Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 534 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 534

JANE AUSTEN

was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason with,

persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always

most wished to avoid, and whose very name it was

punishment to him to pronounce. He had done all this

for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem.

Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her.

But it was a hope shortly checked by other consider-

ations, and she soon felt that even her vanity was

insufficient, when required to depend on his affection

for herfor a woman who had already refused hi mas

able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence

against relationship with Wickham. Brother-in-law of

Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the

connection. He had, to be sure, done much. She was

ashamed to think how much. But he had given a reason

for his interference, which asked no extraordinary

stretch of belief. It was reasonable that he should feel

he had been wrong; he had liberality, and he had the

means of exercising it; and though she would not place

herself as his principal inducement, she could, perhaps,

believe that remaining partiality for her might assist his

endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must

be materially concerned. It was painful, exceedingly

painful, to know that they were under obligations to a

person who could never receive a return. They owed

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