Гордість і упередження

           Thehousekeepercame;arespectable-lookingelderlywoman,muchlessfine,andmorecivil,thanshehadanynotionoffindingher. Theyfollowedherintothedining-parlour. Itwasalarge,wellproportionedroom,handsomelyfittedup. Elizabeth,afterslightlysurveyingit,wenttoawindowtoenjoyitsprospect. Thehill,crownedwithwood,whichtheyhaddescended,receivingincreasedabruptnessfromthedistance,wasabeautifulobject. Everydispositionofthegroundwasgood;andshelookedonthewholescene,theriver,thetreesscatteredonitsbanksandthewindingofthevalley,asfarasshecouldtraceit,withdelight. Astheypassedintootherroomstheseobjectsweretakingdifferentpositions;butfromeverywindowtherewerebeautiestobeseen. Theroomswereloftyandhandsome,andtheirfurnituresuitabletothefortuneofitsproprietor; butElizabethsaw,withadmirationofhistaste,thatitwasneithergaudynoruselesslyfine;withlessofsplendour,andmorerealelegance,thanthefurnitureofRosings. 

           "Andofthisplace,"thoughtshe,"Imighthavebeenmistress! WiththeseroomsImightnowhavebeenfamiliarlyacquainted! Insteadofviewingthemasastranger,Imighthaverejoicedinthemasmyown,andwelcomedtothemasvisitorsmyuncleandaunt. Butno,"—recollectingherself—"thatcouldneverbe;myuncleandauntwouldhavebeenlosttome; Ishouldnothavebeenallowedtoinvitethem." 

           Thiswasaluckyrecollection—itsavedherfromsomethingverylikeregret. 

           Shelongedtoinquireofthehousekeeperwhetherhermasterwasreallyabsent,buthadnotthecourageforit. Atlengthhowever,thequestionwasaskedbyheruncle; andsheturnedawaywithalarm,whileMrs.Reynoldsrepliedthathewas,adding, "Butweexpecthimto-morrow,withalargepartyoffriends." HowrejoicedwasElizabeththattheirownjourneyhadnotbyanycircumstancebeendelayedaday!