{{prxprp131.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 131 ||

sister, as, by Wickham's account, she would make him abundantly

regret what he had thrown away.

Mrs. Gardiner about this time reminded Elizabeth of her

promise concerning that gentleman, and required information;

and Elizabeth had such to send as might rather give contentment

to her aunt than to herself. His apparent partiality had subsided,

his attentions were over, he was the admirer of someone else.

Elizabeth was watchful enough to see it all, but she could see it

and write of it without material pain. Her heart had been but

slightly touched, and her vanity was satisfied with believing that

she would have been his only choice, had fortune permitted it.

The sudden acquisition of ten thousand pounds was the most

remarkable charm of the young lady, to whom he was now

rendering himself agreeable; but Elizabeth, less clear-sighted

perhaps in this case than in Charlotte's, did not quarrel with

him for his wish of independence. Nothing, on the contrary,

could be more natural; and while able to suppose that it cost

him a few struggles to relinquish her, she was ready to allow it

a wise and desirable measure for both, and could very sincerely

wish him happy.

All this was acknowledged to Mrs. Gardiner; and after relating

the circumstances, she thus went on: -- 'I am now convinced, my

dear aunt, that I have never been much in love; for had I really

experienced that pure and elevating passion, I should at present

detest his very name, and wish him all manner of evil. But my

feelings are not only cordial towards him; they are even impartial

towards Miss King. I cannot find out that I hate her at all, or

that I am in the least unwilling to think her a very good sort of

girl. There can be no love in all this. My watchfulness has

been effectual; and though I should certainly be a more interesting

object to all my acquaintance, were I distractedly in love with

him, I cannot say that I regret my comparative insignificance.

Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly. Kitty and

Lydia take his defection much more to heart than I do. They

are young in the ways of the world, and not yet open to the

mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have

something to live on, as well as the plain.'

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