Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 160 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 160

JANE AUSTEN

“Very well. That reply will do for the present.

Perhaps by and by I may observe that private balls are

much pleasanter than public ones. But now we may be

silent.”

“Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?”

“Sometimes. One must speak a little, you know.

It would look odd to be entirely silent for half an

hour together; and yet for the advantage of some,

conversation ought to be so arranged, as that they may

have the trouble of saying as little as possible.”

“Are you consulting your own feelings in the present

case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”

“Both,” replied Elizabeth archly; “for I have always

seen a great similarity in the turn of our minds. We

are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling

to speak, unless we expect to say something that

will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to

posterity with all the eclat of a proverb.”

“This is no very striking resemblance of your own

character, I am sure,” said he. “How near it may be to

mine, I cannot pretend to say. You think it a faithful

portrait undoubtedly.”

“I must not decide on my own performance.”

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