Nodiver d.o.o. · Pride & Prejudice · page 87 of 640

Pride & Prejudice – page 87

Pride and Prejudice

of panegyric, of compliment to yourselfand yet what

is there so very laudable in a precipitance which must

leave very necessary business undone, and can be of no

real advantage to yourself or anyone else?”

“Nay,” cried Bingley, “this is too much, to remember

at night all the foolish things that were said in the

morning. And yet, upon my honour, I believe what I

said of myself to be true, and I believe it at this moment.

At least, therefore, I did not assume the character of

needless precipitance merely to show off before the

ladies.”

“I dare say you believed it; but I am by no means

convinced that you would be gone with such celerity.

Your conduct would be quite as dependent on chance as

that of any man I know; and if, as you were mounting

your horse, a friend were to say, ‘Bingley, you had

better stay till next week,’ you would probably do it, you

would probably not goand at another word, might

stay a month.”

“You have only proved by this,” cried Elizabeth, “that

Mr. Bingley did not do justice to his own disposition.

You have shown him off now much more than he did

himself.”