ElizabethsimpatiencetoacquaintJanewithwhathadhappenedcouldnolongerbeovercome;andatlength,resolvingtosuppresseveryparticularinwhichhersisterwasconcerned,andpreparinghertobesurprised,sherelatedtoherthenextmorningthechiefofthescenebetweenMr.Darcyandherself.
MissBennetsastonishmentwassoonlessenedbythestrongsisterlypartialitywhichmadeanyadmirationofElizabethappearperfectlynatural;andallsurprisewasshortlylostinotherfeelings.ShewassorrythatMr.Darcyshouldhavedeliveredhissentimentsinamannersolittlesuitedtorecommendthem;butstillmorewasshegrievedfortheunhappinesswhichhersistersrefusalmusthavegivenhi
“Hisbeingsosureofsucceedingwaswrong,”saidshe,“andcertainlyoughtnottohaveappeared;butconsiderhowmuchitmustincreasehisdisappointment!”
“Indeed,”repliedElizabeth,“Iamheartilysorryforhim;buthehasotherfeelings,whichwillprobablysoondriveawayhisregardforme.Youdonotblameme,however,forrefusinghim?”
“Blameyou!Oh,no.”
“ButyoublamemeforhavingspokensowarmlyofWickham?”“No—Idonotknowthatyouwerewronginsayingwhatyoudid.”
“Butyouwillknowit,whenIhavetoldyouwhathappenedtheverynextday.”
Shethenspokeoftheletter,repeatingthewholeofitscontentsasfarastheyconcernedGeorgeWickhaWhatastrokewasthisforpoorJane,whowouldwillinglyhavegonethroughtheworldwithoutbelievingthatsomuchwickednessexistedinthewholeraceofmankind,aswasherecollectedinoneindividual.NorwasDarcysvindication,thoughgratefultoherfeelings,capableofconsolingherforsuchdiscovery.Mostearnestlydidshelabourtoprovetheprobabilityoferror,andseektocleartheonewithoutinvolvingtheother.
“Thiswillnotdo,”saidElizabeth;“youneverwillbeabletomakebothofthemgoodforanything.Takeyourchoice,butyoumustbesatisfiedwithonlyone.Thereisbutsuchaquantityofmeritbetweenthem;justenoughtomakeonegoodsortofman;andoflateithasbeenshiftingaboutprettymuch.Formypart,IaminclinedtobelieveitallMr.Darcys;butyoushalldoasyouchoose.”
Itwassometime,however,beforeasmilecouldbeextortedfromJane.
“IdonotknowwhenIhavebeenmoreshocked,”saidshe.“Wickhamsoverybad!Itisalmostpastbelief.AndpoorMr.Darcy!DearLizzy,onlyconsiderwhathemusthavesuffered.Suchadisappointment!andwiththeknowledgeofyourillopinion,too!andhavingtorelatesuchathingofhissister!Itisreallytoodistressing.Iamsureyoumustfeelitso.”
“Oh!no,myregretandcompassionarealldoneawaybyseeingyousofullofboth.Iknowyouwilldohimsuchamplejustice,thatIamgrowingeverymomentmoreunconcernedandindifferent.Yourprofusionmakesmesaving;andifyoulamentoverhimmuchlonger,myheartwillbeaslightasafeather.”
“PoorWickham!thereissuchanexpressionofgoodnessinhiscountenance!suchanopennessandgentlenessinhismanner!”
“Therecertainlywassomegreatmismanagementintheeducationofthosetwoyoungmen.Onehasgotallthegoodness,andtheotheralltheappearanceofit.”
“IneverthoughtMr.Darcysodeficientintheappearanceofitasyouusedtodo.”
“AndyetImeanttobeuncommonlycleverintakingsodecidedadisliketohim,withoutanyreason.Itissuchaspurtoonesgenius,suchanopeningforwit,tohaveadislikeofthatkind.Onemaybecontinuallyabusivewithoutsayinganythingjust;butonecannotalwaysbelaughingatamanwithoutnowandthenstumblingonsomethingwitty.”
“Lizzy,whenyoufirstreadthatletter,Iamsureyoucouldnottreatthematterasyoudonow.”
“Indeed,Icouldnot.Iwasuncomfortableenough,Iwasveryuncomfortable,Imaysayunhappy.AndwithnoonetospeaktoaboutwhatIfelt,noJanetocomfortmeandsaythatIhadnotbeensoveryweakandvainandnonsensicalasIknewIhad!Oh!howIwantedyou!”
“HowunfortunatethatyoushouldhaveusedsuchverystrongexpressionsinspeakingofWickhamtoMr.Darcy,fornowtheydoappearwhollyundeserved.”
“Certainly.ButthemisfortuneofspeakingwithbitternessisamostnaturalconsequenceoftheprejudicesIhadbeenencouraging.ThereisonepointonwhichIwantyouradvice.IwanttobetoldwhetherIought,oroughtnot,tomakeouracquaintancesingeneralunderstandWickhamscharacter.”
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