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I was taught what was _right,_ but I was not taught to cor-

rect my temper. I was given good principles, but left to

follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an only

son (for many years an only _child),_ I was spoiled by my

parents, who, though good themselves (my father particu-

larly, all that was benevolent and amiable), allowed, en-

couraged, almost taught me to be selfish and overbear-

ing, to care for none beyond my own family circle, to think

meanly of all the rest of the world, to _wish_ at least to think

meanly of their sense and worth compared with my own.

Such I was, from eight to eight-and-twenty; and such I

might still have been but for you, dearest, loveliest Eliza-

beth! What do I owe you! You taught me a lesson

hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you

I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt

of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were

all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being

pleased.'

'Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?'

'Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I

believed you to be wishing, expecting my addresses.'

'My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally,

I assure you. I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits

might often lead me wrong. How you must have hated me

after _that_ evening!'

'Hate you! I was angry, perhaps, at first, but my anger

soon began to take a proper direction.'

'I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of

me when we met at Pemberley. You blamed me for

coming?'

'No, indeed, I felt nothing but surprise.'

'Your surprise could not be greater than _mine_ in being

noticed by you. My conscience told me that I deserved no

extraordinary politeness, and I confess that I did not expect

to receive _more_ than my due.'

'My object _then,'_ replied Darcy, 'was to show you, by

every civility in my power, that I was not so mean as to

resent the past; and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to

lessen your ill-opinion, by letting you see that your reproofs

had been attended to. How soon any other wishes intro-

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