighbors, they learned Mr. Bingley was young, handsome, and pleasant. Also, he was fond of dancing! “Oh, to be fond of dancing is a certain step toward falling in love,” Mrs. Bennet cried. Now everyone in the village looked forward to the next ball. Mr. Bingley attended with his two sisters, his brother-in-law, and his best friend. Upon their entrance, whispers slipped through the crowd like a breeze. “Mr. Bingley is very handsome,” Kitty Bennet noticed as she gripped her younger sister’s arm. “And look at his sisters,” Lydia, the youngest Bennet, agreed with a giggle. “They’re so fashionable.” Mary, the middle Bennet, merely peered at them without speaking. She was far more interested in books than fashion. “Mr. Bingley looks cheerful,” Elizabeth said to her older sister Jane. “Though his friend Mr. Darcy is rather grim.” Pride and Prejudice.indd 6 5/3/11 3:29 PM 7 Pride and Prejudice.indd 7 5/3/11 3:29 PM 8 “But he’s very tall and quite noble,” Jane replied. She always seemed to ferret out the kindest comment to say about anyone. Mr. Darcy barely glanced at any of the young ladies in the room. He danced one time with each of Mr. Bingley’s sisters and no one else. Mr. Bingley danced all evening and seemed to pay particular note of Jane. When Elizabeth sat to catch her breath between dances, she heard Bingley chatting with Darcy. “You must dance, Darcy,” Bingley said. “I won’t have you standing by yourself.” “I shall not dance. I detest dancing with anyone I do not know well. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.” “I am glad I do not feel that way,” Bingley said, laughing at his friend. “You have been dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,” Darcy said. Pride and Prejudice.indd 8 5/3/11 3:29 PM 9 “She is the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. Her sister is very attractive, and I see she is not dancing. Let me introduce you.” Bingley pulled Darcy slightly closer to Lizzy. “What do you mean?” Darcy turned and looked Elizabeth Bennet full in the face. Then he shook off Bingley’s hand. “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me.” Bingley shook his head and walked away to dance again with Jane. Darcy walked off. And Elizabeth Bennet shook her head and laughed at Darcy’s rudeness. After the ball, Mrs. Bennet declared her approval of Bingley and her dislike for Darcy. “I am glad he had no interest in any of my daughters.” “I did like Mr. Bingley though,” Lizzy said, turning to Jane. “Didn’t you?” Jane blushed slightly. “He is as lively and well mannered as a young man ought to be.” “He is also handsome,” Elizabeth teased. “Which a young man ought to be if he can. Pride and Prejudice.indd 9 5/3/11 3:29 PM 10 And he showed good taste in asking you to dance so much.” “I did not expect such a compliment,” Jane agreed. “That’s because you never expect compliments though you should.” “Dear Lizzy!” Jane scolded. “Oh, you never see a fault in anybody,” Lizzy said. “Nor do you properly see the great goodness in you. I have never heard you speak ill of anyone.” “I always speak my mind,” Jane said. “So do I,” Lizzy said. “But what comes out of our mouths is so different. I did not fi nd Mr. Bingley’s sisters so friendly.” “They are very kind when you speak with them,” Jane assured her. Elizabeth was not so sure but chose not to share her feelings on the subject. Pride and Prejudice.indd 10 5/3/11 3:29 PM 11 Mr. Darcy Elizabeth Bennet’s dearest friend lived nearby at Lucas Lodge. Charlotte Lucas was twenty-seven, sensible, and plain. She came to call at Longbourn the day after the ball. “I noticed Mr. Bingley danced with you fi rst, Charlotte,” Mrs. Bennet said. “But he preferred his second dance partner,” Charlotte said. “I overheard him tell Mr. Robinson that Jane was the prettiest girl in the room.” Mrs. Bennet fl uttered with happiness. “I know Mr. Darcy was not nearly as pleasant to overhear,” Charlotte said, looking at Lizzy with a smile. 2 Pride and Prejudice.indd 11 5/3/11 3:29 PM 12 Lizzy grinned back and would have said something, but her mother spoke fi rst. “He is such a disagreeable man.” “Miss Bingley told me that he is very agreeable to close friends,” Jane said. “Well, if he should ever ask Elizabeth to dance,” Mrs. Bennet said, “she should refuse.” “I believe I may safely promise never to dance with him,” Lizzy said with a smile. Charlotte raised her eyebrows at her friend. “He is proud, perhaps. But with his family standing and wealth, he has a right to be.” “I wouldn’t mind his pride,” Lizzy said, now openly laughing, “if he had not so injured mine.” Not long after this, the Bennet women made a visit to Bingley’s sisters and later they returned the courtesy. “I am glad Mr. Bingley’s sisters like Jane,” Elizabeth later told Charlotte. “I believe she is falling in love with him.” “Then she should show it. If a woman hides her feelings from a man, she may lose him,” Pride and Prejudice.indd 12 5/3/11 3:29 PM 13 Charlotte warned. “Bingley clearly likes Jane, but he may never do more than like her if she does not help him along.” “Well, he must be simpleminded not to see her regard for him,” Lizzy said. “Besides, she is still getting to know him.” “There is time enough to know one another after they are married,” Charlotte said. Lizzy burst out laughing. “Oh, that is silly. You know it is.” Now while Elizabeth was watching Bingley, someone else was watching her. With each meeting, Darcy found Elizabeth more interesting. He noticed how intelligent, well spoken, and well read she was. He noticed her light playfulness and began to wish he knew her better. His fi rst chance was at a large party held by Sir William Lucas. At the party, Sir William walked over to speak to the scowling Darcy. “Your friend Mr. Bingley certainly seems to love to dance. You danced quite well with Mr. Bingley’s sisters at Pride and Prejudice.indd 13 5/3/11 3:29 PM 14 the last ball. It would be a compliment to this place to see you dance again.” “It is a compliment I never pay to any place when I can avoid it,” Darcy declared. At that, Miss Elizabeth happened to pass by. Sir William insisted upon presenting her to Darcy. “Surely you cannot refuse to dance with so much beauty before you, Mr. Darcy?” he said. Lizzy cheeks reddened as she waited for Darcy to insult her as he had at the last dance. Instead, he asked her to dance. “Mr. Darcy is all politeness,” Elizabeth said, smiling. “But he need not feel compelled to dance with someone of so little temptation.” Then she slipped away through the crowd and Miss Bingley quickly took her place at Mr. Darcy’s side. “I fi nd these people nearly impossible to bear,” she moaned. “What do you think?” Pride and Prejudice.indd 14 5/3/11 3:29 PM 15 “Actually, I was just thinking that intelligent eyes make a pretty woman even more appealing,” Darcy replied. Miss Bingley stared in surprise and asked who had so captured his attention. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet,” he said. Miss Bingley frowned and said, “What a charming mother-in-law you will have.” Darcy paid her no attention at all. Pride and Prejudice.indd 15 5/3/11 3:29 PM 16 Staying at NetherÞ eld Three or four times a week, the Bennet sisters walked to Meryton to visit with their mother’s sister and enjoy the bustle of the busy little town. Kitty and Lydia enjoyed these trips most of all. They gathered gossip from their aunt, which they could spread upon their return to Longbourn. The newest bit of gossip was the arrival of a regiment of soldiers to Meryton. Lydia and Kitty were determined to meet every one of the offi cers in the lovely uniforms. In the middle of their report, a footman entered with a note for Miss Jane Bennet from Netherfi eld. All of the sisters were interested, and their mother was quite excited. 3 Pride and Prejudice.indd 16 5/3/11 3:29 PM 17 “Who is it from?” Mrs. Bennet asked. “Do open it at once!” “It is from Miss Bingley,” Jane said. “She invites me to dine with her and her sister. The gentlemen will be away, dining with the offi cers.” Mrs. Bennet shook her head. “Mr. Bingley will not be there? That is very unlucky. You must go on horseback. I believe it is going to rain, and you’ll have to stay over if you don’t have the carriage. Then you may have a chance to visit with Mr. Bingley.” “I am certain,” Elizabeth said smiling, “that they have a carriage at Netherfi eld that could be used to send her home.” “Oh no,” Mrs. Bennet said. “The gentlemen will surely have that.” Thus Jane traveled to Netherfi eld on horseback. She had barely gotten on her way when the rain began to fall. The next morning a note arrived from Netherfi eld for Miss Elizabeth Bennet. After Pride and Prejudice.indd 17 5/3/11 3:29 PM 18 getting wet during her ride, Jane was feeling unwell. The Bingley sisters had insisted she stay with them until she was better. “Well, my dear,” Mr. Bennet said, “if Jane dies from this illness, you will have the comfort of knowing your wild plan did get one daughter out of the house.” Mrs. Bennet scoffed at this. “She only has a cold.” Elizabeth felt less sure and set out at once to walk the three miles to Netherfi eld. She crossed fi eld after fi eld at a very quick pace. She arrived at the house with sore ankles, dirty stockings, and muddy hems. Her appearance was met with surprise. Though Mr. Bingley’s sisters were coldly polite, Lizzy saw they thought her behavior wild and common. She was taken immediately to her sister’s room. Jane felt much worse than she’d said in her letter and welcomed the cool cloths Lizzy placed on her aching head. Pride and Prejudice.indd 18 5/3/11 3:29 PM 19 After breakfast, Bingley’s sisters joined them. Elizabeth almost liked them for the concern they showed Jane. Reluctantly, they invited Elizabeth to stay with her sister as long as she liked. In the evening, Elizabeth joined the others for dinner while her sister slept. Bingley seemed very concerned about Jane. Lizzy rushed up to check on her sister as soon as dinner was over, but since Jane was deeply asleep, Lizzy could fi nd no polite way to avoid rejoining the group below. She carried a book with her to avoid sitting with her hands in her lap while everyone ignored her. Bingley’s brother-in-law looked at the book in her hand with shock. “Surely you don’t prefer reading over playing cards?” he asked. “Miss Eliza Bennet is a great reader and despises anything else,” Miss Bingley announced. “If you grow tired of that book,” Bingley said, “I will be happy to fetch you all that my library affords. I wish my collection were Pride and Prejudice.indd 19 5/3/11 3:29 PM 20 larger, though I admit I have more than I ever look into.” Elizabeth assured him that she was content. “You have a wonderful library at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy,” Miss Bingley said. “It is the work of many generations,” he s