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Chapter XXVI

Mrs. Gardiner's caution to Elizabeth was punc-

tually and kindly given on the first favourable op-

portunity of speaking to her alone: after honestly

telling her what she thought, she thus went on:--

'You are too sensible a girl, Lizzy, to fall in love merely

because you are warned against it; and, therefore, I am not

afraid of speaking openly. Seriously, I would have you be

on your guard. Do not involve yourself, or endeavour to

involve him, in an affection which the want of fortune would

make so very imprudent. I have nothing to say against _him:_

he is a most interesting young man; and if he had the

fortune he ought to have, I should think you could not do

better. But as it is -- you must not let your fancy run away

with you. You have sense, and we all expect you to use it.

Your father would depend on _your_ resolution and good con-

duct, I am sure. You must not disappoint your father.'

'My dear aunt, this is being serious indeed.'

'Yes, and I hope to engage you to be serious likewise.'

'Well, then, you need not be under any alarm. I will

take care of myself, and of Mr. Wickham too. He shall

not be in love with me, if I can prevent it.'

'Elizabeth, you are not serious now.'

'I beg your pardon. I will try again. At present I am

not in love with Mr. Wickham; no, I certainly am not. But

he is, beyond all comparison, the most agreeable man I ever

saw -- and if he becomes really attached to me -- I believe it

will be better _that_ he should not. I see the imprudence of

it. Oh, that abominable Mr. Darcy! My father's opinion

of me does me the greatest honour; and I should be miserable

to forfeit it. My father, however, is partial to Mr. Wick-

ham. In short, my dear aunt, I should be very sorry to be

the means of making any of you unhappy; but since we

see, every day, that where there is affection young people

are seldom withheld, by immediate want of fortune, from

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