Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 332 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 332

JANE AUSTEN

I wished it in reason. My objections to the marriage

were not merely those which I last night acknowledged

to have required the utmost force of passion to put

aside, in my own case; the want of connection could

not be so great an evil to my friend as to me. But

there were other causes of repugnance; causes which,

though still existing, and existing to an equal degree

in both instances, I had myself endeavoured to forget,

because they were not immediately before me. These

causes must be stated, though briefly. The situation

of your mother’s family, though objectionable, was

nothing in comparison to that total want of propriety

so frequently, so almost uniformly betrayed by herself,

by your three younger sisters, and occasionally even

by your father. Pardon me. It pains me to offend you.

But amidst your concern for the defects of your nearest

relations, and your displeasure at this representation

of them, let it give you consolation to consider that, to

have conducted yourselves so as to avoid any share of

the like censure, is praise no less generally bestowed on

you and your elder sister, than it is honourable to the

sense and disposition of both.

“I will only say farther that from what passed that

evening, my opinion of all parties was confirmed, and

every inducement heightened which could have led me

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