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if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject.

Mr. Darcy may hug himself.'

'Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!' cried Elizabeth.

'That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it

will continue, for it would be a great loss to _me_ to have many

such acquaintance. I dearly love a laugh.'

'Miss Bingley,' said he, 'has given me credit for more

than can be. The wisest and best of men, -- nay, the wisest

and best of their actions, -- may be rendered ridiculous by a

person whose first object in life is a joke.'

'Certainly,' replied Elizabeth, 'there are such people, but I

hope I am not one of _them._ I hope I never ridicule what is

wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsist-

encies, _do_ divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I

can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without.'

'Perhaps that is not possible for any one. But it has been

the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often

expose a strong understanding to ridicule.'

'Such as vanity and pride.'

'Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride -- where

there is a real superiority of mind -- pride will be always

under good regulation.'

Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.

'Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume,' said

Miss Bingley; 'and pray what is the result?'

'I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no

defect. He owns it himself without disguise.'

'No,' said Darcy, 'I have made no such pretension. I

have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understand-

ing. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too

little yielding; certainly too little for the convenience of the

world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of others so soon

as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings

are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My

temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion

once lost is lost for ever.'

_'That_ is a failing, indeed!' cried Elizabeth. 'Implacable

resentment _is_ a shade in a character. But you have chosen

your fault well. I really cannot _laugh_ at it. You are safe

from me.'

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