Elizabeth: It is your turn to say something, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the
dance. Now you ought to remark on the size of the room or the number of couples.
Darcy: I'm perfectly happy to oblige. Please advise me of what you would like
most to hear?
Elizabeth: That reply will do for present. Perhaps by and by I may observe that private balls are
much pleasanter than public ones. For now, we may remain silent.
Darcy: Do you talk as a rule while dancing?
Elizabeth: No. No, I prefer to be unsociable and taciturn. Makes it all so
much more enjoyable, don't you think?
Darcy: Tell me, do you and your sisters very often walk to Meryton?
Elizabeth: Yes, we often walk to Meryton. It's a great opportunity to meet
new people. In fact when you met us, we'd just had the pleasure of forming a new
acquaintance.
Darcy: Mr. Wickham's blessed
with such happy manners, he's sure of making friends. Whether
he's capable of retaining them is less certain.
Elizabeth: He's been so unfortunate as to lose your friendship. And I dare
say that is an irreversible event?
Darcy: It is. Why do you ask such a question?
Elizabeth: To make out your
character, Mr. Darcy.
Darcy: And what have you discovered?
Elizabeth: Very little. I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me
exceedingly.
Darcy: I hope to afford you more clarity in the future.
妙詞佳句，活學活用
1. oblige
To do a service or favor for: 施恩惠于，幫助
They obliged us by arriving early. 他們的早到幫了我們一個大忙。 If you ever need help
with the babysitting, I'd be glad to oblige. 如果你需要我幫忙照顧孩子，我很愿意效勞。
2. by and by
這是一種習慣表達，意思是“不久以后；不一會兒”。在口語中和by相關的習慣用語很多，如： By and again 時常，常常 By and
large 總的來說，基本上 By the by(e) 順便提一下
3. be blessed with
If someone is blessed with a particular good quality or skill, they have that
good quality or skill. 幸運地享有（優良品質或技巧），在……方面有福氣 e.g. The two brothers both are
blessed with uncommon ability to fix things.
4. make out
If you try to make something out, you try to understand it or decide whether
or not it is true.辨認出，理解。我們來看看下面的例子： e.g. I couldn't make it out at all.
我一點也不明白。 It is hard to make out what criteria are used to judge a
person. 很難理解應該用什么標準來評判一個人。
Elizabeth: I love this dance. 
Darcy: Mr. Wickham's blessed
with such happy manners, he's sure of making friends. Whether
he's capable of retaining them is less certain.
