Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 72 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 72

JANE AUSTEN

“Are you so severe upon your own sex as to doubt

the possibility of all this?”

“I never saw such a woman. I never saw such

capacity, and taste, and application, and elegance, as

you describe united.”

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against

the injustice of her implied doubt, and were both

protesting that they knew many women who answered

this description, when Mr. Hurst called them to order,

with bitter complaints of their inattention to what was

going forward. As all conversation was thereby at an

end, Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room.

“Elizabeth Bennet,” said Miss Bingley, when the door

was closed on her, “is one of those young ladies who

seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by

undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say,

it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a

very mean art.”

“Undoubtedly,” replied Darcy, to whom this remark

was chiefly addressed, “there is a meanness in all the

arts which ladies sometimes condescend to employ

for captivation. Whatever bears affinity to cunning is

despicable.”

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