{{prxprp171.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 171 ||

perceived an envelope containing two sheets of letter-paper,

written quite through, in a very close hand. The envelope itself

was likewise full. -- Pursuing her way along the lane, she then

began it. It was dated from Rosings, at eight o'clock in the

morning, and was as follows: --

'Be not alarmed, madam, on receiving this letter, by the apprehension

of its containing any repetition of those sentiments, or renewal of those

offers which were last night so disgusting to you. I write without any

intention of paining you, or humbling myself, by dwelling on wishes

which, for the happiness of both, cannot be too soon forgotten; and the

effort which the formation and the perusal of this letter must occasion,

should have been spared, had not my character required it to be written

and read. You must, therefore, pardon the [freedom] with which

I demand your attention; your feelings, I know, will bestow it

unwillingly, but I demand it of your justice.

'Two offences of a very different nature, and by no means of equal

magnitude, you last night laid to my charge. The first'mentioned was,

that, regardless of the sentiments of either, I had detached Mr. Bingley

from your sister, -- and the other, that I had, in defiance of various

claims, in defiance of honour and humanity, ruined the immediate

prosperity and blasted the prospects of Mr. Wickham. -- Wilfully and

wantonly to have thrown off the companion of my youth, the acknow

ledged favourite of my father, a young man who had scarcely any other

dependence than on our patronage, and who had been brought up to

expect its exertion, would be a depravity, to which the separation of

two young persons, whose affection could be the growth of only a few

weeks, could bear no comparison. -- But from the severity of that blame

which was last night so liberally bestowed, respecting each circunv

stance, I shall hope to be in future secured, when the following account

of my actions and their motives has been read. -- If, in the explanation

of them which is due to myself, I am under the necessity of relating

feelings which may be offensive to your's, I can only say that I am sorry.

The necessity must be obeyed -- and further apology would be absurd.

I had not been long in Hertfordshire, before I saw, in common with

others, that Bingley preferred your elder sister, to any other young

woman in the country. But it was not till the evening of the dance at

Netherfield that I had any apprehension of his feeling a serious attach'

ment. -- I had often seen him in love before. -- At that ball, while I had

the honour of dancing with you, I was first made acquainted, by Sir

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