Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 574 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 574

JANE AUSTEN

“It must have been his sisters’ doing. They were

certainly no friends to his acquaintance with me,

which I cannot wonder at, since he might have chosen

so much more advantageously in many respects. But

when they see, as I trust they will, that their brother is

happy with me, they will learn to be contented, and we

shall be on good terms again; though we can never be

what we once were to each other.”

“That is the most unforgiving speech,” said

Elizabeth, “that I ever heard you utter. Good girl! It

would vex me, indeed, to see you again the dupe of Miss

Bingley’s pretended regard.”

“Would you believe it, Lizzy, that when he went to

town last November, he really loved me, and nothing

but a persuasion of my being indifferent would have

prevented his coming down again!”

“He made a little mistake to be sure; but it is to the

credit of his modesty.”

This naturally introduced a panegyric from Jane on

his diffidence, and the little value he put on his own

good qualities. Elizabeth was pleased to find that he had

not betrayed the interference of his friend; for, though

Jane had the most generous and forgiving heart in the

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