“Certainly.But the misfortune of speaking with bitterness is a most natural consequence of the prejudices I had been encouraging. There is one point on which I want your advice.I want to be told whether I ought, or ought not, to make our acquaintances in general understand Wickham's character.”
Elizabeth's impatience to acquaint Jane with what had happened could no longer be overcome;and at length,resolving to suppress every particular in which her sister was concerned,and preparing her to be surprised,she related to her the next morning the chief of the scene between Mr.Darcy and herself.
“There certainly was some great mismanagement in the education of those two young men.One has got all the goodness, and the other all the appearance of it.”
“I never thought Mr.Darcy so deficient in the appearance of it as you used to do.”
“Lizzy,when you first read that letter,I am sure you could not treat the matter as you do now.”
“But you will know it,when I have told you what happened the very next day.”
It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted from Jane.
“But you blame me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?”“No―I do not know that you were wrong in saying what you did.”
“How unfortunate that you should have used such very strong expressions in speaking of Wickham to Mr.Darcy,for now they do appear wholly undeserved.”