Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 186 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 186

JANE AUSTEN

“You are too hasty, sir,” she cried. “You forget that I

have made no answer. Let me do it without further loss

of time. Accept my thanks for the compliment you are

paying me. I am very sensible of the honour of your

proposals, but it is impossible for me to do otherwise

than to decline them.”

“I am not now to learn,” replied Mr. Collins, with a

formal wave of the hand, “that it is usual with young

ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they

secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their

favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a

second, or even a third time. I am therefore by no means

discouraged by what you have just said, and shall hope

to lead you to the altar ere long.”

“Upon my word, sir,” cried Elizabeth, “your hope is

a rather extraordinary one after my declaration. I do

assure you that I am not one of those young ladies (if

such young ladies there are) who are so daring as to risk

their happiness on the chance of being asked a second

time. I am perfectly serious in my refusal. You could not

make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last

woman in the world who could make you so. Nay, were

your friend Lady Catherine to know me, I am persuaded

178