Chapter 16 79
" About a month ," said Elizabeth ; and then , unwilling to let the subject drop , added , " He is a man of very large property in Derbyshire , I understand ."
" Yes ," replied Mr . Wickham ; " his estate there is a noble one . A clear ten thousand per annum . You could not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself , for I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy ."
Elizabeth could not but look surprised .
" You may well be surprised , Miss Bennet , at such an assertion , after seeing , as you probably might , the very cold manner of our meeting yesterday . Are you much acquainted with Mr . Darcy ?"
" As much as I ever wish to be ," cried Elizabeth very warmly . " I have spent four days in the same house with him , and I think him very disagreeable ."
" I have no right to give my opinion ," said Wickham , " as to his being agreeable or otherwise . I am not qualified to form one . I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge . It is impossible for me to be impartial . But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish--and perhaps you would not express it quite so strongly anywhere else . Here you are in your own family ."
" Upon my word , I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood , except Netherfield . He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire . Everybody is disgusted with his pride . You will not find him more favourably spoken of by anyone ."
" I cannot pretend to be sorry ," said Wickham , after a short interruption , " that he or that any man should not be estimated beyond their deserts ; but with him I believe it does not often happen . The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence , or frightened by his high and imposing manners , and sees him only as he chooses to be seen ."