Гордість і упередження

           "Insuchcasesasthis,itis,Ibelieve,theestablishedmodetoexpressasenseofobligationforthesentimentsavowed,howeverunequallytheymaybereturned. Itisnaturalthatobligationshouldbefelt,andifIcouldfeelgratitude,Iwouldnowthankyou. ButIcannot—Ihaveneverdesiredyourgoodopinion,andyouhavecertainlybestoweditmostunwillingly. Iamsorrytohaveoccasionedpaintoanyone. Ithasbeenmostunconsciouslydone,however,andIhopewillbeofshortduration. Thefeelingswhich,youtellme,havelongpreventedtheacknowledgmentofyourregard,canhavelittledifficultyinovercomingitafterthisexplanation." 

           Mr.Darcy,whowasleaningagainstthemantelpiecewithhiseyesfixedonherface,seemedtocatchherwordswithnolessresentmentthansurprise. Hiscomplexionbecamepalewithanger,andthedisturbanceofhismindwasvisibleineveryfeature. Hewasstrugglingfortheappearanceofcomposure,andwouldnotopenhislipstillhebelievedhimselftohaveattainedit. ThepausewastoElizabeth’sfeelingsdreadful. Atlength,withavoiceofforcedcalmness,hesaid: 

           "AndthisisallthereplywhichIamtohavethehonourofexpecting! Imight,perhaps,wishtobeinformedwhy,withsolittleendeavouratcivility,Iamthusrejected. Butitisofsmallimportance." 

           "Imightaswellinquire,"repliedshe,"whywithsoevidentadesireofoffendingandinsultingme,youchosetotellmethatyoulikedmeagainstyourwill,againstyourreason,andevenagainstyourcharacter? Wasnotthissomeexcuseforincivility,ifIwasuncivil? ButIhaveotherprovocations. YouknowIhave. Hadnotmyfeelingsdecidedagainstyou—hadtheybeenindifferent,orhadtheyevenbeenfavourable,doyouthinkthatanyconsiderationwouldtemptmetoacceptthemanwhohasbeenthemeansofruining,perhapsforever,thehappinessofamostbelovedsister?"