Austen Said:

Patterns of Diction in Jane Austen's Major Novels

Search

Your search returned 687 results


“I can guess the subject of your reverie.”
“You are considering how insupportable it would be to pass many evenings in this manner — in such society; and indeed I am quite of your opinion. I was never more annoyed! The insipidity, and yet the noise — the nothingness, and yet the self-importance of all those people!— What would I give to hear your strictures on them!”
he would tell her what lady had the credit of inspiring such reflections.
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet!”
“I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite? — and pray, when am I to wish you joy?”
“Nay, if you are so serious about it, I shall consider the matter is absolutely settled. You will be having a charming mother-in-law, indeed; and, of course, she will always be at Pemberley with you.”
“My dear Friend—
“If you are not so compassionate as to dine to-day with Louisa and me, we shall be in danger of hating each other for the rest of our lives, for a whole day's tȇte-à-tȇte between two women can never end without a quarrel. Come as soon as you can on the receipt of this. My brother and the gentlemen are to dine with the officers. — Yours ever,
“Caroline Bingley.”
“to send for the horses?”
“We will go as far as Meryton with you,”
to remain at Netherfield for the present.
Her manners were
very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no beauty.
“She did, indeed, Louisa. I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister had a cold? Her hair, so untidy, so blowsy!”
“You observed it, Mr. Darcy, I am sure,”
“and I am inclined to think that you would not wish to see your sister make such an exhibition.”
“To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.”
“I am afraid, Mr. Darcy,”
“that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.”
“I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in Meryton.”
“That is capital,”
“Miss Eliza Bennet,”
“despises cards. She is a great reader, and has no pleasure in anything else.”
“I am astonished,”
“that my father should have left so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!”
“And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are always buying books.”
“Neglect! I am sure you neglect nothing that can add to the beauties of that noble place. Charles, when you build your house, I wish it may be half as delightful as Pemberley.”
“But I would really advise you to make your purchase in that neighbourhood, and take Pemberley for a kind of model. There is not a finer county in England than Derbyshire.”
“I am talking of possibilities, Charles.”
“Is Miss Darcy much grown since the spring?”
“will she be as tall as I am?”
“How I long to see her again! I never met with anybody who delighted me so much. Such a countenance, such manners! And so extremely accomplished for her age! Her performance on the pianoforte is exquisite.”
“All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?”
“Nor I, I am sure,”
“Oh! certainly,”
“no one can be really esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass what is usually met with. A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved.”
“Elizabeth Bennet,”
“is one of those young ladies who seek to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I dare say, it succeeds. But, in my opinion, it is a paltry device, a very mean art.”
“She is a great deal too ill to be moved. Mr. Jones says we must not think of moving her. We must trespass a little longer on your kindness.”
“You may depend upon it, Madam,”
“that Miss Bennet shall receive every possible attention while she remains with us.”
“if it was not for such good friends I do not know what would become of her, for she is very ill indeed, and suffers a vast deal, though with the greatest patience in the world, which is always the way with her, for she has, without exception, the sweetest temper I have ever met with. I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her. You have a sweet room here, Mr. Bingley, and a charming prospect over the gravel walk. I do not know a place in the country that is equal to Netherfield. You will not think of quitting it in a hurry, I hope, though you have but a short lease.”
“remember where you are, and do not run on in the wild manner that you are suffered to do at home.”
“I assure you there is quite as much of that going on in the country as in town.”
“seemed to think the country was nothing at all.”
“How delighted Miss Darcy will be to receive such a letter!”
“You write uncommonly fast.”
“How many letters you must have occasion to write in the course of a year! Letters of business, too! How odious I should think them!”
“Pray tell your sister that I long to see her.”