Pride and Prejudice

Chapter 19 (2)
"The gift clause in the will is so informal that I have no hope of getting help from the law. An honest and trustworthy person would not doubt the intention of the ancestors, but Mr. Darcy insisted on doubting it-- Or rather think that it was only a conditional recommendation of his father, and declare that I have forfeited this right because of my extravagance and disorderly behavior, and there is no reason to add guilt anyway. One thing is certain Yes, two years ago when the priest's place was vacant, just when I was old enough to accept it, it was given to someone else; Did anything that should cost me the job. I'm blunt, I don't care about face, maybe I say what I think of him or talk to him a little too casually at times. That's all. It turns out we They're two completely different people, and he hates me so much."

"This is shocking!—he should be publicly condemned."

"Sometime in the future, he will—but it won't be me who condemns him. I will never go against him or expose him until I can't forget his father."

Elizabeth respected him for having such feelings, and Elizabeth thought him more handsome when he expressed them.

"But," she said after a pause, "what could be his motive for doing it?—what induced him to act so unreasonably?"

"It was his complete and unwavering hatred for me--a hatred I have to attribute in some measure to jealousy. If the late Mr. Darcy wasn't so fond of me, he Perhaps my son would have treated me better; I think his father's special affection for me had irritated him as a child. He could not bear the rivalry that had arisen between us--the kind that often It’s a competition with an advantage.”

"I really didn't expect Mr. Darcy to be so bad—though I never liked him, I didn't expect him to be so bad—I didn't think he thought very highly of those around him, but I never suspected he was Will do such malicious revenge, such unreasonable and inhumane things!"

After a few minutes of reflection, she went on: "I do remember that he boasted once at Netherfield that once he had a grudge with another he could never get it over with, that he was not born to forgive. His temperament must have been terrible."

"I will not speak on the subject," replied Wickham, "I can hardly do him justice."

Elizabeth began to think again, and exclaimed after a moment, "His father's godson, friend, and favorite, that he should have so mistreated!"—she would have added, "Not to mention a handsome fellow like you , that face of yours says you're an amiable person"—and what she says is "Besides, you've been his friend since childhood, and I think, as you say, the closest kind of friend .”

"We were born in the same parish, on the same estate, and spent most of our teenage years together; living in the same house, playing together, and being loved by the same father. My father started What your uncle Mr. Phillip is doing is doing very well--but he gave it all up at last to serve old Mr. Darcy, and devoted his time and energy to Pember Old Mr. Darcy valued my father very much and regarded him as his closest and most confidant friend. Old Mr. Darcy often said that my father’s stewardship was very careful in financial management. Mr. Darcy offered himself to support me, and I am sure he owes my father as much gratitude as he loves me."

"How inconceivable!" exclaimed Elizabeth passionately, "how vile!—I can't imagine that the proud quality of this Mr. Darcy has failed to do him justice!—if for no better reason, his pride Nor should it make him so treacherous—I must say treachery."

"It is curious," said Wickham, "that almost all his actions can be traced to his pride;--pride was often his best friend. It united him more than any other emotion. Good deeds are nearer. But we all have our moments of inconsistency; and in his conduct towards me some impulse stronger than pride was at work."

"Can such an abominable pride as his have done him any good?"

"Yes, it often made him generous,--generous in his money, in hospitality, in sponsoring tenants, in helping the poor. Pride in his family and in his father--for he was very much for his father Pride--motivated him to do it. The motive of not disgraceful, at least outwardly, not to lose the influence and prestige of the Pemberley family had its power. He also had a The pride of being an older brother, with some brother-sister affection in it, made him a very considerate and friendly protector of his sister; and you will hear him later praised as being the most caring to teach Good brother."

"And what kind of girl is Miss Darcy?"

He shook his head and said: "I wish I could call her a nice girl. It always pains me to speak of the Darcys. But she is so much like her brother, and very, very proud." When she was little, she was very cute and liked me very much; I also spent a lot of time playing with her. But now she is nothing in my eyes. She is a beautiful girl, She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, and I think she was very talented. Since her father died, she lived in London, where a lady lived with her and took charge of her education."

After this they talked of many other things, with pauses in between, but at last Elizabeth could not help returning to the original subject again.

She said: "I am amazed that he and Mr. Bingley get on so well! Mr. Bingley seems to have a good heart, and I really believe that he treats people well. How can he make friends with such a person?" What? How do they get on with each other?—Do you know Mr. Bingley?"

"do not know."

"He is a gentle, kind, loving fellow. It is impossible for him to know anything about Mr. Darcy."

"Perhaps so;—but Mr. Darcy is attractive if he pleases. He has no shortage of talents. If he thinks it worthwhile, he will be a very agreeable companion. He is in He behaved quite differently among those of his equal than among those of lesser rank. His pride never forsaken him, but he was able to be open-minded, just, faithful, and friendly to the rich. Sensible,—he still cares about wealth and status."

The whist players were dismissed, and the players dispersed to other tables, and Mr. Collins sat down between Elizabeth and Mrs. Phillips. — Mrs. Phillip asked casually if he had won.He said no; he lost it all.Mrs. Phillips then began to express his regrets to him, and he told her very solemnly that it was nothing at all, that he took money very lightly, and begged her not to be disturbed.

"I know very well, ma'am," said he, "that once you're in a poker game, it's all luck and luck—fortunately I'm not short-lived enough to think two shillings a thing. There are, no doubt, plenty of people who cannot say the same, and it is only thanks to Madame Catherine de Bourgh that I am now far removed from the need to live by calculations."

This attracted Wickham's attention; and after looking at Mr. Collins for a moment, he asked Elizabeth, in a low voice, whether this cousin of hers was well acquainted with the de Bauer family.

"Mrs. Catherine de Bourgh," she answered, "has recently given him a priesthood. How Mr. Collins first came to her admiration, I am not quite sure, though he certainly did not know her very long. "

"Of course you know that Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy are sisters; so she is the aunt of this Mr. Darcy we are talking about."

"No, I really don't know.—I don't know of Lady Catherine's relations at all. I never heard of Lady Catherine for the first time until the day before yesterday."

"Her daughter, Mademoiselle de Bourgh, is to receive a large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin (meaning Mr. Darcy.) are going to marry, thus combining the fortunes of the two families."

This news made Elizabeth think of Miss Bingley, and made her smile. All Miss Bingley's attentions must be in vain; He has given himself to another.

"Mr. Collins," said she, "has much praise for Lady Catherine and her daughter; but from some of the particulars he has given of the lady, I have reason to suspect that his gratitude is misguided. He is; and though she is his patron, she is still a proud and conceited woman."

"I largely believe she was a little bit of both," said Wicklingham. "I haven't seen her in years, but I still remember vividly that I never liked Her demeanor was domineering and haughty. She had a reputation for intelligence, though I'd rather think that her competence was partly due to her position and possessions, partly to her authoritative airs. , and the pride that comes from her nephew, who wants everyone who is married to him to have first-class intelligence and understanding."

Elizabeth admitted the goodness of his explanation, and they continued their pleasant chatter until after-game supper was served, and the other girls had a share of Mr. Wickham's favour.At Mrs. Phillip's rowdy table there was no one to talk to, but he won everyone's favor by his good manners alone.Everything that comes out of his mouth is vivid and witty, and everything he does is suave and coquettish.Elizabeth's mind was full of impressions of him when she left.All the way home she thought only of Wickham, and of all he had told her; but she did not even get time to mention his name all the way, for Lydia and Mr. Collins There was not a moment's silence, when Lydia talked about the lottery, how many she had lost and how many she had won, Mr. Collins boasted about the hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, And said he didn't care about the money he lost at whist, and enumerated the dishes on the supper table, apologizing for having crowded the cousins, until the carriage stopped at Longbourne's house, He still couldn't finish his sentence.

(End of this chapter)