Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 602 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 602

JANE AUSTEN

which induced you to take so much trouble, and bear so

many mortifications, for the sake of discovering them.”

“If you will thank me,” he replied, “let it be for

yourself alone. That the wish of giving happiness to you

might add force to the other inducements which led me

on, I shall not attempt to deny. But your family owe

me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought

only of you.”

Elizabeth was too much embarrassed to say a word.

After a short pause, her companion added, “You are too

generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what

they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections

and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will

silence me on this subject for ever.”

Elizabeth, feeling all the more than common

awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced

herself to speak; and immediately, though not very

fluently, gave him to understand that her sentiments

had undergone so material a change, since the period to

which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude

and pleasure his present assurances. The happiness

which this reply produced, was such as he had probably

never felt before; and he expressed himself on the

occasion as sensibly and as warmly as a man violently

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