She had once or twice suggested to Elizabeth the possibility of his being partial to her, but Elizabeth always laughed at the idea; and Mrs. Collins did not think it right to press the subject, from the danger of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment; for in her opinion it admitted not of a doubt, that all her friend's dislike would vanish, if she could suppose him to be in her power.
Mrs. Collins nem akarta tovább firtatni a dolgot, mert attól félt, hogy olyan reményeket ébreszthet, amelyek csalódásra vannak ítélve. Abban ugyanis egy pillanatig sem kételkedett, hogy barátnője ellenszenve nyomtalanul eltűnne, ha bizonyosra vehetné hódítását.