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he； with a look of doubt。
‘Yes； always；’ she replied； without knowing what she said； for
her thoughts had wandered far from the subject； as soon
afterwards appeared by her suddenly exclaiming； ‘I remember
hearing you once say； Mr。 Darcy； that you hardly ever forgave； that
your resentment once created was unappeasable。 You are very
cautious； I suppose； as to its being created。’
‘I am；’ said he； with a firm voice。
‘And never allow yourself to be blinded by prejudice？’
‘I hope not。’
‘It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their
opinion； to be secure of judging properly at first。’
‘May I ask to what these questions tend？’
‘Merely to the illustration of your character；’ said she；
endeavouring to shake off her gravity。 ‘I am trying to make it out。’
‘And what is your success？’
She shook her head。 ‘I do not get on at all。 I hear such different
accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly。’
‘I can readily believe；’ answered he gravely； ‘that report may
vary greatly with respect to me； and I could wish； Miss Bennet；
that you were not to sketch my character at the present moment；
as there is reason to fear that the performance would reflect no
credit on either。’
‘But if I do not take your likeness now； I may never have
another opportunity。’
‘I would by no means suspend any pleasure of yours；’ he coldly
replied。 She said no more； and they went down the other dance
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and parted in silence； on each side dissatisfied； though not to an
equal degree； for in Darcy’s breast there was a tolerable powerful
feeling towards her； which soon procured her pardon； and directed
all his anger against another。
They had not long separated when Miss Bingley came towards
her； and with an expression of civil disdain thus accosted her；
‘So； Miss Eliza； I hear you are quite delighted with George
Wickham！—Your sister has been talking to me about him； and
asking me a thousand questions； and I find that the young man
forgot to tell you； among his other communications； that he was the
son of old Wickham； the late Mr。 Darcy’s steward。 Let me
recommend you； however； as a friend； not to give implicit
confidence to all his assertions； for as to Mr。 Darcy’s using him ill；
it is perfectly false； for； on the contrary； he has been always
remarkably kind to him； though George Wickham has treated Mr。
Darcy； in a most infamous manner。 I do not know the particulars；
but I know very well that Mr。 Darcy is not in the least to blame；
that he cannot bear to hear George Wickham mentioned； and that
though my brother thought he could not well avoid including him
in his invitation to the officers； he was excessively glad to find that
he had taken himself out of the way。 His coming into the country at
all； is a most insolent thing indeed； and I wonder how he could
presume to do it。 I pity you； Miss Eliza； for this discovery of your
favourite’s guilt； but really considering his descent； one could not
expect much better。’
‘His guilt and his descent appear by your account to be the
same；’ said Elizabeth angrily； ‘for I have heard you accuse him of
nothing worse than of being the son of Mr。 Darcy’s steward； and of
that； I can assure you； he informed me himself。’
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‘I beg your pardon；’ replied Miss Bingley； turning away with a
sneer。 ‘Excuse my interference。—It was kindly meant。’
‘Insolent girl！’ said Elizabeth to herself。—‘You are much
mistaken if you expect to influence me by such a paltry attack as
this。 I see nothing in it but your own wilful ignorance and the
malice of Mr。 Darcy。’ She then sought her eldest sister； who had
undertaken to make inquiries on the same subject of Bingley。 Jane
met her with a smile of such sweet complacency； a glow of such
happy expression； as sufficiently marked how well she was
satisfied with the occurrences of the evening。
Elizabeth instantly read her feelings； and at that moment
solicitude for Wickham； resentment against his enemies； and every
thing else gave way before the hope of Jane’s being in the fairest
way for happiness。
‘I want to know；’ said she； with a countenance no less smiling
than her sister’s； ‘what you have learnt about Mr。 Wickham。 But
perhaps you have been too pleasantly engaged to think of any third
person； in which case you may be sure of my pardon。’
‘No；’ replied Jane； ‘I have not forgotten him； but I have nothing
satisfactory to tell you。 Mr。 Bingley does not know the whole of his
history； and is quite ignorant of the circumstances which have
principally offended Mr。 Darcy； but he will vouch for the good
conduct； the probity and honour of his friend； and is perfectly
convinced that Mr。 Wickham has deserved much less attention
from Mr。 Darcy than he has received； and I am sorry to say that by
his account as well as his sister’s； Mr。 Wickham is by no means a
respectable young man。 I am afraid he has been very imprudent；
and has deserved to lose Mr。 Darcy’s regard。’
‘Mr。 Bingley does not know Mr。 Wickham himself？’
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‘No； he never saw him till the other morning at Meryton。’
‘This account then is what he has received from Mr。 Darcy。 I am
perfectly satisfied。 But what does he say of the living？’
‘He does not exactly recollect the circumstances； though he has
heard them from Mr。 Darcy more than once； but he believes that it
was left to him conditionally only。’
‘I have not a doubt of Mr。 Bingley’s sincerity；’ said Elizabeth
warmly； ‘but you must excuse my not being convinced by
assurances only。 Mr。 Bingley’s defence of his friend was a very able
one I dare say； but since he is unacquainted with several parts of
the story； and has learnt the rest from that friend himself； I shall
venture still to think of both gentlemen as I did before。’
She then changed the discourse to one more gratifying to each；
and on which there could be no difference of sentiment。 Elizabeth
listened with delight to the happy； though modest hopes which
Jane entertained of Bingley’s regard； and said all in her power to
heighten her confidence in it。 On their being joined by Mr。 Bingley
himself； Elizabeth withdrew to Miss Lucas； to whose inquiry after
the pleasantness of her last partner she had scarcely replied；
before Mr。 Collins came up to them and told her with great
exultation that he had just been so fortunate as to make a most
important discovery。
‘I have found out；’ said he； ‘by a singular accident； that there is
now in the room a near relation of my patroness。 I happened to
overhear the gentleman himself mentioning to the young lady who
does the honours of this house the names of his cousin Miss de
Bourgh； and of her mother Lady Catherine。 How wonderfully
these sort of things occur！ Who would have thought of my meeting
with—perhaps—a nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh in this
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assembly！—I am most thankful that the discovery is made in time
for me to pay my respects to him； which I am now going to do；