第132章[第1頁/共4頁]

“She did not choose it,”said her daughter,“she would go.”

“Not so hasty,if you please.I have by no means done.To all the objections I have already urged,I have still another to add.I am no stranger to the particulars of your youngest sister's infamous elopement.I know it all;that the young man's marrying her was a patched-up business,at the expence of your father and uncles. And is such a girl to be my nephew's sister?Is her husband,is the son of his late father's steward, to be his brother? Heaven and earth!―of what are you thinking?Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?”

“Neither duty,nor honour,nor gratitude,”replied Elizabeth,“have any possible claim on me,in the present instance.No principle of either would be violated by my marriage with Mr.Darcy.And with regard to the resentment of his family,or the indignation of the world,if the former were excited by his marrying me,it would not give me one moment's concern―and the world in general would have too much sense to join in the scorn.”

“You have no regard, then, for the honour and credit of my nephew! Unfeeling, selfish girl! Do you not consider that a connection with you must disgrace him in the eyes of everybody?”