“Jus’ wanted to feel that girl’s dress—jus’ wanted to pet it like it was amouse—Well, how the hell did she know you jus’ wanted to feel her dress? Shejerks back and you hold on like it was a mouse. She yells and we got to hide in airrigation ditch all day with guys lookin’ for us, and we got to sneak out in thedark and get outa the country. All the time somethin’ like that—all the time. Iwisht I could put you in a cage with about a million mice an’ let you have fun.”His anger left him suddenly. He looked across the fire at Lennie’s anguishedface, and then he looked ashamedly at the flames.

God a’mighty, if I was alone I could live so easy. I could go geta job an’ work, an’ no trouble. No mess at all, and when the end of the monthcome I could take my fifty bucks and go into town and get whatever I want.Why, I could stay in a cat house all night. I could eat any place I want, hotel orany place, and order any damn thing I could think of. An’ I could do all thatevery damn month. Get a gallon of whisky, or set in a pool room and play cardsor shoot pool.” Lennie knelt and looked over the fire at the angry George. AndLennie’s face was drawn with terror. “An’ whatta I got,” George went onfuriously. “I got you! You can’t keep a job and you lose me ever’ job I get. Jus’keep me shovin’ all over the country all the time. An’ that ain’t the worst. Youget in trouble. You do bad things and I got to get you out.”

“Aw, Lennie!” George put his hand on Lennie’s shoulder. “Iain’t takin’ it away jus’ for meanness. That mouse ain’t fresh, Lennie; andbesides, you’ve broke it pettin’ it. You get another mouse that’s fresh and I’ll letyou keep it a little while.”

Slowly, like a terrier whodoesn’t want to bring a ball to its master, Lennie approached, drew back,approached again. George snapped his fingers sharply, and at the sound Lennielaid the mouse in his hand.

There were sounds of splashings downthe river in the direction Lennie had taken. George stopped whistling andlistened. “Poor bastard,” he said softly, and then went on whistling again.In a moment Lennie came crashing back through the brush. He carried onesmall willow stick in his hand. George sat up. “Awright,” he said brusquely.“Gi’me that mouse!”

“An’ you ain’t gonna do no bad things like you done inWeed, neither.”

Lennie, who had been watching, imitatedGeorge exactly. He pushed himself back, drew up his knees, embraced them,looked over to George to see whether he had it just right. He pulled his hatdown a little more over his eyes, the way George’s hat was.

It does not appear to me that my hand is unworthy of your acceptance, or that the establishment I can offer would be any other than highly desirable.

To Elizabeth it appeared that, had her family made an agreement to expose themselves as much as they could during the evening, it would have been impossible for them to play their parts with more spirit or finer success; and happy did she think it for Bingley and her sister that some of the exhibition had escaped his notice, and that his feelings were not of a sort to be much distressed by the folly which he must have witnessed. That his two sisters and Mr. Darcy, however, should have such an opportunity of ridiculing her relations, was bad enough, and she could not determine whether the silent contempt of the gentleman, or the insolent smiles of the ladies, were more intolerable.

Mary's powers were by no means fitted for such a display; her voice was weak, and her manner affected.

In vain did Elizabeth endeavour to check the rapidity of her mother's words

Elizabeth tried hard to dissuade him from such a scheme, assuring him that Mr. Darcy would consider his addressing him without introduction as an impertinent freedom, rather than a compliment to his aunt; that it was not in the least necessary there should be any notice on either side; and that if it were, it must belong to Mr. Darcy, the superior in consequence, to begin the acquaintance. Mr. Collins listened to her with the determined air of following his own inclination, and, when she ceased speaking, replied thus:

I hear you are quite delighted with George Wickham! Your sister has been talking to me about him, and asking me a thousand questions; and I find that the young man quite forgot to tell you, among his other communication, that he was the son of old Wickham, the late Mr. Darcy's steward. Let me recommend you, however, as a friend, not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions; for as to Mr. Darcy's using him ill, it is perfectly false; for, on the contrary, he has always been remarkably kind to him, though George Wickham has treated Mr. Darcy in a most infamous manner. I do not know the particulars, but I know very well that Mr. Darcy is not in the least to blame, that he cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned, and that though my brother thought that he could not well avoid including him in his invitation to the officers, he was excessively glad to find that he had taken himself out of the way. His coming into the country at all is a most insolent thing, indeed, and I wonder how he could presume to do it.

Sir William's allusion to his friend seemed to strike him forcibly, and his eyes were directed with a very serious expression towards Bingley and Jane, who were dancing together.

when a certain desirable event, my dear Eliza (glancing at her sister and Bingley) shall take place.

To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate!

Mr. Darcy who took her so much by surprise in his application for her hand, that, without knowing what she did, she accepted him.

prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than might be won in the course of the evening.

she and her cousin will unite the two estates

the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh

received ordination

my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, when I am dead, may turn you all out of this house as soon as he pleases.

I do not believe she often sees such at home.

To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence—Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than he liked—and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her, and more teasing than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her through the whole of Saturday, and though they were at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her.

Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other.

"You either choose this method of passing the evening because you are in each other's confidence, and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking; if the first, I would be completely in your way, and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire."

Do let the portraits of your uncle and aunt Phillips be placed in the gallery at Pemberley. Put them next to your great-uncle the judge. They are in the same profession, you know, only in different lines.

Miss Bingley saw, or suspected enough to be jealous; and her great anxiety for the recovery of her dear friend Jane received some assistance from her desire of getting rid of Elizabeth.

I do not want to dance a reel at all

could not be prevailed on to join in their censure of her

leaving her own and her relations' behaviour to the remarks of the two ladies and Mr. Darcy

lest her mother should be exposing herself again.

I do not like to boast of my own child

the Lucases are a very good sort of girls, I assure you. It is a pity they are not handsome!

those persons who fancy themselves very important, and never open their mouths, quite mistake the matter.

He only meant that there was not such a variety of people to be met with in the country as in the town, which you must acknowledge to be true.

"The country," said Darcy, "can in general supply but a few subjects for such a study. In a country neighbourhood you move in a very confined and unvarying society."

I often tell my other girls they are nothing to her.

cold civility

being satisfied on seeing her that her illness was not alarming, she had no wish of her recovering immediately, as her restoration to health would probably remove her from Netherfield.

A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half-deserved."

That she should have walked three miles so early in the day, in such dirty weather, and by herself, was almost incredible to Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley

Elizabeth continued her walk alone, crossing field after field at a quick pace, jumping over stiles and springing over puddles with impatient activity, and finding herself at last within view of the house, with weary ankles, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise.

"If we make haste," said Lydia, as they walked along, "perhaps we may see something of Captain Carter before he goes."

Mr. Darcy, with grave propriety, requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain.

But no sooner had he made it clear to himself and his friends that she hardly had a good feature in her face, than he began to find it was rendered uncommonly intelligent by the beautiful expression of her dark eyes. To this discovery succeeded some others equally mortifying. Though he had detected with a critical eye more than one failure of perfect symmetry in her form, he was forced to acknowledge her figure to be light and pleasing; and in spite of his asserting that her manners were not those of the fashionable world, he was caught by their easy playfulness.

"Your plan is a good one," replied Elizabeth, "where nothing is in question but the desire of being well married, and if I were determined to get a rich husband, or any husband, I dare say I should adopt it.

If a woman conceals her affection with the same skill from the object of it, she may lose the opportunity of fixing him

who piqued herself upon the solidity of her reflections

I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine."

"His pride," said Miss Lucas, "does not offend me so much as pride often does, because there is an excuse for it. One cannot wonder that so very fine a young man, with family, fortune, everything in his favour, should think highly of himself. If I may so express it, he has a right to be proud."

civil self-command

about twenty-seven

where he could think with pleasure of his own importance

Sir William Lucas

Sir William Lucas

Miss Bennet he acknowledged to be pretty, but she smiled too much.

Between him and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of great opposition of character. Bingley was endeared to Darcy by the easiness, openness, and ductility of his temper, though no disposition could offer a greater contrast to his own, and though with his own he never appeared dissatisfied. On the strength of Darcy's regard, Bingley had the firmest reliance, and of his judgement the highest opinion. In understanding, Darcy was the superior. Bingley was by no means deficient, but Darcy was clever. He was at the same time haughty, reserved, and fastidious, and his manners, though well-bred, were not inviting. In that respect his friend had greatly the advantage. Bingley was sure of being liked wherever he appeared, Darcy was continually giving offense.

They were in fact very fine ladies; not deficient in good humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of making themselves agreeable when they chose it, but proud and conceited.

I would not wish to be hasty in censuring anyone

You never see a fault in anybody. All the world are good and agreeable in your eyes. I never heard you speak ill of a human being in your life.

But that is one great difference between us. Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never.

"But I can assure you," she added, "that Lizzy does not lose much by not suiting his fancy; for he is a most disagreeable, horrid man, not at all worth pleasing. So high and so conceited that there was no enduring him! He walked here, and he walked there, fancying himself so very great! Not handsome enough to dance with! I wish you had been there, my dear, to have given him one of your set-downs. I quite detest the man."

he did not admire her at all; indeed, nobody can, you know

Miss Lucas

Longbourn, the village where they lived, and of which they were the principal inhabitants.

She told the story, however, with great spirit among her friends; for she had a lively, playful disposition, which delighted in anything ridiculous.

"She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men. You had better return to your partner and enjoy her smiles, for you are wasting your time with me."

the eldest Miss Bennet.

Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party.

he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.

Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.

His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion.

Mr. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners.

he wore a blue coat, and rode a black horse

"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield," said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for."

To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love

Lady Lucas

Not all that Mrs. Bennet, however, with the assistance of her five daughters, could ask on the subject, was sufficient to draw from her husband any satisfactory description of Mr. Bingley. They attacked him in various ways—with barefaced questions, ingenious suppositions, and distant surmises; but he eluded the skill of them all

Netherfield Park

Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection, I know, and read great books and make extracts."

Kitty

Bingley

a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.

Lydia

Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice,

Jane

Lizzy

Michaelmas

chaise and four

He little knew,” Captain Fellows said, “he little knew.”

The priest fell uneasily asleep

You do it with cards. Have you any cards?

Renounce your faith

difference between drinking a little brandy after dinner and—well, needing it.

the future, full of compromises, anxieties, and shame, lay outside: the gate was closed which would one day let it in. But at any moment now a word, a gesture, the most trivial act might be her sesame

They carry their right on their hips

his attitude seemed to indicate that he wouldn’t even accept the benefit of shade from a foreigner

strange place

there was so much treason everywhere

He felt through the net for his wife’s hand—secretively: they were adults together. This was the stranger in their house. He said boisterously: “You’re frightening us.”

She stood in the doorway watching them with a look of immense responsibility. Before her serious gaze they became a boy you couldn’t trust and a ghost you could almost puff away: a piece of frightened air.

Terror was always just behind her shoulder

policeman

Coral

scared thin face

in war-time France, in the ravaged landscape of trenches

Governor

playing billiards

His gaiters were polished, and his pistol-holster: his buttons were all sewn on.

young men in red shirts

Ora pro nobis

Are you a Catholic?

bits of an amorous scene stuck out

garrulous

There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.

heard a revolver-holster creak

Far back inside the darkness

attaché case

He stood stiffly in the shade, a small man dressed in a shabby dark city suit, carrying a small attaché case.

six leagues away

Red Shirts

It’s good to talk English, even to a foreigner.

Tudor rose

laughing Cavalier

General Obregon

hollow man

The Power and the Glory

like a color slide

I

them

natural son

clerophobe

anticlericalism

Mexico is a land of intense faith.

our conference about fair ladies

Faustus' custom is not to deny The just requests of those that wish him well

To glut the longing of my heart's desire

HELEN

More lovely than the monarch of the sky

Here will I dwell, for heaven is164 in these lips

Come, Helen, come, give me my soul again.

the face that launch'd a thousand ships

heavenly Helen

blest

heavenly

Helen of Greece

let us see that peerless dame of Greece

All is not lost

sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace And rest can never dwell, hope never comes That comes to all, but torture without end Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. Such place Eternal Justice has prepared For those rebellious; here their prison ordained In utter darkness, and their portion set, As far removed from God and light of Heaven As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole.

he, with his horrid crew, Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal

Omnipotent

I

Oreb

his pride Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring To set himself in glory above his peers, He trusted to have equalled the Most High, If he opposed, and with ambitious aim Against the throne and monarchy of God, Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, With vain attempt.

deceived The mother of mankind

with mighty wings outspread, Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast Abyss, And mad'st it pregnant:

shepherd

Sinai

fruit

Paradise Lost

Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste Brought death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed In the beginning how the heavens and earth Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed Fast by the oracle of God, I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar Above th' Aonian mount, while it pursues Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.