Гордість і упередження

           If,intheexplanationofthem,whichisduetomyself,Iamunderthenecessityofrelatingfeelingswhichmaybeoffensivetoyours,IcanonlysaythatIamsorry. Thenecessitymustbeobeyed,andfurtherapologywouldbeabsurd. 

           "IhadnotbeenlonginHertfordshire,beforeIsaw,incommonwithothers,thatBingleypreferredyoureldersistertoanyotheryoungwomaninthecountry. ButitwasnottilltheeveningofthedanceatNetherfieldthatIhadanyapprehensionofhisfeelingaseriousattachment. Ihadoftenseenhiminlovebefore. Atthatball,whileIhadthehonourofdancingwithyou,Iwasfirstmadeacquainted,bySirWilliamLucas’saccidentalinformation,thatBingley’sattentionstoyoursisterhadgivenrisetoageneralexpectationoftheirmarriage. Hespokeofitasacertainevent,ofwhichthetimealonecouldbeundecided. FromthatmomentIobservedmyfriend’sbehaviourattentively;andIcouldthenperceivethathispartialityforMissBennetwasbeyondwhatIhadeverwitnessedinhim. YoursisterIalsowatched. Herlookandmannerswereopen,cheerful,andengagingasever,butwithoutanysymptomofpeculiarregard,andIremainedconvincedfromtheevening’sscrutiny,thatthoughshereceivedhisattentionswithpleasure,shedidnotinvitethembyanyparticipationofsentiment. Ifyouhavenotbeenmistakenhere,Imusthavebeeninerror. Yoursuperiorknowledgeofyoursistermustmakethelatterprobable. Ifitbeso,ifIhavebeenmisledbysucherrortoinflictpainonher,yourresentmenthasnotbeenunreasonable. ButIshallnotscrupletoassert,thattheserenityofyoursister’scountenanceandairwassuchasmighthavegiventhemostacuteobserveraconvictionthat,howeveramiablehertemper,herheartwasnotlikelytobeeasilytouched. ThatIwasdesirousofbelievingherindifferentiscertain—butIwillventuretosaythatmyinvestigationanddecisionsarenotusuallyinfluencedbymyhopesorfears.