elizabethawokethenextmorningtothesamethoughtsandmeditationswhichhadatlengthclosedhereyes.shecouldnotyetrecoverfromthesurpriseofwhathadhappened;itwasimpossibletothinkofanythingelse,and,totallyindisposedforemployment,sheresolvedsoonafterbreakfasttoindulgeherselfinairandexercise.shewasproceedingdirectlytoherfavouritewalk,whentherecollectionofmr.darcy'ssometimescomingtherestoppedher,andinsteadofenteringthepark,sheturnedupthelanewhichledherfartherfromtheturnpikeroad.theparkpalingwasstilltheboundaryononeside,andshesoonpassedoneofthegatesintotheground.

afterwalkingtwoorthreetimesalongthatpartofthelane,shewastempted,bythepleasantnessofthemorning,tostopatthegatesandlookintothepark.thefiveweekswhichshehadnowpassedinkenthadmadeagreatdifferenceinthecountry,andeverydaywasaddingtotheverdureoftheearlytrees.shewasonthepointofcontinuingherwalk,whenshecaughtaglimpseofagentlemanwithinthesortofgrovewhichedgedthepark;hewasmovingthatway;andfearfulofitsbeingmr.darcy,shewasdirectlyretreating.butthepersonwhoadvancedwasnownearenoughtoseeher,andsteppingforwardwitheagerness,pronouncedhername.shehadturnedaway,butonhearingherselfcalled,thoughinavoicewhichprovedittobemr.darcy,shemovedagaintowardsthegate.hehadbythattimereacheditalso,andholdingoutaletter,whichsheinstinctivelytook,saidwithalookofhaughtycomposure,"ihavebeenwalkinginthegrovesometimeinthehopeofmeetingyou.willyoudomethehonourofreadingthatletter?"—andthen,withaslightbow,turnedagainintotheplantation,andwassoonoutofsight.

withnoexpectationofpleasure,butwiththestrongestcuriosity,elizabethopenedtheletter,and,toherstillincreasingwonder,perceivedanenvelopecontainingtwosheetsofletterpaper,writtenquitethrough,inaveryclosehand.—theenvelopeitselfwaslikewisefull.—pursuingherwayalongthelane,shethenbeganit.itwasdatedfromrosings,ateighto'clockinthemorning,andwasasfollows—

"benotalarmed,madam,onreceivingthisletter,bytheapprehensionofitscontaininganyrepetitionofthosesentiments,orrenewalofthoseoffers,whichwerelastnightsodisgustingtoyou.iwritewithoutanyintentionofpainingyou,orhumblingmyself,bydwellingonwishes,which,forthehappinessofboth,cannotbetoosoonforgotten;andtheeffortwhichtheformationandtheperusalofthislettermustoccasionshouldhavebeenspared,hadnotmycharacterrequiredittobewrittenandread.youmust,therefore,pardonthefreedomwithwhichidemandyourattention;yourfeelings,iknow,willbestowitunwillingly,butidemanditofyourjustice.

twooffencesofaverydifferentnature,andbynomeansofequalmagnitude,youlastnightlaidtomycharge.thefirstmentionedwas,that,regardlessofthesentimentsofeither,ihaddetachedmr.bingleyfromyoursister;—andtheother,thatihad,indefianceofvariousclaims,indefianceofhonourandhumanity,ruinedtheimmediateprosperity,andblastedtheprospectsofmr.wickham.—wilfullyandwantonlytohavethrownoffthecompanionofmyyouth,theacknowledgedfavouriteofmyfather,ayoungmanwhohadscarcelyanyotherdependencethanonourpatronage,andwhohadbeenbroughtuptoexpectitsexertion,wouldbeadepravitytowhichtheseparationoftwoyoungpersons,whoseaffectioncouldbethegrowthofonlyafewweeks,couldbearnocomparison.—butfromtheseverityofthatblamewhichwaslastnightsoliberallybestowed,respectingeachcircumstance,ishallhopetobeinfuturesecured,whenthefollowingaccountofmyactionsandtheirmotiveshasbeenread.—if,intheexplanationofthemwhichisduetomyself,iamunderthenecessityofrelatingfeelingswhichmaybeoffensivetoyour's,icanonlysaythatiamsorry.—thenecessitymustbeobeyed—andfartherapologywouldbeabsurd.—ihadnotbeenlonginhertfordshire,beforeisaw,incommonwithothers,thatbingleypreferredyoureldestsistertoanyotheryoungwomaninthecountry.—butitwasnottilltheeveningofthedanceatnetherfieldthatihadanyapprehensionofhisfeelingaseriousattachment.—ihadoftenseenhiminlovebefore.—atthatball,whileihadthehonourofdancingwithyou,iwasfirstmadeacquainted,bysirwilliamlucas'saccidentalinformation,thatbingley'sattentionstoyoursisterhadgivenrisetoageneralexpectationoftheirmarriage.hespokeofitasacertainevent,ofwhichthetimealonecouldbeundecided.fromthatmomentiobservedmyfriend'sbehaviourattentively;andicouldthenperceivethathispartialityformissbennetwasbeyondwhatihadeverwitnessedinhim.yoursisterialsowatched.—herlookandmannerswereopen,cheerful,andengagingasever,butwithoutanysymptomofpeculiarregard,andiremainedconvincedfromtheevening'sscrutiny,thatthoughshereceivedhisattentionswithpleasure,shedidnotinvitethembyanyparticipationofsentiment.—ifyouhavenotbeenmistakenhere,imusthavebeeninanerror.yoursuperiorknowledgeofyoursistermustmakethelatterprobable.—ifitbeso,ifihavebeenmisledbysucherror,toinflictpainonher,yourresentmenthasnotbeenunreasonable.butishallnotscrupletoassertthattheserenityofyoursister'scountenanceandairwassuchasmighthavegiventhemostacuteobserveraconvictionthat,howeveramiablehertemper,herheartwasnotlikelytobeeasilytouched.—thatiwasdesirousofbelievingherindifferentiscertain,—butiwillventuretosaythatmyinvestigationsanddecisionsarenotusuallyinfluencedbymyhopesorfears.—ididnotbelievehertobeindifferentbecauseiwishedit;—ibelieveditonimpartialconviction,astrulyasiwisheditinreason.—myobjectionstothemarriagewerenotmerelythosewhichilastnightacknowledgedtohaverequiredtheutmostforceofpassiontoputasideinmyowncase;thewantofconnectioncouldnotbesogreataneviltomyfriendastome.—buttherewereothercausesofrepugnance;—causeswhich,thoughstillexisting,andexistingtoanequaldegreeinbothinstances,ihadmyselfendeavouredtoforget,becausetheywerenotimmediatelybeforeme.—thesecausesmustbestated,thoughbriefly.—thesituationofyourmother'sfamily,thoughobjectionable,wasnothingincomparisonofthattotalwantofproprietysofrequently,soalmostuniformly,betrayedbyherself,byyourthreeyoungersisters,andoccasionallyevenbyyourfather.—pardonme.—itpainsmetooffendyou.butamidstyourconcernforthedefectsofyournearestrelations,andyourdispleasureatthisrepresentationofthem,letitgiveyouconsolationtoconsiderthattohaveconductedyourselvessoastoavoidanyshareofthelikecensureispraisenolessgenerallybestowedonyouandyoureldestsister,thanitishonourabletothesenseanddispositionofboth.—iwillonlysayfartherthat,fromwhatpassedthatevening,myopinionofallpartieswasconfirmed,andeveryinducementheightened,whichcouldhaveledmebeforetopreservemyfriendfromwhatiesteemedamostunhappyconnection.—heleftnetherfieldforlondon,onthedayfollowing,asyou,iamcertain,remember,withthedesignofsoonreturning.

thepartwhichiactedisnowtobeexplained.—hissisters'uneasinesshadbeenequallyexcitedwithmyown;ourcoincidenceoffeelingwassoondiscovered;and,alikesensiblethatnotimewastobelostindetachingtheirbrother,weshortlyresolvedonjoininghimdirectlyinlondon.—weaccordinglywent—andthereireadilyengagedintheofficeofpointingouttomyfriend,thecertainevilsofsuchachoice.—idescribed,andenforcedthemearnestly.—but,howeverthisremonstrancemighthavestaggeredordelayedhisdetermination,idonotsupposethatitwouldultimatelyhavepreventedthemarriage,haditnotbeensecondedbytheassurance,whichihesitatednotingiving,ofyoursister'sindifference.hehadbeforebelievedhertoreturnhisaffectionwithsincere,ifnotwithequal,regard.—butbingleyhasgreatnaturalmodesty,withastrongerdependenceonmyjudgmentthanonhisown.—toconvincehim,therefore,thathehaddeceivedhimself,wasnoverydifficultpoint.topersuadehimagainstreturningintohertfordshire,whenthatconvictionhadbeengiven,wasscarcelytheworkofamoment.—icannotblamemyselfforhavingdonethusmuch.thereisbutonepartofmyconductinthewholeaffair,onwhichidonotreflectwithsatisfaction;itisthaticondescendedtoadoptthemeasuresofartsofarastoconcealfromhimyoursister'sbeingintown.iknewitmyself,asitwasknowntomissbingley,butherbrotherisevenyetignorantofit.—thattheymighthavemetwithoutillconsequenceis,perhaps,probable;—buthisregarddidnotappeartomeenoughextinguishedforhimtoseeherwithoutsomedanger.—perhapsthisconcealment,thisdisguise,wasbeneathme.—itisdone,however,anditwasdoneforthebest.—onthissubjectihavenothingmoretosay,nootherapologytooffer.ifihavewoundedyoursister'sfeelings,itwasunknowinglydone;andthoughthemotiveswhichgovernedmemaytoyouverynaturallyappearinsufficient,ihavenotyetlearnttocondemnthem.

withrespecttothatother,moreweightyaccusation,ofhavinginjuredmr.wickham,icanonlyrefuteitbylayingbeforeyouthewholeofhisconnectionwithmyfamily.ofwhathehasparticularlyaccusedme,iamignorant;butofthetruthofwhatishallrelate,icansummonmorethanonewitnessofundoubtedveracity.mr.wickhamisthesonofaveryrespectableman,whohadformanyyearsthemanagementofallthepemberleyestates;andwhosegoodconductinthedischargeofhistrustnaturallyinclinedmyfathertobeofservicetohim;andongeorgewickham,whowashisgod-son,hiskindnesswasthereforeliberallybestowed.myfathersupportedhimatschool,andafterwardsatcambridge;—mostimportantassistance,ashisownfather,alwayspoorfromtheextravaganceofhiswife,wouldhavebeenunabletogivehimagentleman'seducation.myfatherwasnotonlyfondofthisyoungman'ssociety,whosemannerswerealwaysengaging;hehadalsothehighestopinionofhim,andhopingthechurchwouldbehisprofession,intendedtoprovideforhiminit.asformyself,itismany,manyyearssinceifirstbegantothinkofhiminaverydifferentmanner.theviciouspropensities—thewantofprinciple,whichhewascarefultoguardfromtheknowledgeofhisbestfriend,couldnotescapetheobservationofayoungmanofnearlythesameagewithhimself,andwhohadopportunitiesofseeinghiminunguardedmoments,whichmr.darcycouldnothave.hereagainishallgiveyoupain—towhatdegreeyouonlycantell.butwhatevermaybethesentimentswhichmr.wickhamhascreated,asuspicionoftheirnatureshallnotpreventmefromunfoldinghisrealcharacter.itaddsevenanothermotive.myexcellentfatherdiedaboutfiveyearsago;andhisattachmenttomr.wickhamwastothelastsosteady,thatinhiswillheparticularlyrecommendedittometopromotehisadvancementinthebestmannerthathisprofessionmightallow,and,ifhetookorders,desiredthatavaluablefamilylivingmightbehisassoonasitbecamevacant.therewasalsoalegacyofonethousandpounds.hisownfatherdidnotlongsurvivemine,andwithinhalfayearfromtheseeventsmr.wickhamwrotetoinformmethat,havingfinallyresolvedagainsttakingorders,hehopedishouldnotthinkitunreasonableforhimtoexpectsomemoreimmediatepecuniaryadvantage,inlieuoftheprefermentbywhichhecouldnotbebenefited.hehadsomeintention,headded,ofstudyingthelaw,andimustbeawarethattheinterestofonethousandpoundswouldbeaveryinsufficientsupporttherein.iratherwishedthanbelievedhimtobesincere;but,atanyrate,wasperfectlyreadytoaccedetohisproposal.iknewthatmr.wickhamoughtnottobeaclergyman.thebusinesswasthereforesoonsettled.heresignedallclaimtoassistanceinthechurch,wereitpossiblethathecouldeverbeinasituationtoreceiveit,andacceptedinreturnthreethousandpounds.allconnectionbetweenusseemednowdissolved.ithoughttooillofhimtoinvitehimtopemberley,oradmithissocietyintown.intown,ibelieve,hechieflylived,buthisstudyingthelawwasamerepretence,andbeingnowfreefromallrestraint,hislifewasalifeofidlenessanddissipation.foraboutthreeyearsiheardlittleofhim;butonthedeceaseoftheincumbentofthelivingwhichhadbeendesignedforhim,heappliedtomeagainbyletterforthepresentation.hiscircumstances,heassuredme,andihadnodifficultyinbelievingit,wereexceedinglybad.hehadfoundthelawamostunprofitablestudy,andwasnowabsolutelyresolvedonbeingordained,ifiwouldpresenthimtothelivinginquestion—ofwhichhetrustedtherecouldbelittledoubt,ashewaswellassuredthatihadnootherpersontoprovidefor,andicouldnothaveforgottenmyreveredfather'sintentions.youwillhardlyblamemeforrefusingtocomplywiththisentreaty,orforresistingeveryrepetitionofit.hisresentmentwasinproportiontothedistressofhiscircumstances—andhewasdoubtlessasviolentinhisabuseofmetoothers,asinhisreproachestomyself.

afterthisperiod,everyappearanceofacquaintancewasdropt.howhelivediknownot.butlastsummerhewasagainmostpainfullyobtrudedonmynotice.imustnowmentionacircumstancewhichiwouldwishtoforgetmyself,andwhichnoobligationlessthanthepresentshouldinducemetounfoldtoanyhumanbeing.havingsaidthusmuch,ifeelnodoubtofyoursecrecy.mysister,whoismorethantenyearsmyjunior,waslefttotheguardianshipofmymother'snephew,colonelfitzwilliam,andmyself.

aboutayearago,shewastakenfromschool,andanestablishmentformedforherinlondon;andlastsummershewentwiththeladywhopresidedoverit,toramsgate;andthitheralsowentmr.wickham,undoubtedlybydesign;forthereprovedtohavebeenaprioracquaintancebetweenhimandmrs.younge,inwhosecharacterweweremostunhappilydeceived;andbyherconnivanceandaidhesofarrecommendedhimselftogeorgiana,whoseaffectionateheartretainedastrongimpressionofhiskindnesstoherasachild,thatshewaspersuadedtobelieveherselfinlove,andtoconsenttoanelopement.shewasthenbutfifteen,whichmustbeherexcuse;andafterstatingherimprudence,iamhappytoaddthatiowedtheknowledgeofittoherself.ijoinedthemunexpectedlyadayortwobeforetheintendedelopement;andthengeorgiana,unabletosupporttheideaofgrievingandoffendingabrotherwhomshealmostlookeduptoasafather,acknowledgedthewholetome.

youmayimaginewhatifeltandhowiacted.regardformysister'screditandfeelingspreventedanypublicexposure,butiwrotetomr.wickham,wholefttheplaceimmediately,andmrs.youngewasofcourseremovedfromhercharge.mr.wickham'schiefobjectwasunquestionablymysister'sfortune,whichisthirtythousandpounds;buticannothelpsupposingthatthehopeofrevenginghimselfonmewasastronginducement.hisrevengewouldhavebeencompleteindeed.

this,madam,isafaithfulnarrativeofeveryeventinwhichwehavebeenconcernedtogether;andifyoudonotabsolutelyrejectitasfalse,youwill,ihope,acquitmehenceforthofcrueltytowardsmr.wickham.iknownotinwhatmanner,underwhatformoffalsehood,hehasimposedonyou;buthissuccessisnot,perhaps,tobewonderedat.

ignorantasyoupreviouslywereofeverythingconcerningeither,detectioncouldnotbeinyourpower,andsuspicioncertainlynotinyourinclination.youmaypossiblywonderwhyallthiswasnottoldyoulastnight.butiwasnotthenmasterenoughofmyselftoknowwhatcouldoroughttoberevealed.forthetruthofeverythinghererelated,icanappealmoreparticularlytothetestimonyofcolonelfitzwilliam,whofromournearrelationshipandconstantintimacy,andstillmoreasoneoftheexecutorsofmyfather'swill,hasbeenunavoidablyacquaintedwitheveryparticularofthesetransactions.ifyourabhorrenceofmeshouldmakemyassertionsvalueless,youcannotbepreventedbythesamecausefromconfidinginmycousin;andthattheremaybethepossibilityofconsultinghim,ishallendeavourtofindsomeopportunityofputtingthisletterinyourhandsinthecourseofthemorning.iwillonlyadd,godblessyou.

fitzwilliamdarcy."