Pride and Prejudice
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Vocal Characteristics
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EnglishVoice Age
Young Adult (18-35)Accents
British (General)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
while settling this point, she was suddenly roused by the sound of the doorbell, and her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of it's being Colonel Fitzwilliam himself, who had once before called late in the evening and now might come to inquire, particularly after her. But this idea was soon banished, and her spirits were very differently affected when, to her utter amazement, she saw Mr Darcy walk into the room in a hurried manner. He immediately began an inquiry after her health. In putting his visit to a wish of hearing that she was better, she answered him with cold civility. He sat down for a few moments and then getting up, walked about the room. Elizabeth was surprised but said not a word. After a silence of several minutes, he came towards her in an agitated manner and thus began in vain. I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how hard Antley I admire and love you. Elizabeth's astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her immediately followed. He spoke well, but there were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed, and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority, of its being, a degradation of the family obstacles which judgement had always opposed to inclination were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding but was very unlikely to recommend his suit. In spite of her deeply rooted dislike, she could not be insensible to the compliment of such a man's affection. And though her intentions did not vary for an instant, she was at first sorry for the pain he was to receive till roused to resentment by his subsequent language, she lost all compassion in anger. She tried, however, to compose herself, to answer him with patience when he should have done. He concluded with representing to her the strength of that attachment, which, in spite of all his endeavours, he had found impossible to conquer and with expressing his hope that it would now be rewarded by the acceptance of his hand. As he said this, she could easily see that he had no doubt of a favourable answer. He spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance could only exasperate father, and when he ceased, the colour rose into her cheeks. And, she said, In such cases as this, it is, I believe, the established mode to express a sense of obligation for the sentiments avowed, however unequally, they may be returned. It is natural that obligation should be felt. And if I could feel gratitude, I would now thank you, but I cannot. I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly bestowed it most unwillingly. I'm sorry to have occasioned pain to anyone. It has been most unconsciously done, however, and I hope will be of short duration. The feelings which you tell me have long prevented. The acknowledgement of your regard can have little difficulty in overcoming it. After this explanation, Mr Darcy, who was leaning against the mantelpiece with his eyes fixed on her face, seemed to catch her words with no less resentment than surprise. His complexion became pale with anger, and the disturbance of his mind was visible in every feature. He was struggling for the appearance of composure and would not open his lips till he believed himself to have attained it. The pause was to Elizabeth's feelings, dreadful at length in a voice of forced calmness, he said, And this is all the reply I am to have the honour of expecting. I might perhaps wish to be informed why, with so little endeavour at civility, I am thus rejected. But it is of small importance. I might as well inquire, she replied. Why with so evident a design of offending and insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, against your reason and even against your character. Was not this some excuse for incivility if I was uncivil? But I have other provocations. You know, I have had not my own feelings decided against you. Had they been indifferent or had they even been favourable? Do you think that any consideration would tempt me to accept the man who has been the means of ruining, perhaps forever the happiness of a most beloved sister? As she pronounced these words, Mr Darcy changed colour. But the emotion was short and he listened without attempting to interrupt her while she continued, I have every reason in the world to think I love you. No motive can excuse the unjust and ungenerous part. You acted there, you dare not. You cannot deny that you have been the principal, if not the only means of dividing them from each other of exposing one to the centre of the world for caprice and instability. The other two. It's derision for disappointed hopes and involving them both in misery of the acute ist kind. She paused and saw with no slight indignation that he was listening with an air which proved him wholly unmoved by any feeling of remorse. He even looked at her with a smile of affected incredulity. Can you deny that you have done it? She repeated with assumed tranquillity. He then replied, I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success towards him. I have been kinder than towards myself. Elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil reflection, but its meaning did not escape, nor was it likely to consulate her. But it is not merely this affair, she continued, on which my dislike is founded long before it had taken place, my opinion of you was decided your character was unfolded in the recital, which I received many months ago from Mr Wickham on this subject. What can you have to say in what imaginary act of friendship can you hear? Defend yourself or under what misrepresentation can you hear impose upon others? You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns, said Darcy, in a less tranquil tone and with a heightened colour who that knows what his misfortunes have been can help feeling an interest in him. His misfortunes repeated Darcy contemptuously. Yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed. And of your infliction cried Elizabeth. With energy, you have reduced him to his present state of poverty. Comparative poverty. You have withheld the advantages which you must know to have been designed for him. You have deprived the best years of his life of that independence, which was no less his due than his dessert. You have done all this, and yet you can treat the mention of his misfortunes with contempt and ridicule. And this cried Darcy as he walked with quick steps across the room is your opinion of me. This is the estimation in which you hold me. I thank you for explaining it so fully. My faults, according to this calculation, are heavy indeed. But perhaps, he added, stopping in his walk and turning towards her these offences might have been overlooked. Had not your pride been hurt by my confession of the scruples that had long prevented my forming any serious design? These bitter accusations might have been suppressed had I, with greater policy concealed my struggles and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by unqualified unalloyed inclination by reason, by reflection by everything but disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related to you. They were natural and just Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections to congratulate myself on the hope of relations whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own? Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment. Yet she tried to the utmost to speak with composure when she said, You are mistaken, Mr Darcy. If you suppose that the mode of your declaration affected me in any other way than as it spared me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you had you behaved in a more gentleman like manner. She saw him start at this. But he said nothing and she continued, You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it again. His astonishment was obvious and he looked at her with an expression of mingled incredulity and mortification. She went on from the very beginning. From the first moment, I may almost say of my acquaintance with you, your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit and your selfish disdain for the feelings of others were such as to form that groundwork of dis approbation on which succeeding events have built so immovable or dislike. And I had not known you a month before, I felt that you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry. You have said quite enough, madam, I perfectly comprehend your feelings and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness. And with these last words he hastily left the room and Elizabeth heard him the next moment, opened the front door and quit the house.