Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 172 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 172

JANE AUSTEN

utmost civility, and even paid me the compliment

of saying that he was so well convinced of Lady

Catherine’s discernment as to be certain she could

never bestow a favour unworthily. It was really a very

handsome thought. Upon the whole, I am much pleased

with him.”

As Elizabeth had no longer any interest of her own

to pursue, she turned her attention almost entirely on

her sister and Mr. Bingley; and the train of agreeable

reflections which her observations gave birth to, made

her perhaps almost as happy as Jane. She saw her

in idea settled in that very house, in all the felicity

which a marriage of true affection could bestow;

and she felt capable, under such circumstances, of

endeavouring even to like Bingley’s two sisters. Her

mother’s thoughts she plainly saw were bent the same

way, and she determined not to venture near her, lest

she might hear too much. When they sat down to

supper, therefore, she considered it a most unlucky

perverseness which placed them within one of each

other; and deeply was she vexed to find that her mother

was talking to that one person (Lady Lucas) freely,

openly, and of nothing else but her expectation that

Jane would soon be married to Mr. Bingley. It was an

animating subject, and Mrs. Bennet seemed incapable

164