Help quoting a person speaking ("Pride and Prejudice")

I'm having some trouble quoting this certain excerpt properly. The part I am unsure about is the punctuation at the end. There is an exclamation mark in the quote, and then the citation comes afterward with a period behind it, which looks strange. Should I omit the exclamation mark or is it formatted correctly the way I have it? Any other help regarding grammar would also be welcome.

In "Pride and Prejudice" young women are expected to act a certain way. Even the slightest misstep is seen by some as unacceptable. An example of this is when Elizabeth walks to Netherfield. When she arrives she encounters Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, who gossip about the events later. Miss Bingley's contempt is evident when she says, "I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister has a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!" (Austen 23).

"I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister has a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!" - It is reported speech if so you should shift tense one step backward in time. It should be like ...SHE SAID "I HAD BEEN HARDLY ABLE TO KEEP MY COUNTENANCE. VERY NONSENSICAL TO CAME AT ALL! WHY HAD SE MUST BE SCAMPERING ABOUT THE COUNTRY, BECAUSE HER SISTER HAD HAS A COLD? HER HAIR SO UNTIDY, SO BLOWZY!" Check yourself reported speech rules anyway!

In Pride and Prejudice,young women are expected to act a certain way. Even the slightest misstep is seen by some as unacceptable. An example of this is when[ /font] Elizabeth's walk to Netherfield. When she arrives she encounters Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst, who gossip about the [font#FF0000]events later . Miss Bingley's contempt is evident when she says, "I could hardly keep my countenance. Very nonsensical to come at all! Why must she be scampering about the country, because her sister has a cold? Her hair so untidy, so blowsy!" (Austen 23).

- You formatted it correctly according to the MLA citation in my 4th edition of A Writer's Reference, p. 271.
- I corrected the grammar as much as possible at this point.
- In terms of fluidity and analysis, you have more work to do.

Sentence 1) Are all young women expected to act a certain way? Some? just a few? And what way?
Sentence 2) Unacceptable for what? Who sees it that?
Sentence 3) "An example of this is..." Please try avoid this word choice. It is overused and boring. Technically, "this" requires a noun after it--English teachers prefer it this way.

Sentence 4) "Who gossip about events later," is confusing. At what time is the gossip happening? What events? Be more specific.
Sentence 5) Contempt for what or for whom?

Tips:
--No English teacher will ever write, "Be more vague!" Write as much detail as possible.
--Always ask yourself why the characters are acting in a certain manner. The author usually has a reason.