Pagina 487 di 817

Elizabeth was now to see Mr. Wickham for the last time. Having

been frequently in company with him since her return, agitation

was pretty well over; the agitations of former partiality

entirely so. She had even learnt to detect, in the very

gentleness which had first delighted her, an affectation and a

sameness to disgust and weary. In his present behaviour to

herself, moreover, she had a fresh source of displeasure; for the

inclination he soon testified of renewing those attentions which

had marked the early part of their acquaintance could only serve,

after what had since passed, to provoke her. She lost all concern

for him in finding herself thus selected as the object of such

idle and frivolous gallantry; and while she steadily repressed

it, could not but feel the reproof contained in his believing,

that however long, and for whatever cause, his attentions had

been withdrawn, her vanity would be gratified, and her preference

secured, at any time, by their renewal.