Гордость и предубеждение

           Elizabethfeltherselfcompletelytakenin. ShehadfullyproposedbeingengagedbyMr.Wickhamforthoseverydances;andtohaveMr.Collinsinstead! herlivelinesshadneverbeenworsetimed. Therewasnohelpforit,however. Mr.Wickham’shappinessandherownwereperforcedelayedalittlelonger,andMr.Collins’sproposalacceptedwithasgoodagraceasshecould. Shewasnotthebetterpleasedwithhisgallantryfromtheideaitsuggestedofsomethingmore. Itnowfirststruckher,thatshewasselectedfromamonghersistersasworthyofbeingmistressofHunsfordParsonage,andofassistingtoformaquadrilletableatRosings,intheabsenceofmoreeligiblevisitors. Theideasoonreachedtoconviction,assheobservedhisincreasingcivilitiestowardherself,andheardhisfrequentattemptatacomplimentonherwitandvivacity; andthoughmoreastonishedthangratifiedherselfbythiseffectofhercharms,itwasnotlongbeforehermothergavehertounderstandthattheprobabilityoftheirmarriagewasextremelyagreeabletoher. Elizabeth,however,didnotchoosetotakethehint,beingwellawarethataseriousdisputemustbetheconsequenceofanyreply. Mr.Collinsmightnevermaketheoffer,andtillhedid,itwasuselesstoquarrelabouthim. 

           IftherehadnotbeenaNetherfieldballtoprepareforandtalkof,theyoungerMissBennetswouldhavebeeninaverypitiablestateatthistime,forfromthedayoftheinvitation,tothedayoftheball,therewassuchasuccessionofrainaspreventedtheirwalkingtoMerytononce. Noaunt,noofficers,nonewscouldbesoughtafter—theveryshoe-rosesforNetherfieldweregotbyproxy. EvenElizabethmighthavefoundsometrialofherpatienceinweatherwhichtotallysuspendedtheimprovementofheracquaintancewithMr.Wickham; andnothinglessthanadanceonTuesday,couldhavemadesuchaFriday,Saturday,Sunday,andMondayendurabletoKittyandLydia.