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discovery. Most earnestly did she labour to prove the prob-

ability of error, and to seek to clear one, without involving

the other.

'This will not do,' said Elizabeth; 'you never will be able

to make both of them good for anything. Take your choice,

but you must be satisfied with only one. There is but such a

quantity of merit between them; just enough to make one

good sort of man; and of late it has been shifting about

pretty much. For my part, I am inclined to believe it all Mr.

Darcy's, but you shall do as you choose.'

It was some time, however, before a smile could be extorted

from Jane.

'I do not know when I have been more shocked,' said she.

'Wickham so very bad! It is almost past belief. And poor

Mr. Darcy! dear Lizzy, only consider what he must have

suffered. Such a disappointment! and with the knowledge

of your ill opinion too! and having to relate such a thing of

his sister! It is really too distressing, I am sure you must

feel it so.'

'Oh no, my regret and compassion are all done away by

seeing you so full of both. I know you will do him such

ample justice, that I am growing every moment more uncon-

cerned and indifferent. Your profusion makes me saving;

and if you lament over him much longer, my heart will be

as light as a feather.'

'Poor Wickham! there is such an expression of goodness

in his countenance! such an openness and gentleness in his

manner.'

'There certainly was some great mismanagement in the

education of those two young men. One has got all the good-

ness, 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.'

'And yet I meant to be uncommonly clever in taking so

decided a dislike to him, without any reason. It is such a

spur to one's genius, such an opening for wit, to have a dis-

like of that kind. One may be continually abusive without

saying anything just; but one cannot be always laughing

at a man without now and then stumbling on something

witty.'

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