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gates and look into the park。 The five weeks which she had now
passed in Kent； had made a great difference in the country； and
every day was adding to the verdure of the early trees。 She was on
the point of continuing her walk； when she caught a glimpse of a
gentleman within the sort of grove which edged the park； he was
moving that way； and fearful of its being Mr。 Darcy； she was
directly retreating。 But the person who advanced； was now near
enough to see her； and stepping forward with eagerness；
pronounced her name。 She had turned away； but on hearing
herself called； though in a voice which proved it to be Mr。 Darcy；
she moved again towards the gate。 He had by that time reached it
also； and holding out a letter； which she instinctively took； said
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with a look of haughty composure； ‘I have been walking in the
grove some time in the hope of meeting you。 Will you do me the
honour of reading that letter？’—And then； with a slight bow；
turned again into the plantation； and was soon out of sight。
With no expectation of pleasure； but with the strongest
curiosity； Elizabeth opened the letter； and to her still increasing
wonder； perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter
paper； written quite through； in a very close hand。—The envelope
itself was likewise full。—Pursuing her way along the lane； she then
began it。 It was dated from Rosings； at eight o’clock in the
morning； and was as follows：—
‘Be not alarmed； Madam； on receiving this letter； by the
apprehension of its containing any repetition of those sentiments；
or renewal of those offers； which were last night so disgusting to
you。 I write without any intention of paining you； or humbling
myself； by dwelling on wishes； which； for the happiness of both；
cannot be too soon forgotten； and the effort which the formation；
and the perusal of this letter must occasion； should have been
spared； had not my character required it to be written and read。
You must； therefore； pardon the freedom with which I demand
your attention； your feelings； I know； will bestow it unwillingly；
but I demand it of your justice。
‘Two offences of a very different nature； and by no means of
equal magnitude； you last night laid to my charge。 The first
mentioned was； that； regardless of the sentiments of either； I had
detached Mr。 Bingley from your sister；—and the other； that I had；
in defiance of various claims； in defiance of honour and humanity；
ruined the immediate prosperity； and blasted the prospects of Mr。
Wickham。—Wilfully and wantonly to have thrown off the
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companion of my youth； the acknowledged favourite of my father；
a young man who had scarcely any other dependence than on our
patronage； and who had been brought up to expect its exertion；
would be a depravity； to which the separation of two young
persons； whose affection could be the growth of only a few weeks；
could bear no comparison。—But from the severity of that blame
which was last night so liberally bestowed； respecting each
circumstance； I shall hope to be in future secured； when the
following account of my actions and their motives has been
read。—If； in the explanation of them which is due to myself； I am
under the necessity of relating feelings which may be offensive to
your’s； I can only say that I am sorry。—The necessity must be
obeyed—and farther apology would be absurd。—I had not been
long in Hertfordshire； before I saw； in common with others； that
Bingley preferred your eldest sister； to any other young woman in
the country。—But it was not till the evening of the dance at
Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious
attachment。—I had often seen him in love before。—At that ball；
while I had the honour of dancing with you； I was first made
acquainted； by Sir William Lucas’s accidental information； that
Bingley’s attentions to your sister had given rise to a general
expectation of their marriage。 He spoke of it as a certain event； of
which the time alone could be undecided。 From that moment I
observed my friend’s behaviour attentively； and I could then
perceive that his partiality for Miss Bennet was beyond what I had
ever witnessed in him。 Your sister I also watched。—Her look and
manners were open； cheerful and engaging as ever； but without
any symptom of peculiar regard； and I remained convinced from
the evening’s scrutiny； that though she received his attentions
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with pleasure； she did not invite them by any participation of
sentiment。—If you have not been mistaken here； I must have been
in an error。 Your superior knowledge of your sister must make the
latter probable。—If it be so； if I have been misled by such error； to
inflict pain on her； your resentment has not been unreasonable。
But I shall not scruple to assert； that the serenity of your sister’s
countenance and air was such； as might have given the most acute
observer； a conviction that； however amiable her temper； her
heart was not likely to be easily touched。—That I was desirous of
believing her indifferent is certain；—but I will venture to say that
my investigations and decisions are not usually influenced by my
hopes or fears。—I did not believe her to be indifferent because I
wished it；—I believed it on impartial conviction； as truly as I
wished it in reason。—My objections to the marriage were not
merely those； which I last night acknowledged to have required
the utmost force of passion to put aside； in my own case； the want
of connection could not be so great an evil to my friend as to me。—
But there were other causes of repugnance；—causes which；
though still existing； and existing to an equal degree in both
instances； I had myself endeavoured to forget； because they were
not immediately before me。 These causes must be stated； though
briefly。—The situation of your mother’s family； though
objectionable； was nothing in comparison of that total want of
propriety so frequently； so almost uniformly betrayed by herself；
by your three younger sisters； and occasionally even by your
father。
Pardon me。—It pains me to offend you。 But amidst your
concern for the defects of your nearest relations； and your
displeasure at this representation of them； let it give you
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consolation to consider that； to have conducted yourselves so as to
avoid any share of the like censure； is praise no less generally
bestowed on you and your eldest sister； than it is honourable to
the sense and disposition of both。—I will only say farther； that
from what passed that evening； my opinion of all parties was
confirmed； and every inducement heightened； which could have
led me before； to preserve my friend from what