Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 346 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 346

JANE AUSTEN

forward as he had done, and the inconsistency of his

professions with his conduct. She remembered that he

had boasted of having no fear of seeing Mr. Darcy that

Mr. Darcy might leave the country, but that he should

stand his ground; yet he had avoided the Netherfield

ball the very next week. She remembered also that, till

the Netherfield family had quitted the country, he had

told his story to no one but herself; but that after their

removal it had been everywhere discussed; that he had

then no reserves, no scruples in sinking Mr. Darcy’s

character, though he had assured her that respect for

the father would always prevent his exposing the son.

How differently did everything now appear in which

he was concerned! His attentions to Miss King were

now the consequence of views solely and hatefully

mercenary; and the mediocrity of her fortune proved no

longer the moderation of his wishes, but his eagerness

to grasp at anything. His behaviour to herself could

now have had no tolerable motive; he had either been

deceived with regard to her fortune, or had been grati-

fying his vanity by encouraging the preference which

she believed she had most incautiously shown. Every

lingering struggle in his favour grew fainter and fainter;

and in farther justification of Mr. Darcy, she could not

but allow that Mr. Bingley, when questioned by Jane,

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