Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 201 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 201

Pride and Prejudice

his plan did not appear in the least affected by it. He

was always to have gone on Saturday, and to Saturday

he meant to stay.

After breakfast, the girls walked to Meryton to

inquire if Mr. Wickham were returned, and to lament

over his absence from the Netherfield ball. He joined

them on their entering the town, and attended them

to their aunt’s where his regret and vexation, and

the concern of everybody, was well talked over. To

Elizabeth, however, he voluntarily acknowledged that

the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed. “I

found,” said he, “as the time drew near that I had better

not meet Mr. Darcy; that to be in the same room, the

same party with him for so many hours together, might

be more than I could bear, and that scenes might arise

unpleasant to more than myself.”

She highly approved his forbearance, and they had

leisure for a full discussion of it, and for all the

commendation which they civilly bestowed on each

other, as Wickham and another officer walked back

with them to Longbourn, and during the walk he

particularly attended to her. His accompanying them

was a double advantage; she felt all the compliment

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