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

Tease calmness of manner and presence of mind! No, no; I feel he may disregard us there. And as to laughter, Mr. Darcy can't be a subject to laughterВ».

В«Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!В» cried Elizabeth. В«That is an uncommon advantage. I wouldn't like to have many such acquaintances. I dearly love a laughВ».

В«The wisest and best actions of menВ», said Mr. Darcy В«may be shown ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a jokeВ».

В«CertainlyВ» replied Elizabeth- В«there are such people, but I hope I never ridicule what is wise and good.

В«Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But all my life I tried to avoid those weaknesses which don't protect a strong intelligence from ridiculeВ».

В«Such as vanity and prideВ».

В«Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But as to pride, where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good controlВ».

Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.

В«So, your examination of Mr. Darcy is overВ», said Miss Bingley; В«and what is the result?В»

В«I am perfectly convinced that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He thinks so himselfВ».

В«NoВ», said Darcy, В«I have made no such pretension. I have defects enough, but I hope they are not the defects of intelligence. I'm afraid I can't vouch for my temper. I very seldom yield. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others as soon as I ought to, nor their offenses against myself.

В«That is a defect indeed!В» cried Elizabeth. В«Unforgettable resentment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your defect well. I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from meВ».

В«There is, I think, in every character a tendency to some defect, which not even the best education can overcomeВ».

В«And your defect is to hate everybodyВ».

В«And yoursВ», he replied with a smile, В«is stubbornly to misunderstand themВ».

Miss Bingley, tired of a conversation in which she had no share, asked Mrs. Hurst to play the pianoforte.

Darcy also didn't object. He began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.

As Jane felt much better, the sisters decided it was time for them to go home. Elizabeth wrote the next morning to their mother asking to send the carriage for them in the course of the day. But Mrs.