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"Shall we ask your cousin the reason of this?" said Elizabeth,

still addressing Colonel Fitzwilliam. "Shall we ask him why a man

of sense and education, and who has lived in the world, is

ill-qualified to recommend himself to strangers?"

"I can answer your question," said Fitzwilliam, "without applying

to him. It is because he will not give himself the trouble."

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess," said

Darcy, "of conversing easily with those I have never seen before.

I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested

in their concerns, as I often see done."