Important Quotations Explained
1. It
is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession
of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
2. “Which
do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth,
till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She
is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no
humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted
by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles,
for you are wasting your time with me.”
3. “In
vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed.
You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured,
doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement,
and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately
followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of
the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject
of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority—of its
being a degradation—of the family obstacles which judgment had always
opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed
due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to
recommend his suit.
4. They
gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at
the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the
eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite
side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound.
It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising
ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;—and in front,
a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but
without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal,
nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen
a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had
been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of
them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to
be mistress of Pemberley might be something!
5. Elizabeth
was much too embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her
companion added, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your
feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once.
My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will
silence me on this subject forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more
than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced
herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave
him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material
a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive
with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.
