PRIDE & PREJUDICE: JANE AUSTEN: CHAPTER FORTY

Next morning. Elizabeth related the chief of the scene between Mr Darcy and herself.  Jane was sorry that Mr Darcy should have delivered his sentiments in a manner so little suited to recommend them.  But she was more sorry of the refusal by her sister.

"His being so sure of succeeding was wrong," said she, "and certainly ought not to have appeared; but consider how much it must increase his disappointment."

"Indeed," said Elizabeth, "I am heartily sorry for him; but he has other feelings, which will probably soon drive away his regard for me.  You do not blame me, however, for refusing him?"

"Blame you! Oh no."

"But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?"

"No - I do not know that you were wrong in what you said."

"But you will know it, when I tell you what happened the very next day."

She then spoke of the letter, repeating the whole of its contents as far as they concerned George Wickham.  What a stroke was this for poor Jane! who would willingly have gone through the world without believing that so much wickedness existed in the whole race of mankind, as was here collected in one individual.  Nor was Darcy's vindication, though grateful to her feelings, capable of consoling her, for such discovery.  Most earnestly did she labour to prove the probability of error, and seek to clear the one without involving the other.

"This will not do," said Elizabeth, "you never will be able to make both of them good for anything.  Take your choice, but you must be satisfied with only one.  But there is but such a quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting about pretty much.  For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Darcy's, but you shall do as you choose."

It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane.

"I do not know when I have been more shocked," said she.  "Wickham so very bad!  It is almost past belief.  And poor Darcy!  Dear Lizzy, only consider what he must have suffered.  Such a disappointment, and with the knowledge of your ill opinion, too! and having to relate such a thing of his sister!  It is too distressing.  I am sure you must feel it so."

"Oh! no, my regret and compassion are all done away by seeing you so full of both.  I know you will do him such ample justice, that I am growing every moment so unconcerned and indifferent.  Your profusion makes me saving; and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will be as light as a feather."

"Poor Wickham! there is such an expression of goodness in his countenance! Such openness and gentleness in his manner!"

"There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men. One 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 a dislike to him, without any reason."

"Lizzy, when you first read the letter, I am sure you could not treat the matter as you do now."

"Indeed, I could not.  I was uncomfortable and unhappy.  And no one to speak to about what I felt.  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 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, make our acquaintances in general understand Wickham's character."

Miss Bennet paused a little, and then replied, "Surely there can be no occasion for exposing him so dreadfully.  What is your 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 difficult to place him in an amiable light.  Wickham will be soon gone; and therefore it will not signify to anyone here what he really was.  Perhaps, It may be found out later.  But at present I will say anything about it."

"You are quite right.  It might ruin him for ever.  Perhaps, he may repent and correct himself."

The tumult of Elizabeth's mind was allayed by this conversation.  She had got rid of secrets as to Mr Darcy and Mr Wickham, which had weighed on her for a fortnight and was certain of a willing listener in Jane.  But she did not tell Jane that part of Mr Darcy's narrative that related to Mr Bingley and Jane.

"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 Phillips so the other day.  But I cannot find out that Jane saw anything of him in London.  Well, he is a very undeserving young man - and I do not suppose there is the least chance of her getting him now.  There is no talk of his coming to Netherfield again in the summer."

"I do not believe he will ever live at Netherfield anymore."

"Oh well!   It is just as he chooses. Nobody wants him to come.  Though I shall always say he used my daughter extremely ill; and if I were 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 sorry for what he has done."

But Elizabeth could not take rescue in any such expectation.

"Well, Lizzy," continued her mother, 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.  If she is as sharp as her mother she is saving enough.  There is nothing extravagant in their housekeeping."

"No, nothing at all."

"A great deal of management depends upon it.  And so, I suppose, they often talk of having Longbourn when your father is dead."

"It was a subject which they could not mention before me."

"No, it would have been strange if they did; 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.

THE END