Гордість і упередження

           ButItellyou,MissLizzy—ifyoutakeitintoyourheadtogoonrefusingeveryofferofmarriageinthisway,youwillnevergetahusbandatall—andIamsureIdonotknowwhoistomaintainyouwhenyourfatherisdead. Ishallnotbeabletokeepyou—andsoIwarnyou. Ihavedonewithyoufromthisveryday. Itoldyouinthelibrary,youknow,thatIshouldneverspeaktoyouagain,andyouwillfindmeasgoodasmyword. Ihavenopleasureintalkingtoundutifulchildren. NotthatIhavemuchpleasure,indeed,intalkingtoanybody. PeoplewhosufferasIdofromnervouscomplaintscanhavenogreatinclinationfortalking. NobodycantellwhatIsuffer! Butitisalwaysso. Thosewhodonotcomplainareneverpitied." 

           Herdaughterslistenedinsilencetothiseffusion,sensiblethatanyattempttoreasonwithherorsootheherwouldonlyincreasetheirritation. Shetalkedon,therefore,withoutinterruptionfromanyofthem,tilltheywerejoinedbyMr.Collins,whoenteredtheroomwithanairmorestatelythanusual,andonperceivingwhom,shesaidtothegirls, "Now,Idoinsistuponit,thatyou,allofyou,holdyourtongues,andletmeandMr.Collinshavealittleconversationtogether." 

           Elizabethpassedquietlyoutoftheroom,JaneandKittyfollowed,butLydiastoodherground,determinedtohearallshecould; andCharlotte,detainedfirstbythecivilityofMr.Collins,whoseinquiriesafterherselfandallherfamilywereveryminute,andthenbyalittlecuriosity,satisfiedherselfwithwalkingtothewindowandpretendingnottohear. InadolefulvoiceMrs.Bennetbegantheprojectedconversation: "Oh!Mr.Collins!" 

           "Mydearmadam,"repliedhe,"letusbeforeversilentonthispoint. Farbeitfromme,"hepresentlycontinued,inavoicethatmarkedhisdispleasure,"toresentthebehaviourofyourdaughter.