She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it was rather too early to begin.
– Jane Austen
Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 58. After learning that Darcy effectively gave "permission" to Charles Bingley to propose to Jane, Elizabeth longs to tease Darcy about his easily persuadable "friend". But she stops herself because she doesn’t want to hurt her future husband’s feelings. Darcy is not ready to be laughed at yet, she decides. Darcy admits twice interfering in Bingley’s relationship with Jane, once to separate them because he thought she didn’t love Bingley, then to bring them back together. The quick-witted Elizabeth finds irony in the fact that Bingley is such a good friend of Darcy’s and yet a good friend is so easily influenced. However, she decides to keep her ironic wit under control on this occasion. Here is the expanded quote: "Elizabeth longed to observe that Mr. Bingley had been a most delightful friend; so easily guided that his worth was invaluable; but she checked herself. She remembered that he had yet to learn to be laughed at, and it was rather too early to begin. In anticipating the happiness of Bingly, which of course was to be inferior only to his own, he continued the conversation till they reached the house."