Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 247 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 247

Pride and Prejudice

good conduct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your

father.”

“My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed.”

“Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious

likewise.”

“Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will

take care of myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall

not be in love with me, if I can prevent it.”

“Elizabeth, you are not serious now.”

“I beg your pardon, I will try again. At present I am

not in love with Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not.

But he is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable

man I ever sawand if he becomes really attached to

meI believe it will be better that he should not. I see

the imprudence of it. Oh! that abominable Mr. Darcy!

My father’s opinion of me does me the greatest honour,

and I should be miserable to forfeit it. My father,

however, is partial to Mr. Wickham. In short, my dear

aunt, I should be very sorry to be the means of making

any of you unhappy; but since we see every day that

where there is affection, young people are seldom

withheld by immediate want of fortune from entering

into engagements with each other, how can I promise

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