gentlewoman for my sake, and for your own; let her be an active,

useful sort of person, not brought up high, but able to make a small

income go a good way. This is my advice. Find such a woman as soon as

you can, bring her to Hunsford, and{135} I will visit her.’ Allow me, by the

way, to observe, my fair cousin, that I do not reckon the notice and

kindness of Lady Catherine de Bourgh as among the least of the

advantages in my power to offer. You will find her manners beyond

anything I can describe; and your wit and vivacity, I think, must be

acceptable to her, especially when tempered with the silence and respect

which her rank will inevitably excite. Thus much for my general

intention in favour of matrimony; it remains to be told why my views

were directed to Longbourn instead of my own neighbourhood, where I

assure you there are many amiable young women. But the fact is, that

being, as I am, to inherit this estate after the death of your honoured

father (who, however, may live many years longer), I could not satisfy

myself without resolving to choose a wife from among his daughters, that

the loss to them might be as little as possible when the melancholy

event takes place—which, however, as I have already said, may not be

for several years. This has been my motive, my fair cousin, and I

flatter myself it will not sink me in your esteem. And now nothing

remains for me but to assure you in the most animated language of the

violence of my affection. To fortune I am perfectly indifferent, and

shall make no demand of that nature on your father, since I am well

aware that it could not be complied with; and that one thousand pounds

in the 4 per cents., which will not be yours till after your mother’s

decease, is all that you may ever be entitled to. On that head,

therefore, I shall be uniformly silent: and you may assure yourself that

no ungenerous reproach shall ever pass my lips when we are married.”