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me irritated him, I believe, very early in life. He had not

a temper to bear the sort of competition in which we stood --

the sort of preference which was often given me.'

'I had not thought Mr. Darcy so bad as this -- though I

have never liked him, I had not thought so very ill of him --

I had supposed him to be despising his fellow-creatures in

general, but did not suspect him of descending to such

malicious revenge, such injustice, such inhumanity as this!'

After a few minutes' reflection, however, she continued, --

'I _do_ remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of

the implacability of his resentments; of his having an unfor-

giving temper. His disposition must be dreadful.'

'I will not trust myself on the subject,' replied Wickham:

_'I_ can hardly be just to him.'

Elizabeth was again deep in thought, and after a time

exclaimed, 'To treat in such a manner the godson, the

friend, the favourite of his father!' She could have added,

'A young man, too, like _you,_ whose very countenance may

vouch for your being amiable.' But she contented herself

with -- 'And one, too, who had probably been his own com-

panion from childhood, connected together, as I think you

said, in the closest manner.'

'We were born in the same parish, within the same park;

the greatest part of our youth was passed together: in-

mates of the same house, sharing the same amusements,

objects of the same parental care. _My_ father began life

in the profession which your uncle, Mr. Philips, appears to

do so much credit to: but he gave up everything to be of

use to the late Mr. Darcy, and devoted all his time to the

care of the Pemberley property. He was most highly es-

teemed by Mr. Darcy, a most intimate, confidential friend.

Mr. Darcy often acknowledged himself to be under the

greatest obligations to my father's active superintendence;

and when, immediately before my father's death, Mr. Darcy

gave him a voluntary promise of providing for me, I am

convinced that he felt it to be as much a debt of gratitude

to _him_ as of affection to myself.'

'How strange!' cried Elizabeth. 'How abominable! I

wonder that the very pride of this Mr. Darcy has not

made him just to you. If from no better motive, that he

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