about people of whom we really know very little.

I am not surprised that people who do not personally know Mr Darcy yhink of him as "proud".

He is a rich , pysically remote character who lives on a massive estate, in a grnad hosue.

I am sure we have all been guilty of this trait- imagining what someone's character will be based on their home- grand or humble.

We also have to consider that his mother was sister to Lady Catherine.Perhaps she had a similar character, and the loclas attitude is coloured a little by this? ;-)