Chapter 52 305
" 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 he 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 Gracechurch 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