Hugs and such
Posted by Laura on November 19, 1997 at 12:28:00:
In response to hello, and a question about , written by Sue W on November 18, 1997 at 19:47:05
I read it as similar to say giving one a pat on the back. Here Miss Bingley is trying to explain that Mr Darcy has no faults. Which is absolutely ludicrous. Of course he does and Elizabeth points them out well. His unyielding temper is a fault. And Elizabeth's fault is she doesn't understand people's feelings.
You have to score one for Darcy in this spar. I love the Beatrice/Benedick-type sparring:
"No," said Darcy, " I Have made no such pretension. I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. it is, I beleive, too little yielding - certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot foget the follies and vices of other so son as I ought, nor their offences against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost for ever."
"That is a failing indeed!" cried Elizabeth. "Implacable resentment is a shade in a charcter. But you have cnosen your fault well. I really cannot laugh it. You are safe from me."
"There is, I believe, in every disposition a tendency to some particular evil-a natural defect, which not even the best education can overcome."
"And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody."
"And yours," he replied, with a smile, " is wilfully to misunderstand them."
This is by far the best of the wit in the book.
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