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the force of the compliment； and would hardly have resented a
comparison with the housekeeper’s room。
In describing to her all the grandeur of Lady Catherine and her
mansion； with occasional digressions in praise of his own humble
abode； and the improvements it was receiving； he was happily
employed until the gentlemen joined them； and he found in Mrs。
Philips a very attentive listener； whose opinion of his consequence
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increased with what she heard； and who was resolving to retail it
all among her neighbours as soon as she could。 To the girls； who
could not listen to their cousin； and who had nothing to do but to
wish for an instrument； and examine their own indifferent
imitations of china on the mantlepiece； the interval of waiting
appeared very long。 It was over at last however。 The gentlemen did
approach； and when Mr。 Wickham walked into the room； Elizabeth
felt that she had neither been seeing him before； nor thinking of
him since； with the smallest degree of unreasonable admiration。
The officers of the —shire were in general a very creditable；
gentlemanlike set； and the best of them were of the present party；
but Mr。 Wickham was as far beyond them all in person；
countenance； air； and walk； as they were superior to the broad…
faced stuffy uncle Philips； breathing port wine； who followed them
into the room。
Mr。 Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every
female eye was turned； and Elizabeth was the happy woman by
whom he finally seated himself； and the agreeable manner in
which he immediately fell into conversation； though it was only on
its being a wet night； and on the probability of a rainy season；
made her feel that the commonest； dullest； most threadbare topic
might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker。
With such rivals for the notice of the fair； as Mr。 Wickham and
the officers； Mr。 Collins seemed likely to sink into insignificance； to
the young ladies he certainly was nothing； but he had still at
intervals a kind listener in Mrs。 Philips； and was； by her
watchfulness； most abundantly supplied with coffee and muffin。
When the card tables were placed； he had an opportunity of
obliging her in return； by sitting down to whist。
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‘I know little of the game； at present；’ said he； ‘but I shall be glad
to improve myself； for in my situation of life—’ Mrs。 Philips was
very thankful for his compliance； but could not wait for his reason。
Mr。 Wickham did not play at whist； and with ready delight was
he received at the other table between Elizabeth and Lydia。 At first
there seemed danger of Lydia’s engrossing him entirely for she
was a most determined talker； but being likewise extremely fond of
lottery tickets； she soon grew too much interested in the game； too
eager in making bets and exclaiming after prizes； to have attention
for any one in particular。 Allowing for the common demands of the
game； Mr。 Wickham was therefore at leisure to talk to Elizabeth；
and she was very willing to hear him； though what she chiefly
wished to hear she could not hope to be told； the history of his
acquaintance with Mr。 Darcy。 She dared not even mention that
gentleman。 Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved。 Mr。
Wickham began the subject himself。 He inquired how far
Netherfield was from Meryton； and； after receiving her answer；
asked in an hesitating manner how long Mr。 Darcy had been
staying there。
‘About a month；’ said Elizabeth； and then； unwilling to let the
subject drop； added； ‘He is a man of very large property in
Derbyshire； I understand。’
‘Yes；’ replied Wickham；—‘his estate there is a noble one。 A clear
ten thousand per annum。 You could not have met with a person
more capable of giving you certain information on that head than
myself—for I have been connected with his family in a particular
manner from my infancy。’
Elizabeth could not but look surprised。
‘You may well be surprised； Miss Bennet； at such an assertion；
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after seeing； as you probably might； the very cold manner of our
meeting yesterday。—Are you much acquainted with Mr。 Darcy？’
‘As much as I ever wish to be；’ cried Elizabeth warmly；—‘I have
spent four days in the same house with him； and I think him very
disagreeable。’
‘I have no right to give my opinion；’ said Wickham； ‘as to his
being agreeable or otherwise。 I am not qualified to form one。 I have
known him too long and to well to be a fair judge。 It is impossible
for me to be impartial。 But I believe your opinion of him would in
general astonish—and perhaps you would not express it quite so
strongly anywhere else。—Here you are in your own family。’
‘Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house
in the neighbourhood； except Netherfield。 He is not at all liked in
Hertfordshire。 Every body is disgusted with his pride。 You will not
find him more favourably spoken of by any one。’
‘I cannot pretend to be sorry；’ said Wickham； after a short
interruption； ‘that he or that any man should not be estimated
beyond their deserts； but with him I believe it does not often
happen。 The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence； or
frightened by his high and imposing manners； and sees him only as
he chuses to be seen。’
‘I should take him； even on my slight acquaintance； to be an ill…
tempered man。’ Wickham only shook his head。
‘I wonder；’ said he； at the next opportunity of speaking；
‘whether he is likely to be in this country much longer。’
‘I do not at all know； but I heard nothing of his going away when
I was at Netherfield。 I hope your plans in favour of the —shire will
not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood。’
‘Oh！ no—it is not for me to be driven away by Mr。 Darcy。 If he
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wishes to avoid seeing me； he must go。 We are not on friendly
terms； and it always gives me pain to meet him； but I have no
reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim to all the world；
a sense of very great ill usage； and most painful regrets at his being
what he is。 His father； Miss Bennet； the late Mr。 Darcy； was one of
the best men that ever breathed； and the truest friend I ever had；
and I can never be in company with this Mr。 Darcy without being
grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections。 His
behaviour to myself has been scandalous； but I verily believe I
could forgive him any thing and every thing； rather than his
disappointing the hopes and disgracing the memory of his father。’
Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase； and listened
with all her heart； but the delicacy of it prevented farther inquiry。
Mr。 Wickham began to speak on more general topics； Meryton；
the neighbourhood； the society； appearing highly pleased with all
that he had yet seen； and speaking of the latter especially； with
gentle but very intelligible gallantry。
‘It was the prospect of constant society； and good society；’ he
added； ‘which was my chief inducement to enter the —shire。 I
knew it to be a most respectable； agreeable corps； and my f