PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 52

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ELIZABETH had the
satisfaction of receiving an answer to her letter as soon as she possibly
could. She was no sooner in possession of it than, hurrying into the little
copse, where she was least likely to be interrupted, she sat down on one
of the benches and prepared to be happy; for the length of the letter
convinced her that it did not contain a denial.

"Gracechurch-street, Sept. 6.

MY DEAR NIECE,

I have just received your letter, and shall devote this whole morning
  to answering it, as I foresee that a little writing will not comprise
  what I have to tell you. I must confess myself surprised by your application;
  I did not expect it from you. Don't think me angry, however, for I only
  mean to let you know that I had not imagined such enquiries to be necessary
  on your side. If you do not choose to understand me, forgive my impertinence.
  Your uncle is as much surprised as I am -- and nothing but the belief
  of your being a party concerned would have allowed him to act as he
  has done. But if you are really innocent and ignorant, I must be more
  explicit. On the very day of my coming home from Longbourn, your uncle
  had a most unexpected visitor. Mr. Darcy called, and was shut up with
  him several hours. It was all over before I arrived; so my curiosity
  was not so dreadfully racked as your'sseems to have been. He came to
  tell Mr. Gardiner that he had found out where your sister and Mr. Wickham
  were, and that he had seen and talked with them both; Wickham repeatedly,
  Lydia once. From what I can collect, he left Derbyshire only one day
  after ourselves, and came to town with the resolution of hunting for
  them. The motive professed was his conviction of its being owing to
  himself that Wickham's worthlessness had not been so well known as to
  make it impossible for any young woman of character to love or confide
  in him. He generously imputed the whole to his mistaken pride, and confessed
  that he had before thought it beneath him to lay his private actions
  open to the world. His character was to speak for itself. He called
  it, therefore, his duty to step forward, and endeavour to remedy an
  evil which had been brought on by himself. If he had another motive,
  I am sure it would never disgrace him. He had been some days in town,
  before he was able to discover them; but he had something to direct
  his search, which was more than we had; and the consciousness of this
  was another reason for his resolving to follow us. There is a lady,
  it seems, a Mrs. Younge, who was some time ago governess to Miss Darcy,
  and was dismissed from her charge on some cause of disapprobation, though
  he did not say what. She then took a large house in Edward-street, and
  has since maintained herself by letting lodgings. This Mrs. Younge was,
  he knew, intimately acquainted with Wickham; and he went to her for
  intelligence of him as soon as he got to town. But it was two or three
  days before he could get from her what he wanted. She would not betray
  her trust, I suppose, without bribery and corruption, for she really
  did know where her friend was to be found. Wickham indeed had gone to
  her on their first arrival in London, and had she been able to receive
  them into her house, they would have taken up their abode with her.
  At length, however, our kind friend procured the wished-for direction.
  They were in ---- street. He saw Wickham, and afterwards insisted on
  seeing Lydia. His first object with her, he acknowledged, had been to
  persuade her to quit her present disgraceful situation, and return to
  her friends as soon as they could be prevailed on to receive her, offering
  his assistance, as far as it would go. But he found Lydia absolutely
  resolved on remaining where she was. She cared for none of her friends;
  she wanted no help of his; she would not hear of leaving Wickham. She
  was sure they should be married some time or other, and it did not much
  signify when. Since such were her feelings, it only remained, he thought,
  to secure and expedite a marriage, which, in his very first conversation
  with Wickham, he easily learnt had never been his design. He confessed
  himself obliged to leave the regiment, on account of some debts of honour,
  which were very pressing; and scrupled not to lay all the ill-consequences
  of Lydia's flight on her own folly alone. He meant to resign his commission
  immediately; and as to his future situation, he could conjecture very
  little about it. He must go somewhere, but he did not know where, and
  he knew he should have nothing to live on. Mr. Darcy asked him why he
  had not married your sister at once. Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined
  to be very rich, he would have been able to do something for him, and
  his situation must have been benefited by marriage. But he found, in
  reply to this question, that Wickham still cherished the hope of more
  effectually making his fortune by marriage in some other country. Under
  such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof against the
  temptation of immediate relief. They met several times, for there was
  much to be discussed. Wickham of course wanted more than he could get;
  but at length was reduced to be reasonable. Every thing being settled
  between them, Mr. Darcy's next step was to make your uncle acquainted
  with it, and he first called in Gracechurch-street the evening before
  I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not be seen, and Mr. Darcy found,
  on further enquiry, that your father was still with him, but would quit
  town the next morning. He did not judge your father to be a person whom
  he could so properly consult as your uncle, and therefore readily postponed
  seeing him till after the departure of the former. He did not leave
  his name, and till the next day it was only known that a gentleman had
  called on business. On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone,
  your uncle at home, and, as I said before, they had a great deal of
  talk together. They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It
  was not all settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was
  sent off to Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy,
  Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character, after all.
  He has been accused of many faults at different times, but this is the
  true one. Nothing was to be done that he did not do himself; though
  I am sure (and I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing
  about it), your uncle would most readily have settled the whole. They
  battled it together for a long time, which was more than either the
  gentleman or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was
  forced to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece,
  was forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which
  went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this
  morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation
  that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise where
  it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no farther than yourself, or Jane
  at most. You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been done for the
  young people. His debts are to be paid, amounting, I believe, to considerably
  more than a thousand pounds, another thousand in addition to her own
  settled upon her, and his commission purchased. The reason why all this
  was to be done by him alone, was such as I have given above. It was
  owing to him, to his reserve and want of proper consideration, that
  Wickham's character had been so misunderstood, and consequently that
  he had been received and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth
  in this; though I doubt whether his reserve, or anybody'sreserve, can
  be answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking,
  my dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would
  never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for another interest
  in the affair. When all this was resolved on, he returned again to his
  friends, who were still staying at Pemberley; but it was agreed that
  he should be in London once more when the wedding took place, and all
  money matters were then to receive the last finish. I believe I have
  now told you every thing. It is a relation which you tell me is to give
  you great surprise; I hope at least it will not afford you any displeasure.
  Lydia came to us; and Wickham had constant admission to the house. He
  was exactly what he had been when I knew him in Hertfordshire; but I
  would not tell you how little I was satisfied with her behaviour while
  she staid with us, if I had not perceived, by Jane's letter last Wednesday,
  that her conduct on coming home was exactly of a piece with it, and
  therefore what I now tell you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to
  her repeatedly in the most serious manner, representing to her all the
  wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness she had brought
  on her family. If she heard me, it was by good luck, for I am sure she
  did not listen. I was sometimes quite provoked, but then I recollected
  my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sakes had patience with her.
  Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and as Lydia informed you, attended
  the wedding. He dined with us the next day, and was to leave town again
  on Wednesday or Thursday. Will you be very angry with me, my dear Lizzy,
  if I take this opportunity of saying (what I was never bold enough to
  say before) how much I like him. His behaviour to us has, in every respect,
  been as pleasing as when we were in Derbyshire. His understanding and
  opinions all please me; he wants nothing but a little more liveliness,
  and that, if he marry prudently, his wife may teach him. I thought him
  very sly; -- he hardly ever mentioned your name. But slyness seems the
  fashion. Pray forgive me if I have been very presuming, or at least
  do not punish me so far as to exclude me from P. I shall never be quite
  happy till I have been all round the park. A low phaeton, with a nice
  little pair of ponies, would be the very thing. But I must write no
  more. The children have been wanting me this half hour. Your's, very
  sincerely,

M. GARDINER."

The contents of this letter threw Elizabeth into a flutter of spirits,
  in which it was difficult to determine whether pleasure or pain bore
  the greatest share. The vague and unsettled suspicions which uncertainty
  had produced of what Mr. Darcy might have been doing to forward her
  sister's match, which she had feared to encourage as an exertion of
  goodness too great to be probable, and at the same time dreaded to be
  just, from the pain of obligation, were proved beyond their greatest
  extent to be true! He had followed them purposely to town, he had taken
  on himself all the trouble and mortification attendant on such a research;
  in which supplication had been necessary to a woman whom he must abominate
  and despise, and where he was reduced to meet, frequently meet, reason
  with, persuade, and finally bribe, the man whom he always most wished
  to avoid, and whose very name it was punishment to him to pronounce.
  He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem.
  Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope
  shortly checked by other considerations, and she soon felt that even
  her vanity was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection
  for her -- for a woman who had already refused him -- as able to overcome
  a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham.
  Brother-in-law of Wickham! Every kind of pride must revolt from the
  connection. He had, to be sure, done much. She was ashamed to think
  how much. But he had given a reason for his interference, which asked
  no extraordinary stretch of belief. It was reasonable that he should
  feel he had been wrong; he had liberality, and he had the means of exercising
  it; and though she would not place herself as his principal inducement,
  she could, perhaps, believe that remaining partiality for her might
  assist his endeavours in a cause where her peace of mind must be materially
  concerned. It was painful, exceedingly painful, to know that they were
  under obligations to a person who could never receive a return. They
  owed the restoration of Lydia, her character, every thing, to him. Oh!
  how heartily did she grieve over every ungracious sensation she had
  ever encouraged, every saucy speech she had ever directed towards him.
  For herself she was humbled; but she was proud of him. Proud that in
  a cause of compassion and honour, he had been able to get the better
  of himself. She read over her aunt's commendation of him again and again.
  It was hardly enough; but it pleased her. She was even sensible of some
  pleasure, though mixed with regret, on finding how steadfastly both
  she and her uncle had been persuaded that affection and confidence subsisted
  between Mr. Darcy and herself.

She was roused from her seat, and her reflections, by some one's approach;
  and before she could strike into another path, she was overtaken by
  Wickham.

"I am afraid I interrupt your solitary ramble, my dear sister?"
  said he, as he joined her.

"You certainly do," she replied with a smile; "but it does not
  follow that the interruption must be unwelcome."

"I should be sorry indeed, if it were. We were always good friends;
  and now we are better."

"True. Are the others coming out?"

"I do not know. Mrs. Bennet and Lydia are going in the carriage to
  Meryton. And so, my dear sister, I find, from our uncle and aunt, that
  you have actually seen Pemberley."

She replied in the affirmative.

"I almost envy you the pleasure, and yet I believe it would be too
  much for me, or else I could take it in my way to Newcastle. And you
  saw the old housekeeper, I suppose? Poor Reynolds, she was always very
  fond of me. But of course she did not mention my name to you."

"Yes, she did."

"And what did she say?"

"That you were gone into the army, and she was afraid had -- not
  turned out well. At such a distance as that, you know, things are strangely
  misrepresented."

"Certainly," he replied, biting his lips. Elizabeth hoped she had
  silenced him; but he soon afterwards said,

"I was surprised to see Darcy in town last month. We passed each
  other several times. I wonder what he can be doing there."

"Perhaps preparing for his marriage with Miss de Bourgh," said Elizabeth.
  "It must be something particular, to take him there at this time of
  year."

"Undoubtedly. Did you see him while you were at Lambton? I thought
  I understood from the Gardiners that you had."

"Yes; he introduced us to his sister."

"And do you like her?"

"Very much."

"I have heard, indeed, that she is uncommonly improved within this
  year or two. When I last saw her, she was not very promising. I am very
  glad you liked her. I hope she will turn out well."

"I dare say she will; she has got over the most trying age."

"Did you go by the village of Kympton?"

"I do not recollect that we did."

"I mention it, because it is the living which I ought to have had.
  A most delightful place! -- Excellent Parsonage House! It would have
  suited me in every respect."

"How should you have liked making sermons?"

"Exceedingly well. I should have considered it as part of my duty,
  and the exertion would soon have been nothing. One ought not to repine;
  -- but, to be sure, it would have been such a thing for me! The quiet,
  the retirement of such a life would have answered all my ideas of happiness!
  But it was not to be. Did you ever hear Darcy mention the circumstance,
  when you were in Kent?"

"I have heard from authority, which I thought as good, that it was
  left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present patron."

"You have. Yes, there was something in that; I told you so from the
  first, you may remember."

"I did hear, too, that there was a time, when sermon-making was not
  so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you actually
  declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that the business
  had been compromised accordingly."

"You did! and it was not wholly without foundation. You may remember
  what I told you on that point, when first we talked of it."

They were now almost at the door of the house, for she had walked
  fast to get rid of him; and unwilling, for her sister's sake, to provoke
  him, she only said in reply, with a good-humoured smile,

"Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know. Do not let
  us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall be always of one
  mind."

She held out her hand; he kissed it with affectionate gallantry, though
  he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house.

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2. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 58
3. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 44
4. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 42
5. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 41
6. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 40
7. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 39
8. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 38
9. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 11
10. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 12
11. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 45
12. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 46
13. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 49
14. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 57
15. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 56
16. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Chapter 55