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such a part of London！ My dear aunt； how could you think of it？
Mr。 Darcy may perhaps have heard of such a place as
Gracechurch…street； but he would hardly think a month’s ablution
enough to cleanse him from its impurities； were he once to enter
it； and depend upon it； Mr。 Bingley never stirs without him。’
‘So much the better。 I hope they will not meet at all。 But does
not Jane correspond with the sister？ She will not be able to help
calling。’
‘She will drop the acquaintance entirely。’
But in spite of the certainty in which Elizabeth affected to place
this point； as well as the still more interesting one of Bingley’s
being withheld from seeing Jane； she felt a solicitude on the
subject which convinced her； on examination； that she did not
consider it entirely hopeless。 It was possible； and sometimes she
thought it probable； that his affection might be re…animated； and
the influence of his friends successfully combated by the more
natural influence of Jane’s attractions。
Miss Bennet accepted her aunt’s invitation with pleasure； and
the Bingleys were no otherwise in her thoughts at the time； than
as she hoped that； by Caroline’s not living in the same house with
her brother； she might occasionally spend a morning with her；
without any danger of seeing him。
The Gardiners staid a week at Longbourn； and what with the
Philipses； the Lucases； and the officers； there was not a day
without its engagement。 Mrs。 Bennet had so carefully provided for
the entertainment of her brother and sister； that they did not once
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sit down to a family dinner。 When the engagement was for home；
some of the officers always made part of it； of which officers Mr。
Wickham was sure to be one； and on these occasions； Mrs。
Gardiner； rendered suspicious by Elizabeth’s warm
commendation of him； narrowly observed them both。 Without
supposing them； from what she saw； to be very seriously in love；
their preference of each other was plain enough to make her a
little uneasy； and she resolved to speak to Elizabeth on the subject
before she left Hertfordshire； and represent to her the imprudence
of encouraging such an attachment。
To Mrs。 Gardiner； Wickham had one means of affording
pleasure； unconnected with his general powers。 About ten or a
dozen years ago； before her marriage； she had spent a
considerable time in that very part of Derbyshire； to which he
belonged。 They had； therefore； many acquaintance in common；
and； though Wickham had been little there since the death of
Darcy’s father； five years before； it was yet in his power to give her
fresher intelligence of her former friends； than she had been in the
way of procuring。
Mrs。 Gardiner had seen Pemberley； and known the late Mr。
Darcy by character perfectly well。 Here consequently was an
inexhaustible subject of discourse。 In comparing her recollection
of Pemberley； with the minute description which Wickham could
give； and in bestowing her tribute of praise on the character of its
late possessor； she was delighting both him and herself。 On being
made acquainted with the present Mr。 Darcy’s treatment of him；
she tried to remember something of that gentleman’s reputed
disposition when quite a lad； which might agree with it； and was
confident at last； that she recollected having heard Mr。 Fitzwilliam
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Darcy formerly spoken of as a very proud； ill…natured boy。
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CHAPTER III
rs。 Gardiner’s caution to Elizabeth was punctually and
kindly given on the first favourable opportunity of
M
speaking to her alone； after honestly telling her what
she thought； she thus went on：
‘You are too sensible a girl； Lizzy； to fall in love merely because
you are warned against it； and； therefore； I am not afraid of
speaking openly。 Seriously； I would have you be on your guard。 Do
not involve yourself； or endeavour to involve him in an affection
which the want of fortune would make so very imprudent。 I have
nothing to say against him； he is a most interesting young man；
and if he had the fortune he ought to have； I should think you
could not do better But as it is—you must not let your fancy run
away with you。 You have sense； and we all expect you to use it。
Your father would depend on your resolution and good conduct； I
am sure。 You must not disappoint your father。’
‘My dear aunt； this is being serious indeed。’
‘Yes； and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise。’
‘Well； then； you need not be under any alarm。 I will take care of
myself； and of Mr。 Wickham too。 He shall not be in love with me； if
I can prevent it。’
‘Elizabeth； you are not serious now。
‘I beg your pardon。 I will try again。 At present I am not in love
with Mr Wickham； no； I certainly am not。 But he is； beyond all
comparison； the most agreeable man I ever saw—and if he
becomes really attached to me—I believe it will be better that he
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should not。 I see the imprudence of it。 Oh！ that abominable Mr。
Darcy ！—My father’s opinion of me does me the greatest honour；
and I should be miserable to forfeit it。 My father； however； is
partial to Mr。 Wickham。 In short； my dear aunt； I should be very
sorry to be the means of making any of you unhappy； but since we
see every day that where there is affection； young people are
seldom withheld by immediate want of fortune； from entering into
engagements with each other； how can I promise to be wiser than
so many of my fellow creatures if I am tempted； or how am I even
to know that it would be wisdom to resist？ All that I can promise
you； therefore； is not to be in a hurry。 I will not be in a hurry to
believe myself his first object。 When I am in company with him； I
will not be wishing。 In short； I will do my best。’
‘Perhaps it will be as well； if you discourage his coming here so
very often。 At least； you should not remind your Mother of inviting
him。
‘As I did the other day；’ said Elizabeth； with a conscious smile；
‘very true； it will be wise in me to refrain from that。 But do not
imagine that he is always here so often。 It is on your account that
he has been so frequently invited this week。 You know my
mother’s ideas as to the necessity of constant company for her
friends。 But really； and upon my honour； I will try to do what I
think to be wisest； and now； I hope you are satisfied。’
Her aunt assured her that she was； and Elizabeth having
thanked her for the kindness of her hints； they parted； a wonderful
instance of advice being given on such a point； without being
resented。
Mr。 Collins returned into Hertfordshire soon after it had been
quitted by the Gardiners and Jane； but as he took up his abode
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with the Lucases； his arrival was no great inconvenience to Mrs。
Bennet。 His marriage was now fast approachin