Pride and Prejudice: Chapters 8–13

“To walk three miles, or four miles, or five miles, or whatever it is, above her ankles in dirt, and alone, quite alone! What could she mean by it? It seems to me to show an abominable sort of conceited independence, a most country-town indifference to decorum.”

Whatever bears affinity to cunning is despicable.

It does not necessarily follow that a deep, intricate character is more or less estimable than such a one as yours.

When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself — and yet what is there so very laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or any one else?

When you told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved on quitting Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself — and yet what is there so very laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or any one else?

I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means convinced that you would be gone with such celerity.

Miss Bingley warmly resented the indignity he had received, in an expostulation with her brother for talking such nonsense.

Miss Bingley moved with alacrity to the pianoforte, and after a polite request that Elizabeth would lead the way, which the other as politely and more earnestly negatived, she seated herself.

She could only imagine, however, at last, that she drew his notice because there was a something about her more wrong and reprehensible, according to his ideas of right, than in any other person present.

She liked him too little to care for his approbation.

Implacable resentment is a shade in a character.

Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least not to Elizabeth's wishes, for she was impatient to get home.

But their father, though very laconic in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle.

"It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself.”

But he was set right there by Mrs. Bennet, who assured him with some asperity that they were very well able to keep a good cook, and that her daughters had nothing to do in the kitchen.