{{prhprp451.jpg}}

> again. Your father was gone, your uncle at home, and, as I said

> before, they had a great deal of talk together. They met again on

> Sunday, and then _I_ saw him too. It was not all settled before

> Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to Longbourn.

> But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that obstinacy

> is the real defect of his character, after all. He has been accused

> of many faults at different times; but _this_ is the true one. Nothing

> was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and

> I do not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it)

> your uncle would most readily have settled the whole. They battled

> it together for a long time, which was more than either the gentleman

> or lady concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was forced

> to yield, and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece, was

> forced to put up with only having the probable credit of it, which

> went sorely against the grain; and I really believe your letter this

> morning gave him great pleasure, because it required an explanation

> that would rob him of his borrowed feathers, and give the praise

> where it was due. But, Lizzy, this must go no further than yourself,

> or Jane at most. You know pretty well, I suppose, what has been

> done for the young people. His debts are to be paid, amounting,

> I believe, to considerably more than a thousand pounds, another

> thousand in addition to her own settled upon _her,_ and his commission

> purchased. The reason why all this was to be done by him alone

> was such as I have given above. It was owing to him, to his reserve

> and want of proper consideration, that Wickham's character had

> been so misunderstood, and consequently that he had been received

> and noticed as he was. Perhaps there was some truth in this;

> though I doubt whether _his_ reserve, or _anybody's_ reserve, can be

> answerable for the event. But in spite of all this fine talking, my

> dear Lizzy, you may rest perfectly assured that your uncle would

> never have yielded, if we had not given him credit for _another_

> _interest_ in the affair. When all this was resolved on, he returned

> again to his friends, who were still staying at Pemberley; but it

> was agreed that he should be in London once more when the wedding

> took place, and all money matters were then to receive the last finish.

> I believe I have now told you everything. It is a relation which you

> tell me is to give you great surprise; I hope at least it will not

> afford you any displeasure. Lydia came to us, and Wickham had

> constant admission to the house. _He_ was exactly what he had been

> when I knew him in Hertfordshire; but I would not tell you how

> little I was satisfied with _her_ behaviour while she stayed with us,

> if I had not perceived, by Jane's letter last Wednesday, that her

> conduct on coming home was exactly of a piece with it, and there-

> fore what I now tell you can give you no fresh pain. I talked to

> her repeatedly in the most serious manner, representing to her the

> wickedness of what she had done, and all the unhappiness she had

> brought on her family. If she heard me, it was by good luck, for

> I am sure she did not listen. I was sometimes quite provoked; but

> then I recollected my dear Elizabeth and Jane, and for their sakes

> had patience with her. Mr. Darcy was punctual in his return, and,

 [451]