{{prxprp180.jpg}} || 180 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

conduct. She remembered that he had boasted of having no

fear of seeing Mr. Darcy -- that Mr. Darcy might leave the country,

but that be should stand his ground; yet he had avoided the

Netherfield ball the very next week. She remembered also, that

till the Netherfield family had quitted the country, he had told

his story to no one but herself; but that after their removal, it had

been everywhere discussed; that he had then no reserves, no

scruples in sinking Mr. Darcy's character, though he had assured

her that respect for the father would always prevent his exposing

the son.

How differently did everything now appear in which he was

concerned! His attentions to Miss King were now the conse^

qucnce of views solely and hatefully mercenary; and the mediocrity

of her fortune proved no longer the moderation of his wishes, but

his eagerness to grasp at anything. His behaviour to herself

could now have had no tolerable motive; he had either been

deceived with regard to her fortune, or had been gratifying his

vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had

most incautiously shewn. Every lingering struggle in his favour

grew fainter and fainter; and in further justification of Mr. Darcy,

she could not but allow that Mr. Bingley, when questioned by

Jane, had long ago asserted his blamelessness in the affair; that

proud and repulsive as were his manners, she had never, in the

whole course of their acquaintance -- an acquaintance which had

latterly brought them much together, and given her a sort of

intimacy with his ways -- seen any thing that betrayed him to be

unprincipled or unjust -- any thing that spoke him of irreligious

or immoral habits. That among his own connections he was

esteemed and valued -- that even Wickham had allowed him

merit as a brother, and that she had often heard him speak so

affectionately of his sister as to prove him capable of some amiable

feeling. That had his actions been what Wickham represented

them, so gross a violation of every thing right could hardly have

been concealed from the world; and that friendship between a

person capable of it, and such an amiable man as Mr. Bingley

was incomprehensible.

She grew absolutely ashamed of herself. -- Of neither Darcy

 [[180]]