{{prxprp163.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 163 ||

'That is not an unnatural surmise,' said Fitzwilliam, 'but

it is lessening the honour of my cousin's triumph very

sadly.'

This was spoken jestingly; but it appeared to her so just a picture

of Mr. Darcy, that she would not trust herself with an answer;

and, therefore, abruptly changing the conversation, talked on

indifferent matters till they reached the Parsonage. There, shut

into her own room, as soon as their visitor left them, she could

think without interruption of all that she had heard. It was not

to be supposed that any other people could be meant than those

with whom she was connected. There could not exist in the

world two men over whom Mr. Darcy could have such boundless

influence. That he had been concerned in the measures taken

to separate Mr. Bingley and Jane she had never doubted; but she

had always attributed to Miss Bingley the principal design and

arrangement of them. If his own vanity, however, did not

mislead him, be was the cause, his pride and caprice were the

cause, of all that Jane had suffered, and still continued to suffer.

He had ruined for a while every hope of happiness for the most

affectionate, generous heart in the world; and no one could say

how lasting an evil he might have inflicted.

'There were some very strong objections against the lady,' were

Colonel Fitzwilliam's words; and these strong objections probably

were, her having one uncle who was a country attorney, and

another who was in business in London.

'To Jane herself,' she exclaimed, 'there could be no possibility

of objection. All loveliness and goodness as she is! her understand^

ing excellent, her mind improved, and her manners captivating.

Neither could anything be urged against my father, who, though

with some peculiarities, has abilities which Mr. Darcy himself

need not disdain, and respectability which he will probably

never reach.' When she thought of her mother, indeed, her

confidence gave way a little; but she would not allow that any

objections there had material weight with Mr. Darcy, whose

pride, she was convinced, would receive a deeper wound from

the want of importance in his friend's connections, than from their

want of sense; and she was quite decided at last, that he had been

 [[163]]