第185页 / 共817页

"Both," replied Elizabeth archly; "for I have always seen a great

similarity in the turn of our minds. We are each of an unsocial,

taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say

something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to

posterity with all the eclat of a proverb."

"This is no very striking resemblance of your own character, I am

sure," said he. "How near it may be to mine, I cannot pretend to

say. You think it a faithful portrait, undoubtedly."

"I must not decide on my own performance."

He made no answer; and they were again silent till they had gone

down the dance, when he asked her if she and her sisters did not

very often walk to Meryton. She answered in the affirmative; and,

unable to resist the temptation, added, "When you met us there

the other day, we had just been forming a new acquaintance."