Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 134 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 134

JANE AUSTEN

a very creditable, gentlemanlike set, and the best of

them were of the present party; but Mr. Wickham was

as far beyond them all in person, countenance, air, and

walk, as they were superior to the broad-faced, stuffy

uncle Phillips, breathing port wine, who followed them

into the room.

Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom

almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was

the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself;

and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell

into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet

night, and on the probability of a rainy season, made

her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare

topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the

speaker.

With such rivals for the notice of the fair as

Mr. Wickham and the officers, Mr. Collins seemed to

sink into insignificance; to the young ladies he certainly

was nothing; but he had still at intervals a kind listener

in Mrs. Phillips, and was by her watchfulness, most

abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin. When the

card-tables were placed, he had the opportunity of

obliging her in turn, by sitting down to whist.

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