elizabethhadthesatisfactionofreceivingananswertoherletterassoonasshepossiblycould.shewasnosoonerinpossessionofitthan,hurryingintothelittlecopse,whereshewasleastlikelytobeinterrupted,shesatdownononeofthebenchesandpreparedtobehappy;forthelengthoftheletterconvincedherthatitdidnotcontainadenial.

"gracechurchstreet,sept.6.

mydearniece,

ihavejustreceivedyourletter,andshalldevotethiswholemorningtoansweringit,asiforeseethatalittlewritingwillnotcomprisewhatihavetotellyou.imustconfessmyselfsurprisedbyyourapplication;ididnotexpectitfromyou.don'tthinkmeangry,however,forionlymeantoletyouknowthatihadnotimaginedsuchenquiriestobenecessaryonyourside.ifyoudonotchoosetounderstandme,forgivemyimpertinence.youruncleisasmuchsurprisedasiam—andnothingbutthebeliefofyourbeingapartyconcernedwouldhaveallowedhimtoactashehasdone.butifyouarereallyinnocentandignorant,imustbemoreexplicit.ontheverydayofmycominghomefromlongbourn,yourunclehadamostunexpectedvisitor.mr.darcycalled,andwasshutupwithhimseveralhours.itwasalloverbeforeiarrived;somycuriositywasnotsodreadfullyrackedasyour'sseemstohavebeen.hecametotellmr.gardinerthathehadfoundoutwhereyoursisterandmr.wickhamwere,andthathehadseenandtalkedwiththemboth;wickhamrepeatedly,lydiaonce.fromwhaticancollect,heleftderbyshireonlyonedayafterourselves,andcametotownwiththeresolutionofhuntingforthem.themotiveprofessedwashisconvictionofitsbeingowingtohimselfthatwickham'sworthlessnesshadnotbeensowellknownastomakeitimpossibleforanyyoungwomanofcharactertoloveorconfideinhim.hegenerouslyimputedthewholetohismistakenpride,andconfessedthathehadbeforethoughtitbeneathhimtolayhisprivateactionsopentotheworld.hischaracterwastospeakforitself.hecalledit,therefore,hisdutytostepforward,andendeavourtoremedyanevilwhichhadbeenbroughtonbyhimself.ifhehadanothermotive,iamsureitwouldneverdisgracehim.hehadbeensomedaysintown,beforehewasabletodiscoverthem;buthehadsomethingtodirecthissearch,whichwasmorethanwehad;andtheconsciousnessofthiswasanotherreasonforhisresolvingtofollowus.thereisalady,itseems,amrs.younge,whowassometimeagogovernesstomissdarcy,andwasdismissedfromherchargeonsomecauseofdisapprobation,thoughhedidnotsaywhat.shethentookalargehouseinedward-street,andhassincemaintainedherselfbylettinglodgings.thismrs.youngewas,heknew,intimatelyacquaintedwithwickham;andhewenttoherforintelligenceofhimassoonashegottotown.butitwastwoorthreedaysbeforehecouldgetfromherwhathewanted.shewouldnotbetrayhertrust,isuppose,withoutbriberyandcorruption,forshereallydidknowwhereherfriendwastobefound.wickhamindeedhadgonetoherontheirfirstarrivalinlondon,andhadshebeenabletoreceivethemintoherhouse,theywouldhavetakenuptheirabodewithher.atlength,however,ourkindfriendprocuredthewished-fordirection.theywerein—street.hesawwickham,andafterwardsinsistedonseeinglydia.hisfirstobjectwithher,heacknowledged,hadbeentopersuadehertoquitherpresentdisgracefulsituation,andreturntoherfriendsassoonastheycouldbeprevailedontoreceiveher,offeringhisassistance,asfarasitwouldgo.buthefoundlydiaabsolutelyresolvedonremainingwhereshewas.shecaredfornoneofherfriends;shewantednohelpofhis;shewouldnothearofleavingwickham.shewassuretheyshouldbemarriedsometimeorother,anditdidnotmuchsignifywhen.sincesuchwereherfeelings,itonlyremained,hethought,tosecureandexpediteamarriage,which,inhisveryfirstconversationwithwickham,heeasilylearnthadneverbeenhisdesign.heconfessedhimselfobligedtoleavetheregiment,onaccountofsomedebtsofhonour,whichwereverypressing;andscruplednottolayalltheill-consequencesoflydia'sflightonherownfollyalone.hemeanttoresignhiscommissionimmediately;andastohisfuturesituation,hecouldconjectureverylittleaboutit.hemustgosomewhere,buthedidnotknowwhere,andheknewheshouldhavenothingtoliveon.mr.darcyaskedhimwhyhehadnotmarriedyoursisteratonce.thoughmr.bennetwasnotimaginedtobeveryrich,hewouldhavebeenabletodosomethingforhim,andhissituationmusthavebeenbenefitedbymarriage.buthefound,inreplytothisquestion,thatwickhamstillcherishedthehopeofmoreeffectuallymakinghisfortunebymarriageinsomeothercountry.undersuchcircumstances,however,hewasnotlikelytobeproofagainstthetemptationofimmediaterelief.theymetseveraltimes,fortherewasmuchtobediscussed.wickhamofcoursewantedmorethanhecouldget;butatlengthwasreducedtobereasonable.everythingbeingsettledbetweenthem,mr.darcy'snextstepwastomakeyouruncleacquaintedwithit,andhefirstcalledingracechurch-streettheeveningbeforeicamehome.butmr.gardinercouldnotbeseen,andmr.darcyfound,onfurtherenquiry,thatyourfatherwasstillwithhim,butwouldquittownthenextmorning.hedidnotjudgeyourfathertobeapersonwhomhecouldsoproperlyconsultasyouruncle,andthereforereadilypostponedseeinghimtillafterthedepartureoftheformer.hedidnotleavehisname,andtillthenextdayitwasonlyknownthatagentlemanhadcalledonbusiness.onsaturdayhecameagain.yourfatherwasgone,youruncleathome,and,asisaidbefore,theyhadagreatdealoftalktogether.

"theymetagainonsunday,andthenisawhimtoo.itwasnotallsettledbeforemonday:assoonasitwas,theexpresswassentofftolongbourn.butourvisitorwasveryobstinate.ifancy,lizzy,thatobstinacyistherealdefectofhischaracter,afterall.hehasbeenaccusedofmanyfaultsatdifferenttimes,butthisisthetrueone.nothingwastobedonethathedidnotdohimself;thoughiamsure(andidonotspeakittobethanked,thereforesaynothingaboutit),yourunclewouldmostreadilyhavesettledthewhole.theybattledittogetherforalongtime,whichwasmorethaneitherthegentlemanorladyconcernedinitdeserved.butatlastyourunclewasforcedtoyield,andinsteadofbeingallowedtobeofusetohisniece,wasforcedtoputupwithonlyhavingtheprobablecreditofit,whichwentsorelyagainstthegrain;andireallybelieveyourletterthismorninggavehimgreatpleasure,becauseitrequiredanexplanationthatwouldrobhimofhisborrowedfeathers,andgivethepraisewhereitwasdue.but,lizzy,thismustgonofartherthanyourself,orjaneatmost.youknowprettywell,isuppose,whathasbeendonefortheyoungpeople.hisdebtsaretobepaid,amounting,ibelieve,toconsiderablymorethanathousandpounds,anotherthousandinadditiontoherownsettleduponher,andhiscommissionpurchased.thereasonwhyallthiswastobedonebyhimalone,wassuchasihavegivenabove.itwasowingtohim,tohisreserveandwantofproperconsideration,thatwickham'scharacterhadbeensomisunderstood,andconsequentlythathehadbeenreceivedandnoticedashewas.perhapstherewassometruthinthis;thoughidoubtwhetherhisreserve,oranybody'sreserve,canbeanswerablefortheevent.butinspiteofallthisfinetalking,mydearlizzy,youmayrestperfectlyassuredthatyourunclewouldneverhaveyielded,ifwehadnotgivenhimcreditforanotherinterestintheaffair.whenallthiswasresolvedon,hereturnedagaintohisfriends,whowerestillstayingatpemberley;butitwasagreedthatheshouldbeinlondononcemorewhentheweddingtookplace,andallmoneymatterswerethentoreceivethelastfinish.ibelieveihavenowtoldyoueverything.itisarelationwhichyoutellmeistogiveyougreatsurprise;ihopeatleastitwillnotaffordyouanydispleasure.lydiacametous;andwickhamhadconstantadmissiontothehouse.hewasexactlywhathehadbeenwheniknewhiminhertfordshire;butiwouldnottellyouhowlittleiwassatisfiedwithherbehaviourwhileshestaidwithus,ifihadnotperceived,byjane'sletterlastwednesday,thatherconductoncominghomewasexactlyofapiecewithit,andthereforewhatinowtellyoucangiveyounofreshpain.italkedtoherrepeatedlyinthemostseriousmanner,representingtoherallthewickednessofwhatshehaddone,andalltheunhappinessshehadbroughtonherfamily.ifsheheardme,itwasbygoodluck,foriamsureshedidnotlisten.iwassometimesquiteprovoked,butthenirecollectedmydearelizabethandjane,andfortheirsakeshadpatiencewithher.mr.darcywaspunctualinhisreturn,andaslydiainformedyou,attendedthewedding.hedinedwithusthenextday,andwastoleavetownagainonwednesdayorthursday.willyoubeveryangrywithme,mydearlizzy,ifitakethisopportunityofsaying(whatiwasneverboldenoughtosaybefore)howmuchilikehim.hisbehaviourtoushas,ineveryrespect,beenaspleasingaswhenwewereinderbyshire.hisunderstandingandopinionsallpleaseme;hewantsnothingbutalittlemoreliveliness,andthat,ifhemarryprudently,hiswifemayteachhim.ithoughthimverysly;—hehardlyevermentionedyourname.butslynessseemsthefashion.prayforgivemeifihavebeenverypresuming,oratleastdonotpunishmesofarastoexcludemefromp.ishallneverbequitehappytillihavebeenallroundthepark.alowphaeton,withanicelittlepairofponies,wouldbetheverything.butimustwritenomore.thechildrenhavebeenwantingmethishalfhour.your's,verysincerely,

m.gardiner."

thecontentsofthisletterthrewelizabethintoaflutterofspirits,inwhichitwasdifficulttodeterminewhetherpleasureorpainborethegreatestshare.thevagueandunsettledsuspicionswhichuncertaintyhadproducedofwhatmr.darcymighthavebeendoingtoforwardhersister'smatch,whichshehadfearedtoencourageasanexertionofgoodnesstoogreattobeprobable,andatthesametimedreadedtobejust,fromthepainofobligation,wereprovedbeyondtheirgreatestextenttobetrue!hehadfollowedthempurposelytotown,hehadtakenonhimselfallthetroubleandmortificationattendantonsucharesearch;inwhichsupplicationhadbeennecessarytoawomanwhomhemustabominateanddespise,andwherehewasreducedtomeet,frequentlymeet,reasonwith,persuade,andfinallybribe,themanwhomhealwaysmostwishedtoavoid,andwhoseverynameitwaspunishmenttohimtopronounce.hehaddoneallthisforagirlwhomhecouldneitherregardnoresteem.herheartdidwhisperthathehaddoneitforher.butitwasahopeshortlycheckedbyotherconsiderations,andshesoonfeltthatevenhervanitywasinsufficient,whenrequiredtodependonhisaffectionforher—forawomanwhohadalreadyrefusedhim—asabletoovercomeasentimentsonaturalasabhorrenceagainstrelationshipwithwickham.brother-in-lawofwickham!everykindofpridemustrevoltfromtheconnection.hehad,tobesure,donemuch.shewasashamedtothinkhowmuch.buthehadgivenareasonforhisinterference,whichaskednoextraordinarystretchofbelief.itwasreasonablethatheshouldfeelhehadbeenwrong;hehadliberality,andhehadthemeansofexercisingit;andthoughshewouldnotplaceherselfashisprincipalinducement,shecould,perhaps,believethatremainingpartialityforhermightassisthisendeavoursinacausewhereherpeaceofmindmustbemateriallyconcerned.itwaspainful,exceedinglypainful,toknowthattheywereunderobligationstoapersonwhocouldneverreceiveareturn.theyowedtherestorationoflydia,hercharacter,everything,tohim.oh!howheartilydidshegrieveovereveryungracioussensationshehadeverencouraged,everysaucyspeechshehadeverdirectedtowardshim.forherselfshewashumbled;butshewasproudofhim.proudthatinacauseofcompassionandhonour,hehadbeenabletogetthebetterofhimself.shereadoverheraunt'scommendationofhimagainandagain.itwashardlyenough;butitpleasedher.shewasevensensibleofsomepleasure,thoughmixedwithregret,onfindinghowsteadfastlybothsheandherunclehadbeenpersuadedthataffectionandconfidencesubsistedbetweenmr.darcyandherself.

shewasrousedfromherseat,andherreflections,bysomeone'sapproach;andbeforeshecouldstrikeintoanotherpath,shewasovertakenbywickham.

"iamafraidiinterruptyoursolitaryramble,mydearsister?"saidhe,ashejoinedher.

"youcertainlydo,"sherepliedwithasmile;"butitdoesnotfollowthattheinterruptionmustbeunwelcome."

"ishouldbesorryindeed,ifitwere.wewerealwaysgoodfriends;andnowwearebetter."

"true.aretheotherscomingout?"

"idonotknow.mrs.bennetandlydiaaregoinginthecarriagetomeryton.andso,mydearsister,ifind,fromouruncleandaunt,thatyouhaveactuallyseenpemberley."

sherepliedintheaffirmative.

"ialmostenvyyouthepleasure,andyetibelieveitwouldbetoomuchforme,orelseicouldtakeitinmywaytonewcastle.andyousawtheoldhousekeeper,isuppose?poorreynolds,shewasalwaysveryfondofme.butofcourseshedidnotmentionmynametoyou."

"yes,shedid."

"andwhatdidshesay?"

"thatyouweregoneintothearmy,andshewasafraidhad—notturnedoutwell.atsuchadistanceasthat,youknow,thingsarestrangelymisrepresented."

"certainly,"hereplied,bitinghislips.elizabethhopedshehadsilencedhim;buthesoonafterwardssaid,