Chapter 11 59
" But upon my honour, I do not. I do assure you that my intimacy has not yet taught me that. Tease calmness of manner and presence of mind! No, no--feel he may defy us there. And as to laughter, we will not expose ourselves, if you please, by attempting to laugh without a subject. Mr. Darcy may hug himself."
" Mr. Darcy is not to be laughed at!" cried Elizabeth. " That is an uncommon advantage, and uncommon I hope it will continue, for it would be a great loss to me to have many such acquaintances. I dearly love a laugh."
" Miss Bingley," said he, " has given me more credit than can be. The wisest and the best of men--nay, the wisest and best of their actions--may be rendered ridiculous by a person whose first object in life is a joke."
" Certainly," replied Elizabeth-- " there are such people, but I hope I am not one of them. I hope I never ridicule what is wise and good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies, do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can. But these, I suppose, are precisely what you are without."
" Perhaps that is not possible for anyone. But it has been the study of my life to avoid those weaknesses which often expose a strong understanding to ridicule."
" Such as vanity and pride."
" Yes, vanity is a weakness indeed. But pride--where there is a real superiority of mind, pride will be always under good regulation."
Elizabeth turned away to hide a smile.
" Your examination of Mr. Darcy is over, I presume," said Miss Bingley; " and pray what is the result?"
" I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect. He owns it himself without disguise."