Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 334 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 334

JANE AUSTEN

moment. I cannot blame myself for having done thus

much. There is but one part of my conduct in the whole

affair on which I do not reflect with satisfaction; it is

that I condescended to adopt the measures of art so far

as to conceal from him your sister’s being in town. I

knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her

brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have

met without ill consequence is perhaps probable; but

his regard did not appear to me enough extinguished

for him to see her without some danger. Perhaps this

concealment, this disguise was beneath me; it is done,

however, and it was done for the best. On this subject I

have nothing more to say, no other apology to offer. If

I have wounded your sister’s feelings, it was unknow-

ingly done and though the motives which governed me

may to you very naturally appear insufficient, I have

not yet learnt to condemn them.

“With respect to that other, more weighty accusa-

tion, of having injured Mr. Wickham, I can only refute

it by laying before you the whole of his connection with

my family. Of what he has particularly accused me I am

ignorant; but of the truth of what I shall relate, I can

summon more than one witness of undoubted veracity.

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