Гордість і упередження

           MissBennethadnotbeenabletohearofhiscomingwithoutchangingcolour. ItwasmanymonthssinceshehadmentionedhisnametoElizabeth; butnow,assoonastheywerealonetogether,shesaid: 

           "Isawyoulookatmeto-day,Lizzy,whenmyaunttoldusofthepresentreport; andIknowIappeareddistressed. Butdon’timagineitwasfromanysillycause. Iwasonlyconfusedforthemoment,becauseIfeltthatIshouldbelookedat. Idoassureyouthatthenewsdoesnotaffectmeeitherwithpleasureorpain. Iamgladofonething,thathecomesalone;becauseweshallseethelessofhim. NotthatIamafraidofmyself,butIdreadotherpeople’sremarks." 

           Elizabethdidnotknowwhattomakeofit. HadshenotseenhiminDerbyshire,shemighthavesupposedhimcapableofcomingtherewithnootherviewthanwhatwasacknowledged; butshestillthoughthimpartialtoJane,andshewaveredastothegreaterprobabilityofhiscomingtherewithhisfriend’spermission,orbeingboldenoughtocomewithoutit. 

           "Yetitishard,"shesometimesthought,"thatthispoormancannotcometoahousewhichhehaslegallyhired,withoutraisingallthisspeculation! Iwillleavehimtohimself." 

           Inspiteofwhathersisterdeclared,andreallybelievedtobeherfeelingsintheexpectationofhisarrival,Elizabethcouldeasilyperceivethatherspiritswereaffectedbyit. Theyweremoredisturbed,moreunequal,thanshehadoftenseenthem. 

           Thesubjectwhichhadbeensowarmlycanvassedbetweentheirparents,aboutatwelvemonthago,wasnowbroughtforwardagain. 

           "AssoonaseverMr.Bingleycomes,mydear,"saidMrs.Bennet,"youwillwaitonhimofcourse."