Гордость и предубеждение

           andthoughprepared,ashetoldElizabeth,tomeetwithfollyandconceitineveryotherroomofthehouse,hewasusedtobefreefromthemthere; hiscivility,therefore,wasmostpromptininvitingMr.Collinstojoinhisdaughtersintheirwalk; andMr.Collins,beinginfactmuchbetterfittedforawalkerthanareader,wasextremelypleasedtoclosehislargebook,andgo. 

           Inpompousnothingsonhisside,andcivilassentsonthatofhiscousins,theirtimepassedtilltheyenteredMeryton. Theattentionoftheyoungeroneswasthennolongertobegainedbyhim. Theireyeswereimmediatelywanderingupinthestreetinquestoftheofficers,andnothinglessthanaverysmartbonnetindeed,orareallynewmuslininashopwindow,couldrecallthem. 

           Buttheattentionofeveryladywassooncaughtbyayoungman,whomtheyhadneverseenbefore,ofmostgentlemanlikeappearance,walkingwithanotherofficerontheothersideoftheway. TheofficerwastheveryMr.DennyconcerningwhosereturnfromLondonLydiacametoinquire,andhebowedastheypassed. Allwerestruckwiththestranger’sair,allwonderedwhohecouldbe;andKittyandLydia,determinedifpossibletofindout,ledthewayacrossthestreet,underpretenseofwantingsomethinginanoppositeshop,andfortunatelyhadjustgainedthepavementwhenthetwogentlemen,turningback,hadreachedthesamespot. Mr.Dennyaddressedthemdirectly,andentreatedpermissiontointroducehisfriend,Mr.Wickham,whohadreturnedwithhimthedaybeforefromtown,andhewashappytosayhadacceptedacommissionintheircorps. Thiswasexactlyasitshouldbe;fortheyoungmanwantedonlyregimentalstomakehimcompletelycharming.