Dame Julie Andrews

I must not, however, neglect the duties of my station, or refrain from declaring my amazement at hearing that you received the young couple into your house as soon as they were married.

It was an encouragement of vice, and had I been the rector of Longbourn, I should very strenuously have opposed it.

You ought certainly to forgive them as a Christian, but never to admit them in your sight or allow their names to be mentioned in your hearing.

Mr. Bennett turned again to Lizzie and said, That is his notion of Christian forgiveness.

The rest of his letter is only about his dear Charlotte's situation and his expectation of a child.

But, Lizzie, you look as if you did not enjoy it.

You are not going to be missish, I hope, and pretend to be affronted at an idle report.

For what do we live but to make sport for our neighbours and laugh at them in our turn?'

Oh, cried Elizabeth, I am exceedingly diverted, but it is so strange.

Yes, that is what makes it amusing, said Mr. Bennet.

Had they fixed on any other man, it would have been nothing, but his perfect indifference and your pointed dislike make it so delightfully absurd.

Much as I abominate writing, I would not give up Mr. Collins' correspondence for any consideration.

Nay, when I read a letter of his, I cannot help giving him the preference even over Wickham, much as I value the impudence and hypocrisy of my son-in-law.

And pray, Lizzie, what said Lady Catherine about this report?"

Did she call to refuse her consent?

To this question, his daughter replied only with a laugh.

And as it had been asked, without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by his repeating it.

Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not.

It was necessary to laugh when she would rather have cried.

Her father had most cruelly mortified her by what he said of Mr. Darcy's indifference, and she could do nothing but wonder at her father's lack of discernment, or fear that, perhaps instead of his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much.