{{prxprp070.jpg}} || 70 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to

assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, impru'

dence, in short anything or nothing. Certain it is, that the

living became vacant two years ago, exactly as I was of an age

to hold it, and that it was given to another man; and no less

certain is it, that I cannot accuse myself of having really done

any thing to deserve to lose it. I have a warm, unguarded temper,

and I may perhaps have sometimes spoken of my opinion of him,

and to him, too freely. I can recall nothing worse. But the

fact is, that we are very different sort of men, and that he

hates me.'

'This is quite shocking! -- He deserves to be publicly dis^

graced.'

'Some time or other he will be -- but it shall not be by me. Till

I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose him.'

Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings, and thought him

handsomer than ever as he expressed them.

'But what,' said she, after a pause, 'can have been his motive; --

what can have induced him to behave so cruelly?'

'A thorough, determined dislike of me -- a dislike which I

cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late

Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me

better; but his father's uncommon attachment to me, irritated him

I believe very early in life. He had not a temper to bear the sort

of competition in which we stood -- the sort of preference which

was often given me.'

T had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this -- though I have

never liked him, I had not thought so very ill of him -- I had

supposed him to be despising his fellowcreatures in general, but

did not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge,

such injustice, such inhumanity as this!'

After a few minutes' reflection, however, she continued, T do

remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability

of his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper. His

disposition must be dreadful.'

T will not trust myself on the subject,' replied Wickham,

'i can hardly be just to him.'

 [[070]]