resign his commission immediately; and as to his future situation,

he could conjecture very little about it. He must go somewhere, but

he did not know where, and he knew he should have nothing to live

on. Mr. Darcy asked why he did not marry your sister at once.

Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very rich, he would have

been able to do something for him, and his situation must have been

benefited by marriage. But he found, in reply to this question,

that Wickham still cherished the hope of more effectually making

his fortune by marriage, in some other country. Under such

circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof against the

temptation of immediate relief. They met several times, for there

was much to be discussed. Wickham, of course, wanted more than he

could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable. Everything

being settled between them, Mr. Darcy’s next step was to make

your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurch

Street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not

be seen; and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your father

was still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did

not judge your father to be a person whom he could so properly

consult as your uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him

till after the {397}departure of the former. He did not leave his name,

and till the next day it was only known that a gentleman had called

on business. On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your

uncle at home, and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk

together. They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It

was not all settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express

was sent off to Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I

fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy is the real defect of his character,

after all. He has been accused of many faults at different times;