Austen Said:

“But you forget, mamma,”

“that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs. Long has promised to introduce him.”

“To-morrow fortnight.”

“He is just what a young man ought to be,”

“sensible, good-humoured, lively; and I never saw such happy manners!—so much ease, with such perfect good breeding !”

“He is also handsome,”

“which a young man ought likewise to be, if he possibly can. His character is thereby complete.”

“I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not expect such a compliment.”

“Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never. What could be more natural than his asking you again? He could not help seeing that you were about five times as pretty as every other woman in the room. No thanks to his gallantry for that. Well, he certainly is very agreeable, and I give you leave to like him. You have liked many a stupider person.”

“Dear Lizzy!”

“Oh! you are a great deal too apt, you know, to like people in general. You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.”

“I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone; but I always speak what I think.”

“I know you do; and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others! Affectation of candour is common enough — one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design — to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad — belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's sisters, too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his.”

“Certainly not — at first. But they are very pleasing women when you converse with them. Miss Bingley is to live with her brother, and keep his house; and I am much mistaken if we shall not find a very charming neighbour in her.”

“Perhaps you mean what I overheard between him and Mr. Robinson; did not I mention it to you?

Mr. Robinson's asking him

and

and his answering immediately to the last question —

“Are you quite sure, ma'am? — is not there a little mistake?”

“I certainly saw Mr. Darcy speaking to her.”

“Miss Bingley told me,”

“that

“I believe, ma'am, I may safely promise you never to dance with him.”

“That is very true,”

“and I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.”

it was not likely to be discovered by the world in general, since Jane united, with great strength of feeling, a composure of temper and a uniform cheerfulness of manner which would guard her from the suspicions of the impertinent.

“But she does help him on, as much as her nature will allow. If I can perceive her regard for him, he must be a simpleton, indeed, not to discover it too.”

“But if a woman is partial to a man, and does not endeavour to conceal it, he must find it out.”

“Your plan is a good one,”

“where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it. But these are not Jane's feelings; she is not acting by design. As yet, she cannot even be certain of the degree of her own regard nor of its reasonableness. She has known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton; she saw him one morning at his own house, and has since dined with him in company four times. This is not quite enough to make her understand his character.”

“Yes; these four evenings have enabled them to ascertain that they both like Vingt-un better than Commerce; but with respect to any other leading characteristic, I do not imagine that much has been unfolded.”

“You make me laugh, Charlotte; but it is not sound. You know it is not sound, and that you would never act in this way yourself.”

“What does Mr. Darcy mean,”

“by listening to my conversation with Colonel Forster?”

“But if he does it any more I shall certainly let him know that I see what he is about. He has a very satirical eye, and if I do not begin by being impertinent myself, I shall soon grow afraid of him.”

“Did you not think, Mr. Darcy, that I expressed myself uncommonly well just now, when I was teasing Colonel Forster to give us a ball at Meryton?”

“You are severe on us.”

“You are a very strange creature by way of a friend! — always wanting me to play and sing before anybody and everybody !— If my vanity had taken a musical turn, you would have been invaluable; but as it is, I would really rather not sit down before those who must be in the habit of hearing the very best performers.”

“Very well, if it must be so, it must.”

“There is a fine old saying, which everybody here is of course familiar with: ‘Keep your breath to cool your porridge’; and I shall keep mine to swell my song.”

“Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.”

“Mr. Darcy is all politeness,”

“It is from Miss Bingley,”

“Can I have the carriage?”

“That would be a good scheme,”

“if you were sure that they would not offer to send her home.”

“I had much rather go in the coach.”

“But if you have got them to-day,”

“my mother's purpose will be answered.”

“My dearest Lizzy.