Гордість і упередження

           Oh,sister! ItisveryhardtothinkthatshemighthavebeenMr.Collins’swifebythistime,haditnotbeenforherownperverseness. Hemadeheranofferinthisveryroom,andsherefusedhim. Theconsequenceofitis,thatLadyLucaswillhaveadaughtermarriedbeforeIhave,andthattheLongbournestateisjustasmuchentailedasever. TheLucasesareveryartfulpeopleindeed,sister. Theyareallforwhattheycanget. Iamsorrytosayitofthem,butsoitis. Itmakesmeverynervousandpoorly,tobethwartedsoinmyownfamily,andtohaveneighbourswhothinkofthemselvesbeforeanybodyelse. However,yourcomingjustatthistimeisthegreatestofcomforts,andIamverygladtohearwhatyoutellus,oflongsleeves." 

           Mrs.Gardiner,towhomthechiefofthisnewshadbeengivenbefore,inthecourseofJaneandElizabeth’scorrespondencewithher,madehersisteraslightanswer,and,incompassiontohernieces,turnedtheconversation. 

           WhenalonewithElizabethafterwards,shespokemoreonthesubject. "ItseemslikelytohavebeenadesirablematchforJane,"saidshe. "Iamsorryitwentoff. Butthesethingshappensooften! Ayoungman,suchasyoudescribeMr.Bingley,soeasilyfallsinlovewithaprettygirlforafewweeks,andwhenaccidentseparatesthem,soeasilyforgetsher,thatthesesortofinconsistenciesareveryfrequent." 

           "Anexcellentconsolationinitsway,"saidElizabeth,"butitwillnotdoforus. Wedonotsufferbyaccident. Itdoesnotoftenhappenthattheinterferenceoffriendswillpersuadeayoungmanofindependentfortunetothinknomoreofagirlwhomhewasviolentlyinlovewithonlyafewdaysbefore." 

           "Butthatexpressionof‘violentlyinlove’issohackneyed,sodoubtful,soindefinite,thatitgivesmeverylittleidea. Itisasoftenappliedtofeelingswhicharisefromahalf-hour’sacquaintance,astoareal,strongattachment. Pray,howviolentwasMr.Bingley’slove?"