دانلود رمان انگلیسی “بیش از حد توجه”

“My dear Mrs. Collins!” Mr. Collins cried as he entered the house. “The wondrous Lady Catherine de Bourgh has seen fit to notice our family and Miss Bennet on only their second day in the area!” “And how has she done so, Mr. Collins?” asked Mrs. Collins. “She has expressly invited us all to tea, in an hour’s time!” Mariah Lucas’ response was to squeak and fan herself, while Sir William made comments about being so greatly honoured and his eldest’s most fortunate alliance. Mr. Collins urged the guests to retire and change, but to not be shamed for their lack of finery, for Lady Catherine “preferred the distinctions of class to be preserved.” Elizabeth was unsure how Mr. Collins construed this as a positive trait, but the turn of phrase recalled a moment in Meryton Assembly, with Mr. Darcy declaring to Mr. Bingley that he would not give notice to young women slighted by other men. She wished to judge the aunt without reference to the nephew, but her cousin’s pronouncements certainly made that difficult when they seemed a piece of Mr. Darcy’s behaviour. She firmly closed the door behind her, though it did little to silence her cousin’s commentary. Privately, Elizabeth owned she felt a strong curiosity about the great lady, as described by her cousin. Mr. Collins would likely be put out that she was certainly not experiencing the trepidation he was loudly assuming. Her cousin’s behaviour varied little from his visits to Hertfordshire, although he was, perhaps, not quite as marked in his attentions towards her. He had followed his guests up the stairs to share his inane proclamations as to how she should feel by his reckoning, interspersing admonishments to hurry her dressing. She forwent response to all of it, and continued to hold her tongue for Charlotte’s sake. It gave her no small pleasure to perceive that his comments increasingly sounded frustrated that she was not in a dismayed state over her “failure” to make this “fortunate alliance.” But she was desperate to be out of his house for at least a few hours. It was a small house, made smaller by the company of certain individuals.