Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 376 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 376

JANE AUSTEN

and vain and nonsensical as I knew I had! Oh! how I

wanted you!”

“How unfortunate that you should have used such

very strong expressions in speaking of Wickham to

Mr. Darcy, for now they do appear wholly undeserved.”

“Certainly. But the misfortune of speaking with

bitterness is a most natural consequence of the preju-

dices I had been encouraging. There is one point on

which I want your advice. I want to be told whether

I ought, or ought not, to make our acquaintances in

general understand Wickham’s character.”

Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied, “Surely

there can be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully.

What is your opinion?”

“That it ought not to be attempted. Mr. Darcy has

not authorised me to make his communication public.

On the contrary, every particular relative to his sister

was meant to be kept as much as possible to myself; and

if I endeavour to undeceive people as to the rest of his

conduct, who will believe me? The general prejudice

against Mr. Darcy is so violent, that it would be the

death of half the good people in Meryton to attempt

to place him in an amiable light. I am not equal to it.

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