Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 136 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 136

JANE AUSTEN

“About a month,” said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling

to let the subject drop, added, “He is a man of very large

property in Derbyshire, I understand.”

“Yes,” replied Mr. Wickham; “his estate there is a

noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could

not have met with a person more capable of giving you

certain information on that head than myself, for I have

been connected with his family in a particular manner

from my infancy.”

Elizabeth could not but look surprised.

“You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an

assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the very

cold manner of our meeting yesterday. Are you much

acquainted with Mr. Darcy?”

“As much as I ever wish to be,” cried Elizabeth very

warmly. “I have spent four days in the same house with

him, and I think him very disagreeable.”

“I have no right to give my opinion,” said Wickham,

“as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not

qualified to form one. I have known him too long and

too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me to be

impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in

general astonishand perhaps you would not express

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