Jane Austen

"Я бы простила ему его гордость, не задень он мою..."

liveliness had never been worse timed. There was no help for it however. Mr. Wickham’s happiness and her own was per force delayed a little longer, and Mr. Collins’s proposal accepted with as good a grace as she could. She was not the better pleased with his gallantry, from the idea it suggested of something more. – It now first struck her, that she was selected from among her sisters as worthy of being mistress of Hunsford Parsonage, and of assisting to form a quadrille table at Rosings, in the absence of more eligible visitors. The idea soon reached to conviction, as she observed his increasing civilities toward herself, and heard his frequent attempt at a compliment on her wit and vivacity; and though more astonished than gratified herself by this effect of her charms, it was not long before her mother gave her to understand that the probability of their marriage was extremely agreeable to her. Elizabeth however did not chuse to take the hint, being well aware that a serious dispute must be the consequence of any reply. Mr. Collins might never make the offer, and till he did, it was useless to quarrel about him. If there had not been a Netherfield ball to prepare for and talk of, the younger Miss Bennets would have been in a very pitiable state at this time, for from the day of the invitation, to the day of the ball, there was such a succession of rain as prevented their walking to Meryton once. No aunt, no officers,

“But what are you in doubt of

“Is that his design in settling here?”

Chapter 2 Mr. Bennet paid a visit to Mr. Bingley in the morning, but he didnt say anything about it to his wife. He had always intended to visit him, but till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. In the evening Lizzy, his second daughter, was trimming a hat, and he suddenly said: «I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy». «We wont be able to know what Mr. Bingley likes», said her mother angrily, «since we are not to visit». «But you forget, mamma», said Elizabeth, «that well meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long promised to introduce him». «Mrs. Long has two nieces of her own. She is a selfish, hypocritical woman, and I do not believe her», her mother said. Mr. Bennet agreed with her. But Mrs. Bennet was so annoyed that she began scolding one of her daughters. «Stop coughing so, Kitty, for Heavens sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves». «I do not amuse myself by coughing», replied Kitty uneasily. «When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?» «In a fortnight». «But Mrs. Long does not come back till the day before the ball», cried her mother, «so she wont be able to introduce him: she will not know him herself». «Then, my dear», her husband said, «you will introduce your friend to Mr.

“Yes – if Darcy does not put it off 65 again,” replied Colonel Fitzwilliam. “But I am at his disposal. He arranges the business just as he pleases. He likes to have his own way very well. But so we all do. He is rich, and many others are poor. Our habits of expense make us too dependent, and there are few people in my

arising from domestic affairs changed naturally into pity and contempt as he turned over the almost endless creations of the last century;