their Lambton friends that could materially lessen its weight. They had

nothing to accuse him of but pride; pride he probably had, and if not,

it would certainly be imputed by the inhabitants of a small market town{325}

where the family did not visit. It was acknowledged, however, that he

was a liberal man, and did much good among the poor.
With respect to Wickham, the travellers soon found that he was not held

there in much estimation; for though the chief of his concerns with the

son of his patron were imperfectly understood, it was yet a well-known

fact that, on his quitting Derbyshire, he had left many debts behind

him, which Mr. Darcy afterwards discharged.
As for Elizabeth, her thoughts were at Pemberley this evening more than

the last; and the evening, though as it passed it seemed long, was not

long enough to determine her feelings towards one in that mansion; and

she lay awake two whole hours, endeavouring to make them out. She

certainly did not hate him. No; hatred had vanished long ago, and she

had almost as long been ashamed of ever feeling a dislike against him,

that could be so called. The respect created by the conviction of his

valuable qualities, though at first unwillingly admitted, had for some

time ceased to be repugnant to her feelings; and it was now heightened

into somewhat of a friendlier nature by the testimony so highly in his

favour, and bringing forward his disposition in so amiable a light,

which yesterday had produced. But above all, above respect and esteem,

there was a motive within her of good-will which could not be

overlooked. It was gratitude;—gratitude, not merely for having once

loved her, but for loving her still well enough to forgive all the

petulance and acrimony of her manner in rejecting him, and all the

unjust accusations accompanying her rejection. He who, she had been

persuaded, would avoid her as his greatest enemy, seemed, on this