{{prxprp278.jpg}} || 278 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE ||

only remained, he thought, to secure and expedite a marriage, which,

in his very first conversation with Wickham, he easily learnt had never

been bis design. He confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment on

account of some debts of honour which were very pressing! and scrupled

not to lay all the ill consequences of Lydia's flight on her own folly

alone. He meant to resign his commission immediately; and as to

his future situation, he could conjecture very little about it. He must

go somewhere, but he did not know where, and he knew he should

have nothing to live on. Mr. Darcy asked him why he had not married

your sister at once? Though Mr. Bennet was not imagined to be very

rich, he would have been able to do something for him, and his

situation must have been benefited by marriage. But he found, in

reply to this question, that Wickham still cherished the hope of more

effectually making his fortune by marriage, in some other country.

Under such circumstances, however, he was not likely to be proof

against the temptation of immediate relief. They met several times,

for there was much to be discussed. Wickham, of course, wanted

more than be could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable.

Every thing being settled between them, Mr. Darcy's next step was to

make your uncle acquainted with it, and he first called in Gracechurclv

street the evening before I came home. But Mr. Gardiner could not

be seen, and Mr. Darcy found, on further inquiry, that your father

was still with him, but would quit town the next morning. He did

not judge your father to be a person whom he could so properly consult

as your uncle, and therefore readily postponed seeing him till after the

departure of the former. He did not leave his name, and till the

next day, it was only known that a gentleman had called on business.

On Saturday he came again. Your father was gone, your uncle at

home, and, as I said before, they had a great deal of talk together.

They met again on Sunday, and then I saw him too. It was not

all settled before Monday: as soon as it was, the express was sent off to

Longbourn. But our visitor was very obstinate. I fancy, Lizzy, that.

obstinacy is the real defect of his character after all. He has been

accused of many faults at different times; but this is the true one. Nothing

was to be done that he did not do himself; though I am sure (and I do

not speak it to be thanked, therefore say nothing about it) your uncle

would most readily have settled the whole. They battled it together

for a long time, which was more than either the gentleman or lady

concerned in it deserved. But at last your uncle was forced to yield,

and instead of being allowed to be of use to his niece, was forced to

put up with only having die probable credit of it, which went sorely

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