Pride and Prejudice, a play founded on Jane Austen's novel

[Complacently.] Pemberley is one of the finest places in England. My daughter Anne is very fond of it, which is fortunate, since she will probably spend the most of her life there.

Charlotte

Most fortunate, your Ladyship.

Lady Catherine

[To Elizabeth.] You see my nephews here often, Miss Bennet?

Elizabeth

[Mischievously.] Yes, very often, Lady Catherine.

Lady Catherine

Humph! Well, idle young gentlemen often make very foolish use of their time. My daughter, Miss de Bourg, is unfortunately not able to accompany Mr. Darcy in his walks as often as both of them could desire.

Mr. Collins

[Entering.] I think your Ladyship's mind may be quite at rest about the horses. Jones seems to have them well in hand.

Lady Catherine

Oh, I am glad you have come back, Mr. Collins. I am going to ask you and Mrs. Collins to go and see the new cottages with me. I shall take you in the carriage. [To Charlotte.] You had better put on a plain bonnet, Mrs. Collins.

Charlotte

By all means, your Ladyship. [She goes out.]

Lady Catherine

Are you quite ready to go, Mr. Collins?

Mr. Collins

Oh – assuredly, your Ladyship – quite!

Lady Catherine

[To Elizabeth.] Miss Bennet, I should advise you to write to your family while we are gone. [Charlotte returns in her bonnet and mantle. Lady Catherine looks her over.] Yes, that will do very well!

Charlotte

[To Elizabeth.] We shall not be gone very long, Eliza.

Lady Catherine

I am not sure of that, Mrs. Collins, but I have provided an occupation for Miss Bennet during our absence. Good morning, Miss Bennet. I may ask you later for dinner.

Elizabeth

[Curtsying.] Good morning, Madam. [All go out, Mr. Collins showing servile attentions to Lady Catherine. Elizabeth watches them from the door.] Really! I might have spared myself some of the mortifications I have felt for the shortcomings of my own family. The contrast is not such a violent one after all. [Looking at the writing desk.] However, Lady Catherine can give good advice. I really ought to write to my poor, dear Jane.

[She seats herself at the writing table – gets out her paper, etc. and begins her letter when the door-bell sounds. Elizabeth starts and is putting away the writing materials, when the maid ushers in Mr. Darcy, who seems much excited.]

Darcy

I am here again, Miss Bennet. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Collins drive away with my aunt. I have something which I must say to you. [He walks excitedly up and down for a moment, while Elizabeth watches him in amazed silence. Then he suddenly goes up to her and begins to speak in an agitated manner.] Miss Bennet – in vain have I struggled! It will not do! My feelings will not be repressed! You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you!

Elizabeth

[Is perfectly astounded. She stares, colours, doubts, and is silent.]

Darcy

[Taking her silence for encouragement.] Miss Bennet, I can well understand your own astonishment at this declaration, for I am amazed at myself! My feeling for you has taken possession of me against my will, my reason, and almost against my character!

Elizabeth

[Starting in indignation.] Sir!

Darcy

Oh, understand me, I beg of you! For yourself alone my admiration is only too natural. I share it with everyone who has the happiness of knowing you. But – pardon me – for it pains me to offend you – the defects of your nearest relations, the total lack of propriety so frequently betrayed by your family, has so opposed my judgment to my inclination, that it has required the utmost force of passion on my part to put them aside. But, my dear Miss Bennet, your triumph is complete. Your own loveliness stands out the fairer in its contrast to your surroundings, and I now hope that the strength of my love may have its reward in your acceptance of my hand.

Elizabeth

[Who has gone through all sorts of emotions during this speech, speaks, in a constrained manner as if trying to control herself.] Mr. Darcy – 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. 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.

Darcy

[Leaning against the mantel-piece, hears her words with no less resentment than surprise. After a little he speaks in a voice of forced calmness.] And that is all the reply which 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.

Elizabeth

I might as well inquire why, with so evident a design of insulting me, you chose to tell me that you liked me against your will, your reason, and even against your character! Was not this some excuse for incivility, if I was uncivil?

Darcy

I very clearly explained that the objections which appealed to my reason applied entirely to your family, and in no respect to yourself.

Elizabeth

I am a part of my family, Mr. Darcy; and allow me to say that, since I have had the opportunity of comparing my relations with your own, the contrast is not so marked as I had been led to suppose. [Darcy starts.] But – aside from all questions of either feeling or family – do you think 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, and involving her in misery of the acutest kind? [Darcy looks at her with a smile of incredulity..] Can you deny that you have done this?

Darcy

I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister. I did not, indeed, anticipate that I should involve either of them in "misery" of any kind. On your sister's side, at least, I was never able to discover any symptoms of peculiar regard for Mr. Bingley. While, for every reason, I must rejoice in my success with my friend; toward him I have been kinder than toward myself.