elizabeth'simpatiencetoacquaintjanewithwhathadhappenedcouldnolongerbeovercome;andatlengthresolvingtosuppresseveryparticularinwhichhersisterwasconcerned,andpreparinghertobesurprised,sherelatedtoherthenextmorningthechiefofthescenebetweenmr.darcyandherself.

missbennet'sastonishmentwassoonlessenedbythestrongsisterlypartialitywhichmadeanyadmirationofelizabethappearperfectlynatural;andallsurprisewasshortlylostinotherfeelings.shewassorrythatmr.darcyshouldhavedeliveredhissentimentsinamannersolittlesuitedtorecommendthem;butstillmorewasshegrievedfortheunhappinesswhichhersister'srefusalmusthavegivenhim.

"hisbeingsosureofsucceeding,waswrong,"saidshe;"andcertainlyoughtnottohaveappeared;butconsiderhowmuchitmustincreasehisdisappointment."

"indeed,"repliedelizabeth,"iamheartilysorryforhim;buthehasotherfeelingswhichwillprobablysoondriveawayhisregardforme.youdonotblameme,however,forrefusinghim?"

"blameyou!oh,no."

"butyoublamemeforhavingspokensowarmlyofwickham."

"no—idonotknowthatyouwerewronginsayingwhatyoudid."

"butyouwillknowit,whenihavetoldyouwhathappenedtheverynextday."

shethenspokeoftheletter,repeatingthewholeofitscontentsasfarastheyconcernedgeorgewickham.whatastrokewasthisforpoorjane!whowouldwillinglyhavegonethroughtheworldwithoutbelievingthatsomuchwickednessexistedinthewholeraceofmankind,aswasherecollectedinoneinpidual.norwasdarcy'svindication,thoughgratefultoherfeelings,capableofconsolingherforsuchdiscovery.mostearnestlydidshelabourtoprovetheprobabilityoferror,andseektoclearonewithoutinvolvingtheother.

"thiswillnotdo,"saidelizabeth."youneverwillbeabletomakebothofthemgoodforanything.takeyourchoice,butyoumustbesatisfiedwithonlyone.thereisbutsuchaquantityofmeritbetweenthem;justenoughtomakeonegoodsortofman;andoflateithasbeenshiftingaboutprettymuch.formypart,iaminclinedtobelieveitallmr.darcy's,butyoushalldoasyouchuse."

itwassometime,however,beforeasmilecouldbeextortedfromjane.

"idonotknowwhenihavebeenmoreshocked,"saidshe."wickhamsoverybad!itisalmostpastbelief.andpoormr.darcy!dearlizzy,onlyconsiderwhathemusthavesuffered.suchadisappointment!andwiththeknowledgeofyourillopiniontoo!andhavingtorelatesuchathingofhissister!itisreallytoodistressing.iamsureyoumustfeelitso."

"oh!no,myregretandcompassionarealldoneawaybyseeingyousofullofboth.iknowyouwilldohimsuchamplejustice,thatiamgrowingeverymomentmoreunconcernedandindifferent.yourprofusionmakesmesaving;andifyoulamentoverhimmuchlonger,myheartwillbeaslightasafeather."

"poorwickham;thereissuchanexpressionofgoodnessinhiscountenance!suchanopennessandgentlenessinhismanner."

"therecertainlywassomegreatmismanagementintheeducationofthosetwoyoungmen.onehasgotallthegoodness,andtheotheralltheappearanceofit."

"ineverthoughtmr.darcysodeficientintheappearanceofitasyouusedtodo."

"andyetimeanttobeuncommonlycleverintakingsodecidedadisliketohim,withoutanyreason.itissuchaspurtoone'sgenius,suchanopeningforwittohaveadislikeofthatkind.onemaybecontinuallyabusivewithoutsayinganythingjust;butonecannotbealwayslaughingatamanwithoutnowandthenstumblingonsomethingwitty."

"lizzywhenyoufirstreadthatletter,iamsureyoucouldnottreatthematterasyoudonow."