Страница 280 из 817

"Nay," said Elizabeth, "this is not fair. You wish to think all

the world respectable, and are hurt if I speak ill of anybody. I

only want to think you perfect, and you set yourself against it.

Do not be afraid of my running into any excess, of my encroaching

on your privilege of universal good-will. You need not. There are

few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think

well. The more I see of the world the more am I dissatisfied with

it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all

human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed

on the appearance of either merit or sense. I have met with two

instances lately: one I will not mention, the other is

Charlotte's marriage. It is unaccountable! in every view it is

unaccountable!"