{{prxprp068.jpg}} || 68 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

'As much as I ever wish to be,' cried Elizabeth warmly. -- 'I

have spent four days in the same house with him, and I think

him very disagreeable.'

'I have no right to give my opinion,' said Wickham, 'as to his

being agreeable or otherwise. I am not qualified to form one.

I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It

is impossible for me to be impartial. But I believe your opinion

of him would in general astonish -- and perhaps you would not

express it quite so strongly any where else. Here you are in

your own family.'

'Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any

house in the neighbourhood, except Netherfield. He is not at

all liked in Hertfordshire. Every body is disgusted with his

pride. You will not find him more favourably spoken of by

any one.'

'I cannot pretend to be sorry,' said Wickham, after a short

interruption, 'that he or that any man should not be estimated

beyond their deserts; but with him I believe it does not often

happen. The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence,

or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him

only as he chuses to be seen.'

'I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an

ill-tempered man.' -- Wickham only shook his head.

'I wonder,' said he, at the next opportunity of speaking,

'whether he is likely to be in this country much longer.'

'I do not at all know; but I heard nothing of his going away

when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour of the

shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbour-

hood.'

'Oh! no -- it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If

he wishes to avoid seeing me, he must go. We are not on friendly

terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no

reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim to all the

world -- a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets

at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr.

Darcy, was one of the best men that ever breathed, and the truest

friend I ever had; and I can never be in company with this

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