{{prxprp283.jpg}} || PRIDE AND PREJUDICE 283 ||

was left you conditionally only, and at the will of the present

patron.'

'You have! -- Yes, there was something in that; I told you so

from the first, you may remember.'

'I did hear, too, that there was a time when sermon^making

was not so palatable to you as it seems to be at present; that you

actually declared your resolution of never taking orders, and that

the business had been compromised accordingly.'

'You did! -- and it was not wholly without foundation. You

may remember what I told you on that point, when first we

talked of it.'

They were now almost at the door of die house, for she had

walked fast to get rid of him, and unwilling for her sister's sake,

to provoke him, she only said in reply, with a good-humoured

smile,

'Come, Mr. Wickham, we are brother and sister, you know.

Do not let us quarrel about the past. In future, I hope we shall

be always of one mind.'

She held out her hand; he kissed it with affectionate gallantry,

though he hardly knew how to look, and they entered the house.

 [[283]]