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'I should take him, even on _my_ slight acquaintance, to be

an ill-tempered man.' Wickham only shook his head.

'I wonder,' said he, at the next opportunity of speaking,

'whether he is likely to be in this country much longer.'

'I do not at all know; but I _heard_ nothing of his going

away when I was at Netherfield. I hope your plans in favour

of the shire will not be affected by his being in the

neighbourhood.'

'Oh no -- it is not for _me_ to be driven away by Mr. Darcy.

If _he_ wishes to avoid seeing _me,_ he must go. We are not

on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him,

but I have no reason for avoiding _him_ but what I might

proclaim to all the world -- a sense of very great ill usage,

and most painful regrets at his being what he is. His father,

Miss Bennet, the late Mr. Darcy, was one of the best men

that ever breathed, and the truest friend I ever had; and I

can never be in company with this Mr. Darcy without being

grieved to the soul by a thousand tender recollections. His

behaviour to myself has been scandalous; but I verily be-

lieve I could forgive him anything and everything, rather

than his disappointing the hopes and disgracing the memory

of his father.'

Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and

listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented

further inquiry.

Mr. Wickham began to speak on more general topics,

Meryton, the neighbourhood, the society, appearing highly

pleased with all that he had yet seen, and speaking of the

latter, especially, with gentle but very intelligible gallantry.

'It was the prospect of constant society, and good society,'

he added, 'which was my chief inducement to enter the

shire. I know it to be a most respectable, agree-

able corps; and my friend Denny tempted me further by

his account of their present quarters, and the very great at-

tentions and excellent acquaintance Meryton had procured

them. Society, I own, is necessary to me. I have been a

disappointed man, and my spirits will not bear solitude. I

_must_ have employment and society. A military life is not

what I was intended for, but circumstances have now made

it eligible. The church _ought_ to have been my profession--

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