Pride and Prejudice. Адаптированная книга для чтения на английском языке. Intermediate

Darcy about his sister and said that she was a most delightful girl, extremely accomplished for her age. She especially praised her performance on the pianoforte.

Mr. Bingley, with his usual good humor, said that all young ladies were quite accomplished.

В«All young ladies accomplished! My dear Charles, what do you mean?В» Miss Bingley exclaimed.

В«Yes, all of them, I think. They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. And whenever a young lady is spoken of for the first time, they always inform you that she is very accomplishedВ».

В«Yes, many women are called accomplished for no more than netting a purse or covering a screenВ», said Darcy, В«but I am very far from agreeing with you in your estimation of ladies in general. I cannot say that I know more than half a dozen ladies, who are really accomplishedВ».

В«ThenВ», remarked Elizabeth, В«there is a great deal more in your idea of an accomplished womanВ».

В«Yes, there is a great deal in itВ».

В«Oh! certainlyВ», cried Miss Bingley, В«an accomplished woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her appearance and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her speech and expressions, or the word will be just half-deservedВ».

В«And to all thisВ», added Darcy, В«she must also add something more important, she must improve her mind by extensive readingВ».

В«I must say I've never seen such a woman.

Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both started protesting that they knew many women who answered this description, when Mr. Hurst reminded them that they were supposed to play cards. All conversation came to an end, and Elizabeth soon afterwards left the room.

В«Elizabeth BennetВ», said Miss Bingley, when the door was closed on her, В«is one of those young ladies who like to recommend themselves to the other sex by undervaluing their own; and with many men, I must say, it succeeds.

В«UndoubtedlyВ», replied Darcy, to whom this remark was chiefly addressed, В«there is meanness in all the stratagems which ladies sometimes employ in order to captivate. Whatever resembles cunning is disreputableВ».

This reply didn't encourage Miss Bingley to continue the subject.