{{prhprp500.jpg}}

'None at all. We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant

sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked

him.'

'I do, I do like him,' she replied, with tears in her eyes;

'I love him. Indeed he has no improper pride. He is per-

fectly amiable. You do not know what he really is; then

pray do not pain me by speaking of him in such terms.'

'Lizzy,' said her father, 'I have given him my consent.

He is the kind of man, indeed, to whom I should never dare

refuse anything which he condescended to ask. I now give

it to _you,_ if you are resolved on having him. But let me

advise you to think better of it. I know your disposition,

Lizzy. I know that you could be neither happy nor respect-

able, unless you truly esteemed your husband; unless you

looked up to him as a superior. Your lively talents would

place you in the greatest danger in an unequal marriage.

You could scarcely escape discredit and misery. My child,

let me not have the grief of seeing _you_ unable to respect

your partner in life. You know not what you are about.'

Elizabeth, still more affected, was earnest and solemn in

her reply; and, at length, by repeated assurances that Mr.

Darcy was really the object of her choice, by explaining the

gradual change which her estimation of him had undergone,

relating her absolute certainty that his affection was not the

work of a day, but had stood the test of many months' sus-

pense, and enumerating with energy all his good qualities,

she did conquer her father's incredulity, and reconcile him

to the match.

'Well, my dear,' said he, when she ceased speaking, 'I

have no more to say. If this be the case, he deserves you.

I could not have parted with you, my Lizzy, to any one less

worthy.'

To complete the favourable impression, she then told him

what Mr. Darcy had voluntarily done for Lydia. He heard

her with astonishment.

'This is an evening of wonders, indeed! And so, Darcy

did everything; made up the match, gave the money, paid

the fellow's debts, and got him his commission! So much

the better. It will save me a world of trouble and economy.

Had it been your uncle's doing, I must and _would_ have paid

 [500]