Pride and Prejudice; Sense and Sensibility

Chapter 16 Darcy in the Mouth of Wickham (1)
There was no objection to the young ladies' appointments with their aunts.Collins only felt a little sorry to come here as a guest, but left the Bennets at home all night, but they told him not to take it to heart.So he and his five cousins ​​arrived in Meryton on time in a carriage.The ladies were glad, as soon as they entered the drawing-room, to learn that Mr. Wickham had accepted their uncle's invitation, and was about to arrive.

After everyone heard the news, they all sat down.Mr. Collins looked about at his leisure, admiring everything in the house: its size and furniture so envied him, that he said he seemed to have entered Lady Catherine's little summer dining-room at Rosings.At the beginning, this metaphor did not satisfy the owner very much, but when Mrs. Phillips figured out what Rosings was and who its owner was, she heard him talk about a drawing room of Mrs. Catherine's. It was only when a mantelpiece cost eight hundred pounds that she realized how flattering his comparison was, and she did not object to comparing her house to Rosings's housekeeper's room.

Collins, while telling of Lady Catherine and the splendor of her mansion, interspersed occasionally with a boast of his own house, which was being furnished, etc., and continued on to the gentlemen Come in.He found that Mrs. Philip listened attentively to him, and the more she listened the more she thought him great, and she resolved to spread his words as soon as she could.As for the ladies, it seemed too long a wait, for they were not happy to listen to their cousin's gossip, and had nothing else to do, but could not do it, so they sketched little things in the same way as the china on the mantel-piece. Yier came to pass the time.

The waiting time was finally over and the gentlemen arrived.Elizabeth felt, as soon as Mr. Wickham came in, that she had loved him rightly, either when she had last seen him, or since she had thought of him since their last meeting.The officers of a county are a well-reputed and gentlemanly sort, and this dinner was attended by the best of them.Mr. Wickham was as far above them in character, in looks, in grace, in station, as they were in that uncle--look at that fat, pot-bellied uncle, who With a mouthful of wine, he followed them into the house.

Mr. Wickham was the happiest man of the day, and nearly every woman's eyes were upon him; and Elizabeth, the happiest woman of the day, sat by her side at last, and was at once with her. The conversation began, although it was only about the rain that night and the possibility of the rainy season coming, but he was so pleasant that she couldn't help feeling that even the most ordinary, boring, and old-fashioned words, as long as the speaker has skill, Still the same can be very pleasant.

When it comes to winning the favor of women, Mr. Collins is at once reduced to insignificance when confronted with such formidable rivals as Mr. Wickham and the officers.He is really nothing in the eyes of the ladies. Fortunately, Mrs. Philips has a heart and communicates with him from time to time; she is also very careful and treats him to coffee and muffins as much as possible.

When the tables were set, Collins sat down to play whist, and at last had a chance of repaying her kindness.He said: "I don't know anything about this stuff, but I'd like to learn it, in my position-" Mrs. Philip was very grateful for his kindness, but she didn't want to hear him talk about his status. .

Mr. Wickham did not play whist, for he was cheerfully invited by the ladies to play at another table, between Elizabeth and Lydia.The beginning of the situation was very worrying, because Lydia was very talkative, and it was very possible to monopolize him; but she was also interested in lottery, and she was immediately interested in it, and she bet with all her energy. , After winning the award, I shouted and screamed, so I couldn't pay special attention to a certain person.

While Mr. Wickham was playing with the others, he talked to Elizabeth at his leisure.Elizabeth was very willing to listen to him, and would like to know about his past relationship with Mr. Darcy, but he might not be willing to talk about what she wanted to hear.So she dared not mention that gentleman.Then, unexpectedly, Mr. Wickham took the initiative to talk about the subject, and thus completely satisfied her curiosity.Mr. Wickham asked how far Netherfield was from Meryton.After she answered him, he asked hesitantly how long Mr. Darcy had been there.

Elizabeth said, "About a month."

In order not to let the subject go easily, she went on: "As far as I know, he has a lot of money in Derbyshire."

"Yes," answered Wickham, "his fortune is considerable--ten thousand pounds a year net. No one knows that well, as I was brought up with his family. special relationship."

Elizabeth could not help showing a look of surprise.

"Miss Bennet, you may have seen the coldness with which we met yesterday. No wonder you were surprised by what I said. Are you familiar with Mr. Darcy?"

"I only wish I knew him so well," cried Elizabeth, irritatedly. "I've been with him four days, and he's a nuisance to me."

Wickham said: "I don't have a right to say my opinion on whether he's likable or annoying. An impartial judgement. I can't be impartial. But I dare say your opinion of him is generally appalling, and perhaps you wouldn't say it so much elsewhere. It's all yours here. What about the family?"

"Honestly, that's what I'd say if I went to any house in the neighbourhood, except at Netherfield. No one in Hertfordshire liked him at all. He had the haughty air that anyone would hate. You mustn't You won’t hear anyone say a good word about him.”

After a while, Wickham said: "To speak with a clear conscience, neither he nor anyone else deserves to be exalted too much. But I don't think anyone will exalt him too much as a man. Yes. His wealth and power have blinded everyone, and his arrogant and domineering demeanor has frightened everyone, so that everyone can only look at him according to his heart."

"Although I don't know him very well, I think he is a very bad tempered person."

Wickham just shook his head when he heard this.

When he had a chance to speak, he went on: "I don't know if he intends to stay in this village any longer."

"I don't know at all. However, when I was at Netherfield, I didn't hear that he was going. Since you like the English Midlands and plan to work there, I hope you don't let him be in the vicinity. plan of."

"Oh, no, I'm not going to let Mr. Darcy go away. If he doesn't want to see me, he's got to go. We're on bad terms, and I don't like seeing him, but I There is no reason to avoid him, but I only want to let you know how wrong he has done me, and how his conduct pains me. Miss Bennet, his dead father, old Mr. Darcy, was The kindest man in the world is also the most sincere friend in my life; whenever I am with Mr. Darcy now, I cannot help bringing back thousands of warm memories. His behavior towards me is really bad But I really believe that I can forgive him everything, but I can't tolerate him living up to the high expectations of his ancestors and dishonoring his ancestors' reputation."

Elizabeth's growing interest in the matter listened with particular attention.However, this matter is very strange, and it is inconvenient for her to ask further questions.

Mr. Wickham again chatted on general matters at random.He talked of Meryton, his neighbourhood, society, and the like, with great delight in all that he saw, and especially when it came to society, his manners were more refined and courteous. .

He added: "I love the Midlands mainly because the society here is gentle and friendly, and I know that the army has a good reputation and is loved by everyone, plus my Friend Danny, in order to persuade me to come here, said how good their present barracks were, how well the people of Meryton treated them, and how many good friends they had made in Meryton. I confess that I cannot do without a social life. I'm a frustrated man, I can't bear to be alone mentally, so I must have a professional and social life. I didn't intend to live in the army, but because of circumstances, I have to join the army now. I should have been a priest Yes, and the original intention of the family was to make me a clergyman; and if I could please the gentleman we have just been speaking of, I might have a good clergyman's salary now."

"is it?"

"Why not! Old Mr. Darcy said in his will that the best clergymanship should be left to me as soon as there was a vacancy. He was my godfather and loved me very much. I can't express the kindness he has done to me." .He wants to keep me well fed, and he thinks he has done it, but when the vicarage becomes vacant, it falls to someone else."

"My God!" cried Elizabeth, "how can such a thing happen, and how can he not act according to his will? Why don't you appeal according to the law?"

(End of this chapter)