are naturally lively enough. And we all know that Wickham has every

charm of person and address that can captivate a woman.{348}”
“But you see that Jane,” said her aunt, “does not think so ill of

Wickham, as to believe him capable of the attempt.”
“Of whom does Jane ever think ill? And who is there, whatever might be

their former conduct, that she would believe capable of such an attempt,

till it were proved against them? But Jane knows, as well as I do, what

Wickham really is. We both know that he has been profligate in every

sense of the word; that he has neither integrity nor honour; that he is

as false and deceitful as he is insinuating.”
“And do you really know all this?” cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity

as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive.
“I do, indeed,” replied Elizabeth, colouring. “I told you the other day

of his infamous behaviour to Mr. Darcy; and you, yourself, when last at

Longbourn, heard in what manner he spoke of the man who had behaved with

such forbearance and liberality towards him. And there are other

circumstances which I am not at liberty—which it is not worth while to

relate; but his lies about the whole Pemberley family are endless. From

what he said of Miss Darcy, I was thoroughly prepared to see a proud,

reserved, disagreeable girl. Yet he knew to the contrary himself. He

must know that she was as amiable and unpretending as we have found

her.”
“But does Lydia know nothing of this? can she be ignorant of what you

and Jane seem so well to understand?”
“Oh, yes!—that, that is the worst of all. Till I was in Kent, and saw

so much both of Mr. Darcy and his relation Colonel Fitzwilliam, I was

{349}ignorant of the truth myself. And when I returned home the ——shire

was to leave Meryton in a week or fortnight’s time. As that was the

case, neither Jane, to whom I related the whole, nor I, thought it

necessary to make our knowledge public; for of what use could it