Гордість і упередження

           Onthathead,therefore,Ishallbeuniformlysilent;andyoumayassureyourselfthatnoungenerousreproachshalleverpassmylipswhenwearemarried." 

           Itwasabsolutelynecessarytointerrupthimnow. 

           "Youaretoohasty,sir,"shecried. "YouforgetthatIhavemadenoanswer. Letmedoitwithoutfurtherlossoftime. Acceptmythanksforthecomplimentyouarepayingme. Iamverysensibleofthehonourofyourproposals,butitisimpossibleformetodootherwisethantodeclinethem." 

           "Iamnotnowtolearn,"repliedMr.Collins,withaformalwaveofthehand,"thatitisusualwithyoungladiestorejecttheaddressesofthemanwhomtheysecretlymeantoaccept,whenhefirstappliesfortheirfavour; andthatsometimestherefusalisrepeatedasecond,orevenathirdtime. Iamthereforebynomeansdiscouragedbywhatyouhavejustsaid,andshallhopetoleadyoutothealtarerelong." 

           "Uponmyword,sir,"criedElizabeth,"yourhopeisaratherextraordinaryoneaftermydeclaration. IdoassureyouthatIamnotoneofthoseyoungladies(ifsuchyoungladiesthereare)whoaresodaringastorisktheirhappinessonthechanceofbeingaskedasecondtime. Iamperfectlyseriousinmyrefusal. Youcouldnotmakemehappy,andIamconvincedthatIamthelastwomanintheworldwhocouldmakeyouso. Nay,wereyourfriendLadyCatherinetoknowme,Iampersuadedshewouldfindmeineveryrespectillqualifiedforthesituation." 

           "WereitcertainthatLadyCatherinewouldthinkso,"saidMr.Collinsverygravely—"butIcannotimaginethatherladyshipwouldatalldisapproveofyou. AndyoumaybecertainwhenIhavethehonourofseeingheragain,Ishallspeakintheveryhighesttermsofyourmodesty,economy,andotheramiablequalification."