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

That is my idea of good breeding; and those persons who imagine themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matterВ».

В«Did Charlotte dine with you?В»

В«No, she would go home. I think she was wanted about the mince-pies. For my part, Mr. Bingley, I always keep servants that can do their own work; my daughters are brought up very differently. But the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome! Not that I think Charlotte so very plain, but then she is our particular friendВ».

В«She seems a very pleasant young womanВ».

В«Oh, dear, yes; but one must admit she is very plain. Lady Lucas herself has often said so, and envied me Jane's beauty. Everybody says one does not often see anybody better looking. When she was only fifteen, there was a man at my brother Gardiner's in town so much in love with her that my sister-in-law was sure he would make her an offer before we came away. But, however, he did not.

Perhaps he thought her too young. However, he wrote some very pretty verses on herВ».

В«And so put an end to his affectionВ», said Elizabeth impatiently. В«I think there have been many cases of affection overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the effectiveness of poetry in driving away love!В»

В«I have been used to consider poetry as the food of loveВ», said Darcy.

В«Of a fine, thick, healthy love it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it is only a slight, thin sort of fondness, I am convinced that one good sonnet will starve it entirely awayВ».

Darcy only smiled. And a general pause followed. Elizabeth was afraid that her mother would say something stupid again. Though the lady wished to speak very much, she was unable to find anything to say. So after a short silence Mrs. Bennet repeated her thanks to Mr. Bingley for his kindness to Jane, with an apology for troubling him also with Lizzy, and ordered her carriage.

Upon this signal, the youngest of her daughters put herself forward. The two girls had been whispering to each other during the whole visit, and the result of it was, that the youngest reminded Mr. Bingley of his promise to give a ball at Netherfield.

Lydia was a strong, well-grown girl of fifteen, with a fine complexion and good-humored face. She was a favourite with her mother, whose affection had brought her into society at an early age.