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congratulated himself on having lately saved a friend from

the inconveniences of a most imprudent marriage, but with-

out mentioning names or any other particulars; and I only

suspected it to be Bingley from believing him the kind of

young man to get into a scrape of that sort, and from know-

ing them to have been together the whole of last summer.'

'Did Mr. Darcy give you his reasons for this interference?'

'I understood that there were some very strong objections

against the lady.'

'And what arts did he use to separate them?'

'He did not talk to me of his own arts,' said Fitzwilliam,

smiling. 'He only told me what I have now told you.'

Elizabeth made no answer, and walked on, her heart swell-

ing with indignation. After watching her a little, Fitzwilliam

asked her why she was so thoughtful.

'I am thinking of what you have been telling me,' said she.

'Your cousin's conduct does not suit my feelings. Why was

he to be the judge?'

'You are rather disposed to call his interference officious?'

'I do not see what right Mr. Darcy had to decide on the

propriety of his friend's inclination; or why, upon his own

judgment alone, he was to determine and direct in what

manner that friend was to be happy. But,' she continued,

recollecting herself, 'as we know none of the particulars, it

is not fair to condemn him. It is not to be supposed that

there was much affection in the case.'

'That is not an unnatural surmise,' said Fitzwilliam; 'but

it is lessening the honour of my cousin's triumph very sadly.'

This was spoken jestingly, but it appeared to her so just a

picture of Mr. Darcy, that she would not trust herself with

an answer; and, therefore, abruptly changing the conversa-

tion, talked on indifferent matters till they reached the Par-

sonage. There, shut into her own room, as soon as their

visitor left them, she could think without interruption of all

that she had heard. It was not to be supposed that any other

people could be meant than those with whom she was con-

nected. There could not exist in the world _two_ men over

whom Mr. Darcy could have such boundless influence. That

he had been concerned in the measures taken to separate

Mr. Bingley and Jane, she had never doubted; but she had

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