{{prxprp169.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 169 ||

with an expression of mingled incredulity and mortification.

She went on:

'From the very beginning, from the first moment, I may

almost say, of my acquaintance with you, your manners impress-

ing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit,

and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to

form that groundwork of disapprobation, on which succeeding

events have built so immoveable a dislike; and I had not known

you a month before I felt that you were the last man in the world

whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry.'

'You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend

your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my

own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your

time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness.'

And with these words he hastily left the room, and Elizabeth

heard him the next moment open the front door and quit the house.

The tumult of her mind was now painfully great. She knew

not how to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down

and cried for half an hour. Her astonishment, as she reflected

on what had passed, was increased by every review of it. That

she should receive an offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy! that he

should have been in love with her for so many months! so much

in love as to wish to marry her in spite of all the objections which

had made him prevent his friend's marrying her sister, and which

must appear at least with equal force in his own case, was almost

incredible! it was gratifying to have inspired unconsciously so

strong an affection. But his pride, his abominable pride, his

shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to Jane,

his unpardonable assurance in acknowledging, though he could

not justify it, and the unfeeling manner in which he had men-

tioned Mr. Wickham, his cruelty towards whom he had not

attempted to deny, soon overcame the pity which the consideration

of his attachment had for a moment excited.

She continued in very agitating reflections till the sound of

Lady Catherine's carriage made her feel how unequal she-

was to encounter Charlotte's observation, and hurried her away-

to her room.

 [[169]]