Hi Sandy,
Thanks for your response but I think we must agree to differ.
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“The indirect boast; for you are really proud of your defects in writing, because you consider them as proceeding from a rapidity of
thought and carelessness of execution, which, if not estimable, you
think at least highly interesting. The power of doing anything with
quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without
any attention to the imperfection of the performance. When you
told Mrs. Bennet this morning that if you ever resolved upon quitting
Netherfield you should be gone in five minutes, you meant it to be a
sort of panegyric, of compliment to yourself—and yet what is there so
very laudable in a precipitance which must leave very necessary business
undone, and can be of no real advantage to yourself or anyone
else?”
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“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 better of me, if under
such a circumstance I were to give a flat denial, and ride off as fast as I
could.”
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``By all means,'' cried Bingley; ``Let us hear all the particulars, not forgetting their comparative height and size; for that will have more weight in the argument, Miss Bennet, than you may be aware of. I assure you that if Darcy were not such a great tall fellow, in comparison with myself, I should not pay him half so much deference. I declare I do not know a more aweful object than Darcy, on particular occasions, and in particular places; at his own house especially, and of a Sunday evening when he has nothing to do.''
I have always read this as 2 male friends who know,like and respect each other having fun at each others expense. I don't think Darcy would have wanted a wimp (for want of a better word) for his sister. Also E. who grew up in a family of girls doesn't understand their interactions and also presumes to understand and know both of them based on a very short acquaintance.
I would also add that Elizabeth, Darcy and Jane, none of whome are unintelligent like and respect Bingley.
Elizabeth and Darcy in particular do not suffer fools gladly and I cannot see either of them liking a weak or easily led Bingley or wanting him to marry their sisters.
JA tells us at the end of the novel that
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Jane and Elizabeth, in addition to every other source of happiness, were within thirty miles of each other.
So Jane did live happily ever after..nor something that would be possible with a weak or easily led man in my opinion.
