Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 18 (1)
As the girls' rendezvous with their aunt was not objected to, and Mr. Collins's apprehension of leaving the Bennets alone for an evening on his first visit was most emphatically denied by the old couple, The carriage drove him punctually to Meryton, with his five cousins; and as soon as the girls entered the drawing-room, it was learned that Wickham had accepted the invitation, and was already in the room.Not to mention how happy I am.

When everyone heard the news and sat down, Mr. Collins began to look around leisurely and admire him. He was so impressed by the spaciousness of the room and the exquisite furniture. in the little summer dining-room at Rosings; the parable was not at first noticed by the master; it was only when Lady Philip learned from him what kind of a house Rosings was, and who owned it. , and when she heard him tell of Lady Catherine's drawing room, where a mantelpiece alone cost eight hundred pounds, she felt the weight of this compliment, and now compares it to a The housekeeper's room there, she would have no complaints.

He described to her with relish the splendor of Lady Catherine and the splendor of her mansion, and inserted from time to time some compliments on his own little house, which was being improved and furnished, etc., and so on. He passed the time till the gentlemen came in; he found Mrs. Philip listening intently, and the more she listened the more he seemed to him, and the more she wanted to sell a piece among her neighbors as soon as possible. Fan.The girls couldn't listen to what their cousin said, but they could only play with some musical instruments, or paint the china on the mantelpiece, so the waiting time was very important to them. It's really long and long to say.However, the wait is finally over.The men came in; and Elizabeth felt, as Wickham entered the room, an unaccountable surge of admiration which had never been seen before, or after seeing him again. Never again.The officers of a certain county are a well-reputed and gentlemanly sort, and the best of them are here today; but Mr. Wickham, in character, appearance, manners, manner, and gait, far exceeds They were as distant as they were from Uncle Philip, the broad-faced, broad-bodied, grape-smelling mouthful, who came in after them.

Wickham was the happiest man in the room, the eyes of nearly all the girls were on him, and Elizabeth was the happiest woman, for Wickham sat down beside her at last; He soon struck up conversation with her, though it was only about the wet weather tonight and the approaching rainy season, but his easy-going demeanor made her feel that even the most mundane and dull clichés would never come. It can also be fun to say it out of his mouth.

With Mr. Wickham and such officers as his adversaries, Mr. Collins gradually became insignificant, even meaningless, in the eyes of pretty girls; but he was still able to make Mrs. Philip his sometimes. A kind listener, and thanks to her care, coffee and muffins were brought to him from time to time.

After the card table was set, Mr. Collins had the opportunity to reciprocate her, and sat down with her to play whist (whist (whist): a kind of card game similar to bridge.).

"I don't know much about the game at the moment," said he, "but I'll be glad to improve on it, for I'm in the position—" Mrs. Phillips thanked him for the honor, but waited. It is not as good as he states his reasons.

Wickham, instead of whist, went to another table, where he was cordially welcomed by Elizabeth and Lydia.At first Lydia looked as if she wanted to get his attention completely, for she was a very talkative girl; but she was also very fond of the lottery, and soon she was completely engrossed in it. She placed a bet, shouted happily after winning the prize, and no longer cared about distracting her with anyone.There were plenty of people to play the game, so that Mr. Wickham had time to talk to Elizabeth, and she was happy to listen to him, though she wished to hear most of all that which she was ashamed to ask, That is, his acquaintance with Mr. Darcy.She wasn't even ashamed to mention Darcy's name.Unexpectedly, her curiosity was satisfied unexpectedly.Mr. Wickham himself took up the subject of his own initiative.He first asked how far Netherfield was from Meryton, and after a moment's hesitation on receiving her answer he asked how long Mr. Darcy had been there.

"It's been about a month," said Elizabeth; eager to pursue the subject, she added, "He's a rich man in Derbyshire, I hear."

"Yes," said Wickham;—"he has a considerable fortune there. Ten thousand pounds a year. As for him, you'll never meet a man who knows him better than I do myself. people—because I've had a special relationship with his family since I was a kid."

Elizabeth couldn't help showing a surprised expression.

"You will, of course, be surprised at my words, after you have perhaps seen the mutual indifference with which we met yesterday.—Do you know Mr. Darcy well?"

"More familiar than I would have liked," exclaimed Elizabeth warmly. "I have spent four days with him in the same mansion, and I find him quite a nuisance."

"As to whether he's a nuisance," said Wickham, "I'm not entitled to my opinion. I can't form a correct opinion. I've known him too long and too well. It's hard to be an impartial judge. It's impossible for me to be unbiased. But I'm sure you'd be surprised what you think of him—if you were anywhere else, you'd probably be Don't put it so harshly.—It's different here, you're in your own home."

"I'd dare say that in any neighbour's house, except in Netherfield. He's not welcome at all in our Hertfordshire. Everyone hates his pride. You won't find one here Those who speak well of him."

"I think, I may say," said Wickham, after a little pause, "that neither Mr. Darcy nor any one else should be judged more than they are; but for him Well, I think it is often not the case. The world is either blinded by his wealth and position, or frightened by his domineering manner, and everyone thinks of him in his favor."

"Although I know him very little, I think he is a very bad-tempered man." Hearing this, Wickham just shook his head.

"I don't know," he added, after a pause, "will he stay long here in the country?"

"Nor do I know at all; but I never heard of him going when I was in Netherfield. I hope that the plans you have made for yourself because you like the county will not be because he is affected here."

"Oh! no--how Mr. Darcy can scare me away. If he doesn't want to see me, he's gone. We're stuck, and it always makes me feel good to meet him." Pain, but I don’t have any shady reasons to avoid him except that I can advertise to the world; what fills my heart is a kind of resentment for being treated extremely unfairly, and regret for the pain he is now. His father, the late Mr. Darcy, was the best man in the world and my truest friend; whenever I am with the present Mr. Darcy, there is always a lot of warmth in me It pains me from the bottom of my heart to miss him. His behavior towards me was outrageous; but I truly believe that I can forgive him for anything so long as he lives up to his father's expectations and does not dishonor his father's name."

Elizabeth's interest in the subject increased markedly, and she listened attentively; it was only on account of its subtlety that the question was not pursued further.

Mr. Wickham began to talk of more general subjects, Meryton, the neighbors here, society, and he seemed to be pleased with everything he had seen so far here, especially It was when he spoke of the latter that he displayed his tender solicitude.

"It's the friendliness and simplicity of society here," he added, "that's what drew me to the county. I know the force has a good reputation and good connections with the locals, and my My friend Denny spoke again of their present camp and of the many hospitable and genuine friends they had in Meryton, which touched my heart even more. I admit that socializing is a must for me. I am a loser Down and out, mentally can't stand being alone. I had to have something to do and socialize. It wasn't always my dream to be a soldier, it was just because of circumstances. Priest should be my calling - I grew up Such an education, if the man we have just spoken of had been happy to do so, I would have a well-paying ministerial job by now."

"Oh!"

"The late Mr. Darcy said in his will to leave me the next best clergymanship. He was my godfather, and he was very fond of me. I can never repay him enough. He Wanting to make me well-fed, he pretty much thought he had done it for me; but when the position of pastor became vacant, it was given to someone else."

"Dear me!" cried Elizabeth, "but how is it possible?—how can his will not be carried out?—why don't you sue the law?"

(End of this chapter)