precipitance merely to show off before the ladies.”
“I daresay you believed it; but I am by no means convinced that you

would be gone with such celerity. Your conduct would be quite as

dependent on chance as that of any man I know; and if, as you were

mounting your horse, a friend were to say, ‘Bingley, you had better stay

till next week,’ you would probably do it—you would probably not

go—and, at another word, might stay a month.”
“You have only proved by this,” cried Elizabeth, “that Mr. Bingley did

not do justice to his own disposition. You have shown him off now much

more than he did himself.”
“I am exceedingly gratified,” said Bingley, “by your converting what my

friend says into a compliment on the sweetness of my temper. But I am

afraid you are giving it a turn which that gentleman did by no means

intend; for he would certainly think the better of me if, under such a

circumstance, I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I

could.”
“Would Mr. Darcy then consider the rashness of your original intention

as atoned for by your obstinacy in adhering to it?”
“Upon my word, I cannot exactly explain the matter—Darcy must speak for

himself.”
“You expect me to account for opinions which you choose to call mine,

but which I have never acknowledged. Allowing the case, however, to

stand according to your representation, you must remember, Miss Bennet,

that the friend who is supposed to desire his return to the house,{64} and

the delay of his plan, has merely desired it, asked it without offering

one argument in favour of its propriety.”
“To yield readily—easily—to the persuasion of a friend is no merit

with you.”
“To yield without conviction is no compliment to the understanding of

either.”
“You appear to me, Mr. Darcy, to allow nothing for the influence of

friendship and affection. A regard for the requester would often make

one readily yield to a request, without waiting for arguments to reason