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have experienced many hardships of that nature。 But in matters of
greater weight； I may suffer from the want of money。 Younger
sons cannot marry where they like。’
‘Unless where they like women of fortune； which I think they
very often do。’
‘Our habits of expence make us too dependant； and there are
not many in my rank of life who can afford to marry without some
attention to money。’
‘Is this；’ thought Elizabeth； ‘meant for me？’ and she coloured at
the idea； but； recovering herself； said in a lively tone； ‘And pray；
what is the usual price of an Earl’s younger son？ Unless the elder
brother is very sickly； I suppose you would not ask above fifty
thousand pounds。’
He answered her in the same style； and the subject dropped。 To
interrupt a silence which might make him fancy her affected with
what had passed； she soon afterwards said；
‘I imagine your cousin brought you down with him chiefly for
the sake of having somebody at his disposal。 I wonder he does not
marry； to secure a lasting convenience of that kind。 But； perhaps
his sister does as well for the present； and； as she is under his sole
care； he may do what he likes with her。’
‘No；’ said Colonel Fitzwilliam； ‘that is an advantage which he
must divide with me。 I am joined with him in the guardianship of
Miss Darcy。’
‘Are you； indeed？ And pray what sort of guardians do you
make？ Does your charge give you much trouble？ Young ladies of
her age； are sometimes a little difficult to manage； and if she has
the true Darcy spirit； she may like to have her own way。’
As she spoke； she observed him looking at her earnestly； and
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the manner in which he immediately asked her why she supposed
Miss Darcy likely to give them any uneasiness； convinced her that
she had somehow or other got pretty near the truth。 She directly
replied；
‘You need not be frightened。 I never heard any harm of her；
and I dare say she is one of the most tractable creatures in the
world。 She is a very great favourite with some ladies of my
acquaintance； Mrs。 Hurst and Miss Bingley。 I think I have heard
you say that you know them。’
‘I know them a little。 Their brother is a pleasant gentlemanlike
man—he is a great friend of Darcy’s。’
‘Oh！ yes；’ said Elizabeth drily—‘Mr。 Darcy is uncommonly kind
to Mr。 Bingley； and takes a prodigious deal of care of him。’
‘Care of him！—Yes； I really believe Darcy does take care of him
in those points where he most wants care。 From something that he
told me in our journey hither； I have reason to think Bingley very
much indebted to him。 But I ought to beg his pardon； for I have no
right to suppose that Bingley was the person meant。 It was all
conjecture。’
‘What is it you mean？’
‘It is a circumstance which Darcy of course would not wish to
be generally known； because if it were to get round to the lady’s
family； it would be an unpleasant thing。’
‘You may depend upon my not mentioning it。’
‘And remember that I have not much reason for supposing it to
be Bingley。 What he told me was merely this； that he
congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from the
inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage； but without
mentioning names or any other particulars； and I only suspected it
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to be Bingley from believing him the kind of young man to get into
a scrape of that sort； and from knowing them to have been
together the whole of last summer。’
‘Did Mr。 Darcy give you his reasons for this interference？’
‘I understood that there were some very strong objections
against the lady。’
‘And what arts did he use to separate them？’
‘He did not talk to me of his own arts；’ said Fitzwilliam smiling。
‘He only told me； what I have now told you。’
Elizabeth made no answer； and walked on； her heart swelling
with indignation。 After watching her a little； Fitzwilliam asked her
why she was so thoughtful。
‘I am thinking of what you have been telling me；’ said she。 ‘Your
cousin’s conduct does not suit my feelings。 Why was he to be the
judge？’
‘You are rather disposed to call his interference officious？’
‘I do not see what right Mr。 Darcy had to decide on the
propriety of his friend’s inclination； or why； upon his own
judgment alone； he was to determine and direct in what manner
that friend was to be happy。’ ‘But；’ she continued； recollecting
herself； ‘as we know none of the particulars； it is not fair to
condemn him。 It is not to be supposed that there was much
affection in the case。’
‘That is not an unnatural surmise；’ said Fitzwilliam； ‘but it is
lessening the honour of my cousin’s triumph very sadly。’
This was spoken jestingly； but it appeared to her so just a
picture of Mr。 Darcy； that she would not trust herself with an
answer； and； therefore； abruptly changing the conversation； talked
on indifferent matters till they reached the parsonage。 There； shut
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into her own room； as soon as their visitor left them； she could
think without interruption of all that she had heard。 It was not to
be supposed that any other people could be meant than those with
whom she was connected。 There could not exist in the world two
men； over whom Mr。 Darcy could have such boundless influence。
That he had been concerned in the measures taken to separate
Mr。 Bingley and Jane； she had never doubted； but she had always
attributed to Miss Bingley the principal design and arrangement
of them。 If his own vanity； however； did not mislead him； he was
the cause； his pride and caprice were the cause of all that Jane had
suffered； and still continued to suffer。 He had ruined for a while
every hope of happiness for the most affectionate； generous heart
in the world； and no one could say how lasting an evil he might
have inflicted。
‘There were some very strong objections against the lady；’ were
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s words； and these strong objections probably
were； her having one uncle who was a country attorney； and
another who was in business in London。
‘To Jane herself；’ she exclaimed； ‘there could be no possibility
of objection。 All loveliness and goodness as she is！ Her
understanding excellent； her mind improved； and her manners
captivating。 Neither could any thing be urged against my father；
who； though with some peculiarities； has abilities which Mr。 Darcy
himself need not disdain； and respectability which he will
probably never reach。’ When she thought of her mother indeed；
her confidence gave way a little； but she would not allow that any
objections there had material weight with Mr。 Darcy； whose pride；
she was convinced； would receive a deeper wound from the want
of importance in his friend’s connections； than from their want of
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sense； and she was quite decided at last； that he had been partly
governed by this worst kind of pride； and partly by the wish of
retaining Mr。 Bingley for his sister。
The agitation and tears which the subject occasioned； brought
on a headach； and it grew so much worse towards the evening
that； added to her unwillingness to see Mr。 Darcy； it deter