Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 189 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 189

Pride and Prejudice

I must therefore conclude that you are not serious in

your rejection of me, I shall choose to attribute it to

your wish of increasing my love by suspense, according

to the usual practice of elegant females.”

“I do assure you, sir, that I have no pretensions

whatever to that kind of elegance which consists in

tormenting a respectable man. I would rather be paid

the compliment of being believed sincere. I thank you

again and again for the honour you have done me

in your proposals, but to accept them is absolutely

impossible. My feelings in every respect forbid it. Can

I speak plainer? Do not consider me now as an elegant

female, intending to plague you, but as a rational

creature, speaking the truth from her heart.”

“You are uniformly charming!” cried he, with an

air of awkward gallantry; “and I am persuaded that

when sanctioned by the express authority of both your

excellent parents, my proposals will not fail of being

acceptable.”

To such perseverance in wilful self-deception

Elizabeth would make no reply, and immediately and

in silence withdrew; determined, if he persisted in

considering her repeated refusals as flattering encour-

agement, to apply to her father, whose negative might

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