{{prxprp173.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 173 ||

connection. -- He left Netherficld for London, on the day following

as you, I am certain, remember, with the design of soon returning. --

The part which I acted is now to be explained. -- His sisters' uneasi'

ness had been equally excited with my own; our coincidence of feeling

was soon discovered; and, alike sensible that no time was to be lost in

detaching their brother, we shortly resolved on joining him directly

in London. -- We accordingly went -- and there I readily engaged in

the office of pointing out to my friend, the certain evils of such a choice.

-- I described, and enforced them earnestly. But, however this rcmon^

strance might have staggered or delayed his determination, I do not

suppose that it would ultimately have prevented the marriage, had it

not been seconded by the assurance, which I hesitated not in giving,

of your sister's indifference. He had before believed her to return his

affection with sincere, if not with equal regard. But Bingley has great

natural modesty, with a stronger dependence on my judgment than on

his own. -- To convince him, therefore, that he had deceived himself,

was no very difficult point. To persuade him against returning into

Hertfordshire, when that conviction had been given, was scarcely the

work of a moment. -- I cannot blame myself for having done thus much.

There is but one part of my conduct in the whole affair, on which I do

not reflect with satisfaction; it is that I condescended to adopt the

measures of art so far as to conceal from him your sister's being in

town. I knew it myself, as it was known to Miss Bingley; but her

brother is even yet ignorant of it. That they might have met without

ill consequence, is perhaps probable; -- but his regard did not appear to

me enough extinguished for him to see her without some danger. --

Perhaps this concealment, this disguise was beneath me. -- It is done,

however, and it was done for the best. -- On this subject I have nothing

more to say, no other apology to offer. If I have wounded your sister's

feelings, it was unknowingly done; and though the motives which

governed me may to you very naturally appear insufficient, I have not

yet learnt to condemn them. With respect to that other, more

weighty accusation, of having injured Mr. Wickham, I can only

refute it by laying before you the whole of his connection with

my family. Of what he has particularly accused me I am ignorant;

but o[ the truth of what I shall relate, I can summon more

than one witness of undoubted veracity. Mr. Wickham is the

son of a very respectable man, who had for many years

the management of all the Pemberley estates; and whose good

conduct in the discharge of his trust, naturally inclined my father to

be of service to him, and on George Wickham, who was his godson,

 [[173]]