Гордість і упередження

           Theynowwalkedoninsilence,eachofthemdeepinthought. Elizabethwasnotcomfortable;thatwasimpossible;butshewasflatteredandpleased. Hiswishofintroducinghissistertoherwasacomplimentofthehighestkind. Theysoonoutstrippedtheothers,andwhentheyhadreachedthecarriage,Mr.andMrs.Gardinerwerehalfaquarterofamilebehind. 

           Hethenaskedhertowalkintothehouse—butshedeclaredherselfnottired,andtheystoodtogetheronthelawn. Atsuchatimemuchmighthavebeensaid,andsilencewasveryawkward. Shewantedtotalk,butthereseemedtobeanembargooneverysubject. Atlastsherecollectedthatshehadbeentravelling,andtheytalkedofMatlockandDoveDalewithgreatperseverance. Yettimeandherauntmovedslowly—andherpatienceandherideaswerenearlywornourbeforethetete-a-tetewasover. OnMr.andMrs.Gardiner’scominguptheywereallpressedtogointothehouseandtakesomerefreshment; butthiswasdeclined,andtheypartedoneachsidewithutmostpoliteness. Mr.Darcyhandedtheladiesintothecarriage;andwhenitdroveoff,Elizabethsawhimwalkingslowlytowardsthehouse. 

           Theobservationsofheruncleandauntnowbegan;andeachofthempronouncedhimtobeinfinitelysuperiortoanythingtheyhadexpected. "Heisperfectlywellbehaved,polite,andunassuming,"saidheruncle. 

           "Thereissomethingalittlestatelyinhim,tobesure,"repliedheraunt,"butitisconfinedtohisair,andisnotunbecoming. Icannowsaywiththehousekeeper,thatthoughsomepeoplemaycallhimproud,Ihaveseennothingofit." 

           "Iwasnevermoresurprisedthanbyhisbehaviourtous. Itwasmorethancivil;itwasreallyattentive;andtherewasnonecessityforsuchattention. HisacquaintancewithElizabethwasverytrifling."