Austen Said:

Patterns of Diction in Jane Austen's Major Novels

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“I see your design, Bingley,”
“You dislike an argument, and want to silence this.”
“Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?”
“Indeed I do not dare.”
“Have you anything else to propose for my domestic felicity?”
“It would not be easy, indeed, to catch their expression, but their colour and shape, and the eyelashes, so remarkably fine, might be copied.”
“This walk is not wide enough for our party. We had better go into the avenue.”
he could imagine but two motives for their choosing to walk up and down the room together, with either of which motives his joining them would interfere.
“I have not the smallest objection to explaining them,”
“You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire.”
“Miss Bingley,”
“has given me more credit than can be. The wisest and the best of men — nay, the wisest and best of their actions — may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke.”
“Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule.”
“Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride — where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation.”
“No,”
“I have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding — certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.”
“There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil — a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome.”
“And yours,”
“is willfully to misunderstand them.”
to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it.
“I hope, my dear,”
“that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.”
“The person of whom I speak is a gentleman and a stranger.”
“It is not Mr. Bingley,”
“it is a person whom I never saw in the whole course of my life.”
“About a month ago I received this letter; and about a fortnight ago I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy, and requiring early attention. It is from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.”
“It certainly is a most iniquitous affair,”
“and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself.”
“Why, indeed; he does seem to have had some filial scruples on that head, as you will hear.”
“At four o'clock, therefore, we may expect this peace-making gentleman,”
“He seems to be a most conscientious and polite young man, upon my word; and I doubt not will prove a valuable acquaintance, especially if Lady Catherine should be so indulgent as to let him come to us again.”
“No, my dear, I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse. There is a mixture of servility and self-importance in his letter, which promises well. I am impatient to see him.”
he seemed very fortunate in his patroness. Lady Catherine de Bourgh's attention to his wishes, and consideration for his comfort, appeared very remarkable.
“You judge very properly,”
“and it is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?”
to read aloud to the ladies.
he acted very wisely in leaving the girls to their own trifling amusements.
to meet with folly and conceit in every other room of the house, he was used to be free from them there;
whatever she wished him to say should be said.
“Do you talk by rule, then, while you are dancing?”
“Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?”
“This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am sure,”
“How near it may be to mine , I cannot pretend to say .— You think it a faithful portrait undoubtedly.”
if she and her sisters did not very often walk to Meryton.
“Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends — whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain.”
“Sir William's interruption has made me forget what we were talking of.”
“What think you of books?”
“I am sorry you think so; but if that be the case, there can at least be no want of subject. We may compare our different opinions.”
“The present always occupies you in such scenes — does it?”
“I am,”