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Classics in Literature： Jane Austen ElecBook
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‘Poor Wickham； there is such an expression of goodness in his
countenance！ such an openness and gentleness in his manner。
‘There certainly was some great mismanagement in the
education of those two young men。 One has got all the goodness；
and the other all the appearance of it。’
‘I never thought Mr。 Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it
as you used to do。’
‘And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so decided
a dislike to him； without any reason。 It is such a spur to one’s
genius； such an opening for wit to have a dislike of that kind。 One
may be continually abusive without saying any thing just； but one
cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then
stumbling on something witty。’
‘Lizzy； when you first read that letter； I am sure you could not
treat the matter as you do now。’
‘Indeed I could not。 I was uncomfortable enough。 I was very
uncomfortable； I may say unhappy。 And with no one to speak to； of
what I felt； no Jane to comfort me and say that I had not been so
very weak and vain and nonsensical as I knew I had！ Oh！ how I
wanted you！’
‘How unfortunate that you should have used such very strong
expressions in speaking of Wickham to Mr。 Darcy； for now they do
appear wholly undeserved。’
‘Certainly。 But the misfortune of speaking with bitterness； is a
most natural consequence of the prejudices I had been
encouraging。 There is one point； on which I want your advice。 I
want to be told whether I ought； or ought not to make our
acquaintance in general understand Wickham’s character。’
Miss Bennet paused a little and then replied； ‘Surely there can
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be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully。 What is your own
opinion？’
‘That it ought not to be attempted。 Mr。 Darcy has not
authorised me to make his communication public。 On the contrary
every particular relative to his sister； was meant to be kept as
much as possible to myself； and if I endeavour to undeceive people
as to the rest of his conduct； who will believe me？ The general
prejudice against Mr。 Darcy is so violent； that it would be the
death of half the good people in Meryton； to attempt to place him
in an amiable light。 I am not equal to it。 Wickham will soon be
gone； and therefore it will not signify to anybody here； what he
really is。 Sometime hence it will be all found out； and then we may
laugh at their stupidity in not knowing it before。 At present I will
say nothing about it。’
‘You are quite right。 To have his errors made public might ruin
him for ever。 He is now perhaps sorry for what he has done； and
anxious to re…establish a character。 We must not make him
desperate。’
The tumult of Elizabeth’s mind was allayed by this con…
versation。 She had got rid of two of the secrets which had weighed
on her for a fortnight； and was certain of a willing listener in Jane；
whenever she might wish to talk again of either。 But there was still
something lurking behind； of which prudence forbad the
disclosure。 She dared not relate the other half of Mr。 Darcy’s
letter； nor explain to her sister how sincerely she had been valued
by his friend。 Here was knowledge in which no one could partake；
and she was sensible that nothing less than a perfect
understanding between the parties could justify her in throwing
off this last incumbrance of mystery。 ‘And then；’ said she； ‘if that
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very improbable event should ever take place； I shall merely be
able to tell what Bingley may tell in a much more agreeable
manner himself。 The liberty of communication cannot be mine till
it has lost all its value！’
She was now； on being settled at home； at leisure to observe the
real state of her sister’s spirits。 Jane was not happy。 She still
cherished a very tender affection for Bingley。 Having never even
fancied herself in love before； her regard had all the warmth of
first attachment； and from her age and disposition； greater
steadiness than first attachments often boast； and so fervently did
she value his remembrance； and prefer him to every other man；
that all her good sense； and all her attention to the feelings of her
friends； were requisite to check the indulgence of those regrets；
which must have been injurious to her own health and their
tranquillity。
‘Well； Lizzy；’ said Mrs。 Bennet one day； ‘what is your opinion
now of this sad business of Jane’s？ For my part； I am determined
never to speak of it again to anybody。 I told my sister Philips so the
other day。 But I cannot find out that Jane saw any thing of him in
London。 Well； he is a very undeserving young man—and I do not
suppose there is the least chance in the world of her ever getting
him now。 There is no talk of his coming to Netherfield again in the
summer； and I have enquired of every body too； who is likely to
know。’
‘I do not believe that he will ever live at Netherfield any more。
‘Oh； well！ it is just as he chooses。 Nobody wants him to come。
Though I shall always say that he used my daughter extremely ill；
and if I was her； I would not have put up with it。 Well； my comfort
is； I am sure Jane will die of a broken heart； and then he will be
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sorry for what he has done。’
But as Elizabeth could not receive comfort from any such
expectation； she made no answer。
‘Well； Lizzy；’ continued her mother soon afterwards； ‘and so the
Collinses live very comfortable； do they？ Well； well； I only hope it
will last。 And what sort of table do they keep？ Charlotte is an
excellent manager； I dare say。 If she is half as sharp as her mother；
she is saving enough。 There is nothing extravagant in their
housekeeping； I dare say。’
‘No； nothing at all。’
‘A great deal of good management； depend upon it。 Yes； yes。
They will take care not to outrun their income。 They will never be
distressed for money。 Well； much good may it do them！ And so； I
suppose； they often talk of having Longbourn when your father is
dead。 They look upon it quite as their own； I dare say； whenever
that happens。’
‘It was a subject which they could not mention before me。’
‘No。 It would have been strange if they had。 But I make no
doubt； they often talk of it between themselves。 Well； if they can be
easy with an estate that is not lawfully their own； so much the
better。 I should be ashamed of having one that was only entailed
on me。’
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CHAPTER XVIII
he first week of their return was soon gone。 The second
began。 It was the last of the regiment’s stay in Meryton；
T
and all the young ladies in the neighbourhood were
drooping apace。 The dejection was almost universal。 The elder
Miss Bennets alone were still able to eat； drink； and sleep； and
pursue the usual course of their employments。 Very frequently
were they reproached for this insensibility by