Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 347 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 347

Pride and Prejudice

had long ago asserted his blamelessness in the affair;

that proud and repulsive as were his manners, she had

never, in the whole course of their acquaintancean

acquaintance which had latterly brought them much

together, and given her a sort of intimacy with his

waysseen anything that betrayed him to be unprin -

cipled or unjustanything that spoke him of irreligious

or immoral habits; that among his own connections

he was esteemed and valuedthat even Wickham had

allowed him merit as a brother, and that she had often

heard him speak so affectionately of his sister as to

prove him capable of some amiable feeling; that had his

actions been what Mr. Wickham represented them, so

gross a violation of everything right could hardly have

been concealed from the world; and that friendship

between a person capable of it, and such an amiable

man as Mr. Bingley, was incomprehensible.

She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. Of neither

Darcy nor Wickham could she think without feeling

she had been blind, partial, prejudiced, absurd.

“How despicably I have acted!” she cried; “I,

who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who

have valued myself on my abilities! who have often

disdained the generous candour of my sister, and

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