“How very suddenly you all quitted the European Union in June! It must have been a most agreeable surprise to Mr. Farage to see you all join him so unexpectedly; for, if I recollect right, he has been at odds with the EU for many a year. He and Mr. Johnson, and his fellows in UKIP, were rejoicing, I imagine, when you left London?”

“Perfectly so, I thank you.”

Elizabeth found that she was to receive no other answer, and, after a short pause added:

“I think I have understood that Scotland has not much idea of remaining in the United Kingdom?”

“I have heard them say so; it is probable that the country may shortly consider alternative alliances in the future. They have many ties to the European Union, and are at a political juncture when their concern over whether Great Britain holds their best interests at heart is increasing.”

“If they really mean to leave the United Kingdom, it would be better for the Scots that they should give up the place before the rest of Britain has formally left the EU, for then they might possibly get a more streamlined accession deal. But, perhaps, England and Wales did not determine to secede from the EU for the convenience of Scotland as for what they perceived as their own, and we must expect them to stay or quit it on the same principle.”

“I should not be surprised,” said Darcy, “if Scotland were to vote to leave as soon as a referendum can be arranged.”

Elizabeth made no answer. She was afraid of talking longer of contentious political matters; and, having nothing else to say, was now determined to leave the trouble of finding a subject to him.

– Excerpt from Pride and Politics, 2016

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