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knew it to be a most respectable； agreeable corps； and my friend
Denny tempted me farther by his account of their present quarters；
and the very great attentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton
had procured them。 Society； I own； is necessary to me。 I have been
a disappointed man； and my spirits will not bear solitude。 I must
have employment and society。 A military life is not what I was
intended for； but circumstances have now made it eligible。 The
church ought to have been my profession—I was brought up for the
church； and I should at this time have been in possession of a most
valuable living； had it pleased the gentleman we were speaking of
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just now。’
‘Indeed！’
‘Yes—the late Mr。 Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation
of the best living in his gift。 He was my godfather； and excessively
attached to me。 I cannot do justice to his kindness。 He meant to
provide for me amply； and thought he had done it； but when the
living fell； it was given elsewhere。’
‘Good heavens！’ cried Elizabeth； ‘but how could that be？—How
could his will be disregarded？—Why did not you seek legal
redress？’
‘There was just such an informality in the terms of the bequest
as to give me no hope from law。 A man of honour could not have
doubted the intention； but Mr。 Darcy chose to doubt it—or to treat
it as a merely conditional recommendation； and to assert that I had
forfeited all claim to it by extravagance； imprudence； in short any
thing or nothing。 Certain it is； that the living became vacant two
years ago； exactly as I was of an age to hold it； and that it was given
to another man； and no less certain is it； that I cannot accuse
myself of having really done any thing to deserve to lose it。 I have a
warm； unguarded temper； and I may perhaps have sometimes
spoken my opinion of him； and to him； too freely。 I can recall
nothing worse。 But the fact is； that we are very different sort of
men； and that he hates me。’
‘This is quite shocking！—He deserves to be publicly disgraced。’
‘Some time or other he will be—but it shall not be by me。 Till I
can forget his father； I can never defy or expose him。’
Elizabeth honoured him for such feelings； and thought him
handsomer than ever as he expressed them。
‘But what；’ said she； after a pause； ‘can have been his motive？—
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what can have induced him to behave so cruelly？’
‘A thorough； determined dislike of me—a dislike which I cannot
but attribute in some measure to jealousy。 Had the late Mr。 Darcy
liked me less； his son might have borne with me better； but his
father’s uncommon attachment to me； irritated him I believe very
early in life。 He had not a temper to bear the sort of competition in
which we stood—the sort of preference which was often given me。’
‘I had not thought Mr。 Darcy so bad as this—though I have
never liked him； I had not thought so very ill of him—I had
supposed him to be despising his fellow…creatures in general； but
did not suspect him of descending to such malicious revenge； such
injustice； such inhumanity as this！’
After a few minutes reflection； however； she continued；。 ‘I do
remember his boasting one day； at Netherfield； of the implacability
of his resentments； of his having an unforgiving temper。 His
disposition must be dreadful。’
‘I will not trust myself on the subject；’ replied Wickham； ‘I can
hardly be just to him。’
Elizabeth was again deep in thought； and after a time
exclaimed； ‘To treat in such a manner； the godson； the friend； the
favourite of his father！’—She could have added； ‘A young man too；
like you； whose very countenance may vouch for your being
amiable’—but she contented herself with ‘And one； too； who had
probably been his own companion from childhood； connected
together； as I think you said； in the closest manner！’
‘We were born in the same parish； within the same park； the
greatest part of our youth was passed together； inmates of the
same house； sharing the same amusements； objects of the same
parental care。 My father began life in the profession which your
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uncle； Mr。 Philips； appears to do so much credit to—but he gave up
every thing to be of use to the late Mr Darcy； and devoted all his
time to the care of the Pemberley property。 He was most highly
esteemed by Mr。 Darcy； a most intimate； confidential friend。 Mr。
Darcy often acknowledged himself to be under the greatest
obligations to my father’s active superintendance； and when
immediately before my father’s death； Mr。 Darcy gave him a
voluntary promise of providing for me； I am convinced that he felt
it to be as much a debt of gratitude to him； as of affection to myself。’
‘How strange！’ cried Elizabeth。 ‘How abominable！—I wonder
that the very pride of this Mr。 Darcy has not made him just to
you！—If from no better motive； that he should not have been too
proud to be dishonest；—for dishonesty I must call it。’
‘It is wonderful；’—replied Wickham；—‘for almost all his actions
may be traced to pride；—and pride has often been his best friend。
It has connected him nearer with virtue than any other feeling。 But
we are none of us consistent； and in his behaviour to me； there
were stronger impulses even than pride。’
‘Can such abominable pride as his； have ever done him good？’
‘Yes。 It has often led him to be liberal and generous；—to give his
money freely； to display hospitality； to assist his tenants； and
relieve the poor。 Family pride； andfilial pride； for he is very proud
of what his father was； have done this。 Not to appear to disgrace
his family； to degenerate from the popular qualities； or lose the
influence of the Pemberley House； is a powerful motive。 He has
also brotherly pride； which with some brotherly affection； makes
him a very kind and careful guardian of his sister； and you will
hear him generally cried up as the most attentive and best of
brothers。’
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‘What sort of a girl is Miss Darcy？’
He shook his head。—‘I wish I could call her amiable。 It gives me
pain to speak ill of a Darcy。 But she is too much like her brother；—
very； very proud。—As a child； she was affectionate and pleasing；
and extremely fond of me； and I have devoted hours and hours to
her amusement。 But she is nothing to me now。 She is a handsome
girl； about fifteen or sixteen； and I understand highly
accomplished。 Since her father’s death； her home has been
London； where a lady lives with her； and superintends her
education。’
After many pauses and many trials of other subjects； Elizabeth
could not help reverting once more to the first； and saying；
‘I am astonished at his intimacy with Mr。 Bingley！ How can Mr。
Bingley； who seems good humour itself； and is； I really believe；
truly amiable； be in friendship with such a man？ How can they suit
each other？—Do you know Mr。 Bingley？’
‘Not at all。’
‘He is a sweet tempered； amiable； charming man。 He canno