Гордость и предубеждение

           Myfather,however,ispartialtoMr.Wickham. Inshort,mydearaunt,Ishouldbeverysorrytobethemeansofmakinganyofyouunhappy; butsinceweseeeverydaythatwherethereisaffection,youngpeopleareseldomwithheldbyimmediatewantoffortunefromenteringintoengagementswitheachother,howcanIpromisetobewiserthansomanyofmyfellow-creaturesifIamtempted,orhowamIeventoknowthatitwouldbewisdomtoresist? AllthatIcanpromiseyou,therefore,isnottobeinahurry. Iwillnotbeinahurrytobelievemyselfhisfirstobject. WhenIamincompanywithhim,Iwillnotbewishing. Inshort,Iwilldomybest." 

           "Perhapsitwillbeaswellifyoudiscouragehiscomingheresoveryoften. Atleast,youshouldnotremindyoumotherofinvitinghim." 

           "AsIdidtheotherday,"saidElizabethwithaconscioussmile: "verytrue,itwillbewiseinmetorefrainfromthat. Butdonotimaginethatheisalwaysheresooften. Itisonyouraccountthathehasbeensofrequentlyinvitedthisweek. Youknowmymother’sideasastothenecessityofconstantcompanyforherfriends. Butreally,anduponmyhonour,IwilltrytodowhatIthinktobethewisest; andnowIhopeyouaresatisfied." 

           Herauntassuredherthatshewas,andElizabethhavingthankedherforthekindnessofherhints,theyparted;awonderfulinstanceofadvicebeinggivenonsuchapoint,withoutbeingresented. 

           Mr.CollinsreturnedintoHertfordshiresoonafterithadbeenquittedbytheGardinersandJane; butashetookuphisabodewiththeLucases,hisarrivalwasnogreatinconveniencetoMrs.Bennet. Hismarriagewasnowfastapproaching,andshewasatlengthsofarresignedastothinkitinevitable,andevenrepeatedlytosay,inanill-naturedtone,thatshe"wishedtheymightbehappy."