Гордость и предубеждение

           Mrs.GardineraboutthistimeremindedElizabethofherpromiseconcerningthatgentleman,andrequiredinformation;andElizabethhadsuchtosendasmightrathergivecontentmenttoherauntthantoherself. Hisapparentpartialityhadsubsided,hisattentionswereover,hewastheadmirerofsomeoneelse. Elizabethwaswatchfulenoughtoseeitall,butshecouldseeitandwriteofitwithoutmaterialpain. Herhearthadbeenbutslightlytouched,andhervanitywassatisfiedwithbelievingthatshewouldhavebeenhisonlychoice,hadfortunepermittedit. Thesuddenacquisitionoftenthousandpoundswasthemostremarkablecharmoftheyoungladytowhomhewasnowrenderinghimselfagreeable; butElizabeth,lessclear-sightedperhapsinthiscasethaninCharlotte’s,didnotquarrelwithhimforhiswishofindependence. Nothing,onthecontrary,couldbemorenatural; andwhileabletosupposethatitcosthimafewstruggletorelinquishher,shewasreadytoallowitawiseanddesirablemeasureforboth,andcouldverysincerelywishhimhappy. 

           AllthiswasacknowledgedtoMrs.Gardiner;andafterrelatingthecircumstances,shethuswenton: "Iamnowconvinced,mydearaunt,thatIhaveneverbeenmuchinlove; forhadIreallyexperiencedthatpureandelevatingpassion,Ishouldatpresentdetesthisveryname,andwishhimallmannerofevil. Butmyfeelingsarenotonlycordialtowardshim;theyareevenimpartialtowardsMissKing. IcannotfindoutthatIhateheratall,orthatIamintheleastunwillingtothinkheraverygoodsortofgirl. Therecanbenoloveinallthis. Mywatchfulnesshasbeeneffectual;andthoughIcertainlyshouldbeamoreinterestingobjecttoallmyacquaintanceswereIdistractedlyinlovewithhim,IcannotsaythatIregretmycomparativeinsignificance. Importancemaysometimesbepurchasedtoodearly.