Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 294 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 294

JANE AUSTEN

“I shall not say you are mistaken,” he replied,

“because you could not really believe me to entertain

any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure

of your acquaintance long enough to know that

you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing

opinions which in fact are not your own.”

Elizabeth laughed heartily at this picture of herself,

and said to Colonel Fitzwilliam, “Your cousin will give

you a very pretty notion of me, and teach you not to

believe a word I say. I am particularly unlucky in meet-

ing with a person so able to expose my real character,

in a part of the world where I had hoped to pass myself

off with some degree of credit. Indeed, Mr. Darcy, it is

very ungenerous in you to mention all that you knew to

my disadvantage in Hertfordshire and, give me leave

to say, very impolitic toofor it is provoking me to

retaliate, and such things may come out as will shock

your relations to hear.”

“I am not afraid of you,” said he, smilingly.

“Pray let me hear what you have to accuse him of,”

cried Colonel Fitzwilliam. “I should like to know how

he behaves among strangers.”

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