Pride and Prejudice. Адаптированная книга для чтения на английском языке. Intermediate

Their brother's anxiety for Jane was evident, and his attentions to herself most pleasing. She had very little notice from any but him. Miss Bingley's attention was all for Mr. Darcy, and so was her sister's. Mr. Hurst, by whom Elizabeth sat, was an idle man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards, who, when he found her to prefer a plain dish to a ragout, had nothing to say to her.

Right after dinner she returned to Jane, and Miss Bingley began criticizing her as soon as she was out of the room: her manners were very bad indeed, a mixture of pride and impertinence; she had no conversation, no style, no beauty.

В«She has nothing, in short, to recommend her, except being an excellent walker. I shall never forget her appearance this morning. She really looked almost wildВ».

В«You are right, Louisa. Her hair, so untidy. And why come at all? Why must she be running about the country because her sister had a cold?В»

В«Yes, and her petticoat: six inches deep in mud, I am absolutely certainВ».

Bingley said he hadn't noticed Elizabeth's dirty petticoat. In his opinion she looked remarkably well when she came into the room that morning.

Miss Bingley said that Elizabeth's behaviour showed conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to propriety.

В«It shows an affection for her sister that is very pleasingВ», said Bingley.

В«I am afraid, Mr. DarcyВ», remarked Miss Bingley in a half whisper, В«that this adventure has rather acted on your admiration of her fine eyesВ».

В«Not at allВ», he replied, В«they were brightened by the exerciseВ». After a short pause Mrs. Hurst began again:

В«I like Miss Jane Bennet very much, she is really a very sweet girl, and I wish with all my heart she were well married. But with such father and mother, and such low connections, I am afraid there is no chance of itВ».

В«I think I have heard you say that their uncle is an attorney in MerytonВ».

В«Yes; and they have another, who lives somewhere near CheapsideВ».

В«That is fineВ», added her sister, and they both laughed merrily.

В«If Cheapside were full of their unclesВ», cried Bingley В«it would not make them one jot less pleasantВ».

В«But it must very materially lessen their chance of marrying men of any respectable status in the worldВ», remarked Darcy.

Bingley made no answer to that statement, but his sisters fully agreed with it.