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Pride & Prejudice – page 559

Pride and Prejudice

ladies had crowded round the table, where Miss Bennet

was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee,

in so close a confederacy that there was not a single

vacancy near her which would admit of a chair. And

on the gentlemen’s approaching, one of the girls moved

closer to her than ever, and said, in a whisper:

“The men shan’t come and part us, I am determined.

We want none of them; do we?”

Darcy had walked away to another part of the

room. She followed him with her eyes, envied everyone

to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough to

help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against

herself for being so silly!

“A man who has once been refused! How could I

ever be foolish enough to expect a renewal of his love?

Is there one among the sex, who would not protest

against such a weakness as a second proposal to the

same woman? There is no indignity so abhorrent to

their feelings!”

She was a little revived, however, by his bringing

back his coffee cup himself; and she seized the oppor-

tunity of saying:

“Is your sister at Pemberley still?”

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