with your assessment that he threw away everyone's good opinion and has to earn it back. Darcy has put the price on that good opinion much lower than the good folks of Meryton do, and the timing on the "purchase" (or whether he purchases that good opinion back) is completely unknowable at this point. But I was trying to figure out whether there would have been any reason for such a large difference in valuation of Meryton's good opinion. It's a matter of point of view. But generally, I do think Meryton is much more in the right! There's no reason to think Meryton is so backwater that those in town are not worthy of pleasing and attention. After all, the area was recommended to Bingley as a place to settle, else we would wonder why he would come at all.