第84章[第2页/共4页]

“How unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions in speaking of Wickham to Mr.Darcy,for now they do appear wholly undeserved.”

Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no longer be overcome;and at length,resolving to suppress every particular in which her sister was concerned,and preparing her to be surprised,she related to her the next morning the chief of the scene between Mr.Darcy and herself.

“But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?”“No―I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did.”

“I never thought Mr.Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you used to do.”

“His being so sure of succeeding was wrong,”said she,“and certainly ought not to have appeared;but consider how much it must increase his disappointment!”

“And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided a dislike to him, without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit, to have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually abusive without saying anything just;but one cannot always be laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.”