And, furthermore, I can't help wondering if deep down, he admires how cooly she handled his snub. Could he be purposefully letting her know that he wasn't going to be caught by some second-rate country woman? (He could see Bingley was already greatly admiring of Jane.) Did he expect Lizzy to get upset and flustered? Was his statement meant to be a kind of a test to see her reaction? But, to his eyes, she handled the snub as if it meant nothing to her. (He's probably not aware that she then proceeded to discuss it with friends.) Chalk one up for Lizzy!