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to the censure of the world for caprice and instability； the other to
its derision for disappointed hopes； and involving them both in
misery of the acutest kind。’
She paused； and saw with no slight indignation that he was
listening with an air which proved him wholly unmoved by any
feeling of remorse。 He even looked at her with a smile of affected
incredulity。
‘Can you deny that you have done it？’ she repeated。
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With assumed tranquillity he then replied； ‘I have no wish of
denying that I did every thing in my power to separate my friend
from your sister； or that I rejoice in my success。 Towards him I
have been kinder than towards myself。’
Elizabeth disdained the appearance of noticing this civil
reflection； but its meaning did not escape； nor was it likely to
conciliate her。
‘But it is not merely this affair；’ she continued； ‘on which my
dislike is founded。 Long before it had taken place； my opinion of
you was decided。 Your character was unfolded in the recital which
I received many months ago from Mr。 Wickham。 On this subject；
what can you have to say？ In what imaginary act of friendship can
you here defend yourself？ or under what misrepresentation； can
you here impose upon others？’
‘You take an eager interest in that gentleman’s concerns；’ said
Darcy in a less tranquil tone； and with a heightened colour。
‘Who that knows what his misfortunes have been； can help
feeling an interest in him？’
‘His misfortunes！’ repeated Darcy contemptuously： ‘yes； his
misfortunes have been great indeed。’
‘And of your infliction；’ cried Elizabeth with energy。 ‘You have
reduced him to his present state of poverty； comparative poverty。
You have withheld the advantages； which you must know to have
been designed for him。 You have deprived the best years of his
life； of that independence which was no less his due than his
desert。 You have done all this！ and yet you can treat the mention
of his misfortunes with contempt and ridicule。’
‘And this；’ cried Darcy； as he walked with quick steps across the
room； ‘is your opinion of me！ This is the estimation in which you
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hold me！ I thank you for explaining it so fully。 My faults； according
to this calculation； are heavy indeed！ But perhaps；’ added he；
stopping in his walk； and turning towards her； ‘these offences
might have been overlooked； had not your pride been hurt by my
honest confession of the scruples that had long prevented my
forming any serious design。 These bitter accusations might have
been suppressed； had I with greater policy concealed my
struggles； and flattered you into the belief of my being impelled by
unqualified； unalloyed inclination； by reason； by reflection； by
every thing。 But disguise of every sort is my abhorrence。 Nor am I
ashamed of the feelings I related。 They were natural and just。
Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your
connections？ To congratulate myself on the hope of relations；
whose condition in life is so decidedly beneath my own？’
Elizabeth felt herself growing more angry every moment yet
she tried to the utmost to speak with composure when she said；
‘You are mistaken； Mr。 Darcy； if you suppose that the mode of
your declaration affected me in any other way； than as it spared
me the concern which I might have felt in refusing you； had you
behaved in a more gentleman…like manner。
She saw him start at this； but he said nothing； and she
continued；
‘You could not have made me the offer of your hand in any
possible way that would have tempted me to accept it。’
Again his astonishment was obvious； and he looked at her 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 impressing me
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with the fullest belief of your arrogance； your conceit； and your
selfish disdain of the feelings of others； were such as to form that
ground…work 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 mentioned
Mr。 Wickham； his cruelty towards whom he had not attempted to
deny； soon overcame the pity which the consideration of his
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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。
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CHAPTER XII
lizabeth awoke the next morning to the same thoughts
and meditations which had at length closed her eyes。 She
E
could not yet recover from the surprise of what had
happened； it was impossible to think of any thing else； and totally
indisposed for employment； she resolved soon after breakfast to
indulge herself in air and exercise。 She was proceeding directly to
her favourite walk； when the recollection of Mr。 Darcy's sometimes
coming there stopped her； and instead of entering the park； she
turned up the lane； which led her farther from the turnpike road。
The park paling was still the boundary on one side； and she soon
passed one of the gates into the ground。
After walking two or three times along that part of the lane； she
was tempted； by the pleasantness of the morning； to stop at the
gates and look into the park。 The five weeks which she had now
passed in Kent； had mad