{{prxprp121.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 121 ||

Now is your time. Here arc officers enough at Meryton to

disappoint all the young ladies in the country. Let Wickham be

your man. He is a pleasant fellow, and would jilt you creditably.'

'Thank you, sir, but a less agreeable man would satisfy me.

We must not all expect Jane's good fortune.'

'True,' said Mr. Bennet, 'but it is a comfort to think that,

whatever of that kind may befal you, you have an affectionate

mother who will always make the most of it.'

Mr. Wickham's society was of material service in dispelling

the gloom which the late perverse occurrences had thrown on

many of the Longbourn family. They saw him often, and to

his other recommendations was now added that of general

unreserve. The whole of what Elizabeth had already heard, his

claims on Mr. Darcy, and all that he had suffered from him, was

now openly acknowledged and publicly canvassed; and every

body was pleased to think how much they had always disliked

Mr. Darcy before they had known anything of the matter.

Miss Bennet was the only creature who could suppose there

might be any extenuating circumstances in the case, unknown

to the society of Hertfordshire; her mild and steady candour

always pleaded for allowances, and urged the possibility of

mistakes -- but by every body els; Mr. Darcy was condemned as

the worst of men.

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