{{prxprp050.jpg}} || 50 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'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 understanding. 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 resent'

ment is a shade in a character. But you have chosen your fault

well. I really cannot laugh at it. You are safe from me.'

'There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some

particular evil, a natural defect, which not even the best education

can overcome.'

'And your defect is a propensity to hate every body.'

'And yours,' he replied, with a smile, 'is wilfully to rruV

understand them.'

'Do let us have a little music,' cried Miss Bingley, tired of a

conversation in which she had no share. 'Louisa, you will not

mind my waking Mr. Hurst?'

Her sister made not the smallest objection, and the pianoforte

was opened; and Darcy, after a few moments' recollection, was

not sorry for it. He began to feel die danger of paying Elizabeth

too much attention.

 [[050]]