Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 144 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 144

JANE AUSTEN

family, to degenerate from the popular qualities, or lose

the influence of the Pemberley House, is a powerful

motive. He has also brotherly pride, which, with some

brotherly affection, makes him a very kind and careful

guardian of his sister, and you will hear him generally

cried up as the most attentive and best of brothers.”

“What sort of girl is Miss Darcy?”

He shook his head. “I wish I could call her amiable.

It gives me pain to speak ill of a Darcy. But she is

too much like her brothervery, very proud. As a

child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely

fond of me; and I have devoted hours and hours to

her amusement. But she is nothing to me now. She

is a handsome girl, about fifteen or sixteen, and, I

understand, highly accomplished. Since her father’s

death, her home has been London, where a lady lives

with her, and superintends her education.”

After many pauses and many trials of other subjects,

Elizabeth could not help reverting once more to the

first, and saying:

“I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr. Bingley!

How can Mr. Bingley, who seems good humour itself,

and is, I really believe, truly amiable, be in friendship

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