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to Elizabeth, and she was very willing to hear him, though what she chiefly wished to hear she could not
hope to be told, the history of his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy. She dared not even mention that
gentleman. Her curiosity however was unexpectedly relieved. Mr. Wickham began the subject himself.
He inquired how far Netherfield was from Meryton; and, after receiving her answer, asked in an
hesitating manner how long Mr. Darcy had been staying there.
"About a month," said Elizabeth; and then, unwilling to let the subject drop, added, "He is a man of very
large property in Derbyshire, I understand."
"Yes," replied Wickham; "his estate there is a noble one. A clear ten thousand per annum. You could
not have met with a person more capable of giving you certain information on that head than myself for
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I have been connected with his family in a particular manner from my infancy."
Elizabeth could not but look surprised.
"You may well be surprised, Miss Bennet, at such an assertion, after seeing, as you probably might, the
very cold manner of our meeting yesterday. Are you much acquainted with Mr. Darcy?"
"As much as I ever wish to be," cried Elizabeth warmly, "I have spent four days in the same house with
him, and I think him very disagreeable."
"I have no right to give my opinion," said Wickham, "as to his being agreeable or otherwise. I am not
qualified to form one. I have known him too long and too well to be a fair judge. It is impossible for me
to be impartial. But I believe your opinion of him would in general astonish and perhaps you would not
express it quite so strongly anywhere else. Here you are in your own family."
"Upon my word I say no more here than I might say in any house in the neighbourhood, except
Netherfield. He is not at all liked in Hertfordshire. Every body is disgusted with his pride. You will not
find him more favourably spoken of by any one."
"I cannot pretend to be sorry," said Wickham, after a short interruption, "that he or that any man should
not be estimated beyond their deserts; but with him I believe it does not often happen. The world is
blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him
only as he chuses to be seen."
"I should take him, even on my slight acquaintance, to be an ill-tempered man." Wickham only shook his
head.
"I wonder," said he, at the next opportunity of speaking, "whether he is likely to be in this country much
longer."
"I do not at all know; but I heard nothing of his going away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans
in favour of the shire will not be affected by his being in the neighbourhood."
"Oh! no it is not for me to be driven away by Mr. Darcy. If he wishes to avoid seeing me , he must
go. We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for
avoiding him but what I might proclaim to all the world; a sense of very great ill usage, and most painful
regrets at his being what he is. His father, Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men that
ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy
without being grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His behaviour to myself has been
scandalous; but I verily believe I could forgive him any thing and every thing, rather than his disappointing
the hopes and disgracing the memory of his father."
Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it
prevented farther inquiry.
Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics, Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society,
appearing highly pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the latter especially, with gentle
but very intelligible gallantry.
"It was the prospect of constant society, and good society," he added, "which was my chief inducement
to enter the shire. I knew it to be a most respectable, agreeable corps, and my friend Denny tempted
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me farther by his account of their present quarters, and the very great attentions and excellent
acquaintance Meryton had procured them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a
disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I must have employment and society. A military
life is not what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made it eligible. The church ought to
have been my profession I was brought up for the church, and I should at this time have been in
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