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1To this, Mary very gravely replied, "Far be it from me, my dear sister, to depreciate such pleasures. They would
2doubtless be congenial with the generality of female minds. But I confess they would have no charms for me. I should
3infinitely prefer a book." But of this answer Lydia heard not a word. She seldom listened to anybody for more than half
4a minute, and never attended to Mary at all. In the afternoon Lydia was urgent with the rest of the girls to walk to
5Meryton, and see how everybody went on; but Elizabeth steadily opposed the scheme. It should not be said, that the Miss
6Bennets could not be at home half a day before they were in pursuit of the officers. There was another reason, too, for
7her opposition. She dreaded seeing Wickham again, and was resolved to avoid it as long as possible. The comfort to her,
8of the regiment's approaching removal, was indeed beyond expression. In a fortnight they were to go, and once gone, she
9hoped there could be nothing more to plague her on his account. She had not been many hours at home, before she found
10that the Brighton scheme, of which Lydia had given them a hint at the inn, was under frequent discussion between her
11parents. Elizabeth saw directly that her father had not the smallest intention of yielding; but his answers were at the
12same time so vague and equivocal, that her mother, though often disheartened, had never yet despaired of succeeding at
13last. [Illustration] CHAPTER XL. [Illustration] Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no
14longer be overcome; and at length resolving to suppress every particular in which her sister was concerned, and
15preparing her to be surprised, she related to her the next morning the chief of the scene between Mr. Darcy and herself.
16Miss Bennet's astonishment was soon lessened by the strong sisterly partiality which made any admiration of Elizabeth
17appear perfectly natural; and all surprise was shortly lost in other feelings. She was sorry that Mr. Darcy should have
18delivered his sentiments in a manner so little suited to recommend them; but still more was she grieved for the
19unhappiness which her sister's refusal must have given him. "His being so sure of succeeding was wrong," said she, "and
20certainly ought not to have appeared; but consider how much it must increase his disappointment." "Indeed," replied
21Elizabeth, "I am heartily sorry for him; but he has other feelings which will probably soon drive away his regard for
22me. You do not blame me, however, for refusing him?" "Blame you! Oh, no." "But you blame me for having spoken so warmly
23of Wickham?" "No--I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did." "But you will know it, when I have told you
24what happened the very next day." She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents as far as they
25concerned George Wickham. What a stroke was this for poor Jane, who would willingly have gone through the world without
26believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind as was here collected in one individual! Nor was
27Darcy's vindication, though grateful to her feelings, capable of consoling her for such discovery. Most earnestly did
28she labour to prove the probability of error, and seek to clear one, without involving the other. "This will not do,"
29said Elizabeth; "you never will be able to make both of them good for anything. Take your choice, but you must be
30satisfied with only one. There is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man;
31and of late it has been shifting about pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Mr. Darcy's, but you
32shall do as you choose." It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane. "I do not know when I
33have been more shocked," said she. "Wickham so very bad! It is almost past belief. And poor Mr. Darcy! dear Lizzy, only
34consider what he must have suffered. Such a disappointment! and with the knowledge of your ill opinion too! and having
35to relate such a thing of his sister! It is really too distressing, I am sure you must feel it so." "Oh no, my regret
36and compassion are all done away by seeing you so full of both. I know you will do him such ample justice, that I am
37growing every moment more unconcerned and indifferent. Your profusion makes me saving; and if you lament over him much
38longer, my heart will be as light as a feather." "Poor Wickham! there is such an expression of goodness in his
39countenance! such an openness and gentleness in his manner." "There certainly was some great mismanagement in the
40education of those two young men. One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it." "I never
41thought Mr. Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you used to do." "And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in
42taking so decided a dislike to him, without any reason. It is such a spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit, to
43have a dislike of that kind. One may be continually abusive without saying anything just; but one cannot be always
44laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty." "Lizzy, when you first read that letter, I am sure
45you could not treat the matter as you do now." "Indeed, I could not. I was uncomfortable enough, I was very
46uncomfortable--I may say unhappy. And with no one to speak to of what I felt, no Jane to comfort me, and say that I had
47not been so very weak, and vain, and nonsensical, as I knew I had! Oh, how I wanted you!" "How unfortunate that you
48should have used such very strong expressions in speaking of Wickham to Mr. Darcy, for now they do appear wholly
49undeserved." "Certainly. But the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most natural consequence of the prejudices
50I had been encouraging. There is one point on which I want your advice. I want to be told whether I ought, or ought not,
51to make our acquaintance in general understand Wickham's character." Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied,
52"Surely there can be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully. What is your own opinion?" "That it ought not to be
53attempted. Mr. Darcy has not authorized me to make his communication public. On the contrary, every particular relative
54to his sister was meant to be kept as much as possible to myself; and if I endeavour to undeceive people as to the rest
55of his conduct, who will believe me? The general prejudice against Mr. Darcy is so violent, that it would be the death
56of half the good people in Meryton, to attempt to place him in an amiable light. I am not equal to it. Wickham will soon
57be gone; and, therefore, it will not signify to anybody here what he really is. Some time hence it will be all found
58out, and then we may laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before. At present I will say nothing about it." "You
59are quite right. To have his errors made public might ruin him for ever. He is now, perhaps, sorry for what he has done,
60and anxious to re-establish a character. We must not make him desperate." The tumult of Elizabeth's mind was allayed by
61this conversation. She had got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed on her for a fortnight, and was certain of a
62willing listener in Jane, whenever she might wish to talk again of either. But there was still something lurking behind,
63of which prudence forbade the disclosure. She dared not relate the other half of Mr. Darcy's letter, nor explain to her
64sister how sincerely she had been valued by his friend. Here was knowledge in which no one could partake; and she was
65sensible that nothing less than a perfect understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing off this last
66encumbrance of mystery. "And then," said she, "if that very improbable event should ever take place, I shall merely be
67able to tell what Bingley may tell in a much more agreeable manner himself. The liberty of communication cannot be mine
68till it has lost all its value!"
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