{{prxprp175.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 175 ||

designed for him, he applied to me again by letter for the presentation.

His circumstances, he assured me, and I had no difficulty in believing

it, were exceedingly bad. He had found the law a most unprofitable

study, and was now absolutely resolved on being ordained, if I would

present him to the living in question -- of which he trusted there could

be little doubt, as he was well assured that I had no other person to

provide for, and I could not have forgotten my revered father's intent

tions. You will hardly blame me for refusing to comply with this

entreaty, or for resisting every repetition of it. His resentment was in

proportion to the distress of his circumstances -- and he was doubtless

as violent in his abuse of me to others, as in his reproaches to myself.

After this period, every appearance of acquaintance was dropped. How

he lived I know not. But last summer he was again most painfully

obtruded on my notice. I must now mention a circumstance

which I would wish to forget myself, and which no obligation

less than the present should induce me to unfold to any

human being. Having said thus much, I feel no doubt of your

secrecy. My sister, who is more than ten years my junior, was

left to the guardianship of my mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam,

and myself. About a year ago, she was taken from school and an

establishment formed for her in London; and last summer she went

with the lady who presided over it, to Ramsgate; and thither also

went Mr. Wickham, undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have

been a prior acquaintance between him and Mrs. Younge, in whose

character we were most unhappily deceived; and by her connivance

and aid, he so far recommended himself to Georgiana, whose affec

donate heart retained a strong impression of his kindness to her as a

child, that she was persuaded to believe herself in love, and to consent

to an elopement. She was then but fifteen, which must be her excuse;

and after stating her imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed the

knowledge of it to herself. -- I joined them unexpectedly a day or two

before.the intended elopement, and then Georgiana, unable to support

the idea of grieving and offending a brother, whom she almost looked up

to as a father, acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine

what I felt and how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and feelings

prevented any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr. Wickham, who

left the place immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of course removed

from her charge. Mr. Wickham's chief object was unquestionably

my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help

supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me, was a strong

inducement. His revenge would have been complete indeed.

 [[175]]