and pray, when am I to wish you joy?

[mhmircea]

Even If I think that I understand every word, I am not sure about the meaning of:
"and pray, when am I to wish you joy?"

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from: Pride and Prejudice
"Miss Elizabeth Bennet!" repeated Miss Bingley. "I am all astonishment. How long has she been such a favourite?--and pray, when am I to wish you joy?"
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Thanks,
Mircea

[Anglika]

Miss Bingley (who is rather jealous of Elizabeth Bennet) is sarcastically suggesting that Elizabeth and Darcy [who have only just met] are engaged or about to be engaged, and is asking when it will become public knowledge so she can congratulate them.

[BobK]

The word 'pray' may be causing trouble. It's just a polite filler, meaning something like 'if you would be so good as to tell me'; it's short for 'I pray you' - which in earlier texts was 'I pray thee' (often shortened to 'prithee').

b

[mhmircea]

Thanks to all,
Mircea