{{prxprp320.jpg}} || 320 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

but left to follow them in pride and conceit. Unfortunately an

only son, (for many years an only child,) I was spoiled by my

parents, who, though good themselves, (my father particularly,

all that was benevolent and amiable,) allowed, encouraged,

almost taught me to be selfish and overbearing, to care for none

beyond my own family circle, to think meanly of all the rest of

the world, to wish at least to think meanly of their sense and worth

compared with my own. Such I was, from eight to eight and

twenty; and such I might still have been but for you, dearest,

loveliest Elizabeth! What do I not owe you? You taught me

a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you,

I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my

reception. You shewed me how insufficient were all my pre

tensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased.'

'Had you then persuaded yourself that I should?'

'Indeed I had. What will you think of my vanity? I believed

you to be wishing, expecting my addresses.'

'My manners must have been in fault, but not intentionally,

I assure you. I never meant to deceive you, but my spirits might

often lead me wrong. How you must have hated me after

that evening!'

'Hate you! I was angry, perhaps, at first, but my anger soon

began to take a proper direction.'

'I am almost afraid of asking what you thought of me when

we met at Pemberley. You blamed me for coming?'

'No, indeed, I felt nothing but surprize.'

'Your surprize could not be greater than mine in being noticed

by you. My conscience told me that I deserved no extraordinary

politeness, and I confess that I did not expect to receive more

than my due.'

'My object then,' replied Darcy, 'was to shew you, by every

civility in my power, that I was not so mean as to resent the past;

and I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill'opinion,

by letting you see that your reproofs had been attended to. How

soon any other wishes introduced themselves, I can hardly tell,

but I believe in about half an hour after I had seen you.'

Ht then told her of Georgiana's delight in her acquaintance,

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