Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 620 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 620

JANE AUSTEN

on having him. But let me advise you to think better

of it. I know your disposition, Lizzy. I know that you

could be neither happy nor respectable, unless you

truly esteemed your husband; unless you looked up to

him as a superior. Your lively talents would place you in

the greatest danger in an unequal marriage. You could

scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child, let me

not have the grief of seeing you unable to respect your

partner in life. You know not what you are about.”

Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and

solemn in her reply; and at length, by repeated

assurances that Mr. Darcy was really the object of her

choice, by explaining the gradual change which her

estimation of him had undergone, relating her absolute

certainty that his affection was not the work of a day,

but had stood the test of many months’ suspense, and

enumerating with energy all his good qualities, she did

conquer her father’s incredulity, and reconcile him to

the match.

“Well, my dear,” said he, when she ceased speaking,

“I have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves

you. I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to

anyone less worthy.”

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