Гордість і упередження

           "Both,"repliedElizabetharchly; "forIhavealwaysseenagreatsimilarityintheturnofourminds. Weareeachofanunsocial,taciturndisposition,unwillingtospeak,unlessweexpecttosaysomethingthatwillamazethewholeroom,andbehandeddowntoposteritywithalltheeclatofaproverb." 

           "Thisisnoverystrikingresemblanceofyourowncharacter,Iamsure,"saidhe. "Hownearitmaybetomine,Icannotpretendtosay. Youthinkitafaithfulportraitundoubtedly." 

           "Imustnotdecideonmyownperformance." 

           Hemadenoanswer,andtheywereagainsilenttilltheyhadgonedownthedance,whenheaskedherifsheandhersistersdidnotveryoftenwalktoMeryton. Sheansweredintheaffirmative,and,unabletoresistthetemptation,added, "Whenyoumetustheretheotherday,wehadjustbeenforminganewacquaintance." 

           Theeffectwasimmediate. Adeepershadeofhauteuroverspreadhisfeatures,buthesaidnotaword,andElizabeth,thoughblamingherselfforherownweakness,couldnotgoon. AtlengthDarcyspoke,andinaconstrainedmannersaid, "Mr.Wickhamisblessedwithsuchhappymannersasmayensurehismakingfriends—whetherhemaybeequallycapableofretainingthem,islesscertain." 

           "Hehasbeensounluckyastoloseyourfriendship,"repliedElizabethwithemphasis,"andinamannerwhichheislikelytosufferfromallhislife." 

           Darcymadenoanswer,andseemeddesirousofchangingthesubject. Atthatmoment,SirWilliamLucasappearedclosetothem,meaningtopassthroughthesettotheothersideoftheroom; butonperceivingMr.Darcy,hestoppedwithabowofsuperiorcourtesytocomplimenthimonhisdancingandhispartner.