Pride and Prejudice
1940
Caroline Bingley: "... and her sisters Jane and Elizabeth were seen running down Market Street in an attempt to escape their disgrace." Isn't that exquisitely funny Mr Darcy? Mr Darcy: Exquisitely. Just think how you would roar with laughter if it happened to yourself.
Mr Darcy: You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.
Mr Bennett: An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr Collins. And I will never see you again if you do.
Mr Bennet: Well, we're hoping Elizabeth can manage to catch a cold of her own and stay long enough to get engaged to Mr Darcy. Then, if a good snowstorm could be arranged, we'd send Kitty over. But if a young man should happen to be in the house - a young man who likes singing, of course, who can discuss philosophy - Mary could go. Then, if a dashing young soldier in a handsome uniform should appear for Lydia, everything would be perfect, my dear.
Lydia Bennet: Has anybody heard how Jane is this morning? Mrs Bennet: Eh, Mr Bingley sent a note over by his groom. She's much better. Such a happy idea of mine sending her off in the rain. Mr Bennet: Yes, but to Jane must go all the credit for having caught the cold, my dear.
Mrs Bennet: Look at them! Five of them without dowries. What's to become of them? Mr Bennet: Yes, what's to become of the wretched creatures. Perhaps we should have drowned some of them at birth.
Mr Darcy: I have made the mistake of being honest with you. Elizabeth Bennet: Honesty is a greatly overrated virtue. Silence in this case would have been more agreeable.
Caroline Bingley: (observing the Bennet family at the party at Netherfield) Entertaining the rustics is not as difficult as I feared. Any simple, childish game seems to amuse them excessively.
Mr Darcy: Yes, she looks tolerable enough, but I am in no humor tonight to give consequence to the middle classes at play.
Elizabeth Bennet: Oh Mr Darcy, Ms Bingley here is eager for her lesson. I hope you will enjoy it Ms Bingley, and that you will learn to direct your darts with greater accuracy.
Elizabeth Bennett: Oh, if you want to be really refined, you have to be dead. There's no one as dignified as a mummy
Elizabeth Bennett: How clever of you, Miss Bingley, to know something of which you are ignorant.