Гордость и предубеждение

           "Isaynomorethanthetruth,andeverybodywillsaythatknowshim,"repliedtheother. Elizabeththoughtthiswasgoingprettyfar; andshelistenedwithincreasingastonishmentasthehousekeeperadded, "Ihaveneverknownacrosswordfromhiminmylife,andIhaveknownhimeversincehewasfouryearsold." 

           Thiswaspraise,ofallothersmostextraordinary,mostoppositetoherideas. Thathewasnotagood-temperedmanhadbeenherfirmestopinion. Herkeenestattentionwasawakened;shelongedtohearmore,andwasgratefultoheruncleforsaying: 

           "Thereareveryfewpeopleofwhomsomuchcanbesaid. Youareluckyinhavingsuchamaster." 

           "Yes,sir,IknowIam. IfIweretogothroughtheworld,Icouldnotmeetwithabetter. ButIhavealwaysobserved,thattheywhoaregood-naturedwhenchildren,aregood-naturedwhentheygrowup; andhewasalwaysthesweetest-tempered,mostgenerous-heartedboyintheworld." 

           Elizabethalmoststaredather. "CanthisbeMr.Darcy?"thoughtshe. 

           "Hisfatherwasanexcellentman,"saidMrs.Gardiner. 

           "Yes,ma’am,thathewasindeed;andhissonwillbejustlikehim—justasaffabletothepoor." 

           Elizabethlistened,wondered,doubted,andwasimpatientformore. Mrs.Reynoldscouldinterestheronnootherpoint. Sherelatedthesubjectsofthepictures,thedimensionsoftherooms,andthepriceofthefurniture,invain,Mr.Gardiner,highlyamusedbythekindoffamilyprejudicetowhichheattributedherexcessivecommendationofhermaster,soonledagaintothesubject; andshedweltwithenergyonhismanymeritsastheyproceededtogetherupthegreatstaircase.