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to be a sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself; and 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 any one 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 believed what I said of myself

to be true, and I believe it at this moment. At least, there-

fore, I did not assume the character of needless precipitance

merely to show off before the ladies.'

'I daresay you believed it; but I am by no means con-

vinced 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 go

-- and, 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.'

'I am exceedingly gratified,' said Bingley, 'by your con-

verting what my friend says into a compliment on the sweet-

ness of my temper. But I am afraid you are giving it a turn

which that gentleman did by no means intend; for he would

certainly think the better of me if, under such a circumstance,

I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I could.'

'Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your

original intention as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering

to it?'

'Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter --

Darcy must speak for himself.'

'You expect me to account for opinions which you choose

to call mine, but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing

the case, however, to stand according to your representation,

you must remember, Miss Bennet, that the friend who is

supposed to desire his return to the house, and the delay of

his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering one

argument in favour of its propriety.'

'To yield readily -- easily -- to the _persuasion_ of a friend is

no merit with you.'

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