Austen Said:

Patterns of Diction in Jane Austen's Major Novels

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“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
“What is his name?”
“Is he married or single?”
“How so? How can it affect them?”
“Is that his design in settling here?”
“I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party.”
“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”
“It is more than I engage for, I assure you.”
“You are over scrupulous surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.”
“They have none of them much to recommend them,”
“they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”
“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.”
“But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.”
“Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all.”
“I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.”
“No more have I,”
“and I am glad to find that you do not depend on her serving you.”
“Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,”
“she times them ill.”
“When is your next ball to be, Lizzy?”
“Then, my dear, you may have the advantage of your friend, and introduce Mr. Bingley to her.”
“I honour your circumspection. A fortnight's acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself.”
“What can be the meaning of that emphatic exclamation?”
“Do you consider the forms of introduction, and the stress that is laid on them, as nonsense? I cannot quite agree with you there. What say you, Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts.”
“While Mary is adjusting her ideas,”
“let us return to Mr. Bingley.”
“I am sorry to hear that; but why did not you tell me that before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. It is very unlucky; but as I have actually paid the visit, we cannot escape the acquaintance now.”
“Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose,”
“If he had had any compassion for me,”
“he would not have danced half so much! For God's sake, say no more of his partners. O that he had sprained his ankle in the first dance!”
“From all that I can collect by your manner of talking, you must be two of the silliest girls in the country. I have suspected it some time, but I am now convinced.”
“If my children are silly, I must hope to be always sensible of it.”
“This is the only point, I flatter myself, on which we do not agree. I had hoped that our sentiments coincided in every particular, but I must so far differ from you as to think our two youngest daughters uncommonly foolish.”
“They are wanted in the farm much oftener than I can get them.”
“Well, my dear,”
“if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness — if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley, and under your orders.”
“Is this a hint to me, Lizzy,”
“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.”
“You judge very properly,”