Гордість і упередження

           Mr.Wickhamdidnotplayatwhist,andwithreadydelightwashereceivedattheothertablebetweenElizabethandLydia. AtfirstthereseemeddangerofLydia’sengrossinghimentirely,forshewasamostdeterminedtalker; butbeinglikewiseextremelyfondoflotterytickets,shesoongrewtoomuchinterestedinthegame,tooeagerinmakingbetsandexclaimingafterprizestohaveattentionforanyoneinparticular. Allowingforthecommondemandsofthegame,Mr.WickhamwasthereforeatleisuretotalktoElizabeth,andshewasverywillingtohearhim,thoughwhatshechieflywishedtohearshecouldnothopetobetold—thehistoryofhisacquaintancewithMr.Darcy. Shedarednotevenmentionthatgentleman. Hercuriosity,however,wasunexpectedlyrelieved. Mr.Wickhambeganthesubjecthimself. HeinquiredhowfarNetherfieldwasfromMeryton;and,afterreceivingheranswer,askedinahesitatingmannerhowlongMr.Darcyhadbeenstayingthere. 

           "Aboutamonth,"saidElizabeth; andthen,unwillingtoletthesubjectdrop,added, "HeisamanofverylargepropertyinDerbyshire,Iunderstand." 

           "Yes,"repliedMr.Wickham;"hisestatethereisanobleone.Acleartenthousandperannum. Youcouldnothavemetwithapersonmorecapableofgivingyoucertaininformationonthatheadthanmyself,forIhavebeenconnectedwithhisfamilyinaparticularmannerfrommyinfancy." 

           Elizabethcouldnotbutlooksurprised. 

           "Youmaywellbesurprised,MissBennet,atsuchanassertion,afterseeing,asyouprobablymight,theverycoldmannerofourmeetingyesterday. AreyoumuchacquaintedwithMr.Darcy?" 

           "AsmuchasIeverwishtobe,"criedElizabethverywarmly. "Ihavespentfourdaysinthesamehousewithhim,andIthinkhimverydisagreeable."